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Selecting appropriate buffers is crucial for evaluating the chemical durability of glass under controlled conditions such as in the EPA 1313 test designed to measure elemental release as a function of pH. The efficacy of two alkali-metal free buffers, TRIS (NH2C(CH2OH)3) and ammonium chloride—ammonia (NH3/NH4Cl), was investigated during EPA 1313 testing of a simulated Hanford low-activity waste borosilicate glass in the alkaline regime (pH 8.5–10.5) at varying temperatures (RT, 40 °C, and 60 °C). While both buffers maintained the desired pH at room temperature, and up to 40 °C, the effectiveness of TRIS decreased at elevated temperatures, particularly at pH 10.5. Although 11B NMR showed evidence of TRIS-B complexation, its effect on the rate of elemental release was found to be negligible under the test conditions. With ammonium buffer, the release of alkali cations was slightly elevated when compared to the same conditions with TRIS at early time points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safe management of radioactive waste is challenging to waste producers and waste management organisations. Deployment of thermal treatment technologies can provide significant improvements: volume reduction, waste passivation, organics destruction, safety demonstration facilitation, etc. The EC-funded THERAMIN project enables an EU-wide strategic review and assessment of the value of thermal treatment technologies applicable to Low and Intermediate Level waste streams (ion exchange media, soft operational waste, sludges, organic waste, and liquids). THERAMIN compiles an EU-wide database of wastes, which could be treated by thermal technologies and documents available thermal technologies. Applicability and benefits of technologies to the identified waste streams will be evaluated through full-scale demonstration tests by project partners. Safety case implications will also be assessed through the study of the disposability of thermally treated waste products. This paper will communicate the strategic aims of the ongoing project and highlight some key findings and results achieved to date.

Safe management of radioactive waste is challenging to waste producers and waste management organisations. Deployment of thermal treatment technologies can provide significant improvements: volume reduction, waste passivation, organics destruction, safety demonstration facilitation, etc. The EC-funded THERAMIN project enables an EU-wide strategic review and assessment of the value of thermal treatment technologies applicable to Low and Intermediate Level waste streams (ion exchange media, soft operational waste, sludges, organic waste, and liquids). THERAMIN compiles an EU-wide database of wastes, which could be treated by thermal technologies and documents available thermal technologies. Applicability and benefits of technologies to the identified waste streams will be evaluated through full-scale demonstration tests by project partners. Safety case implications will also be assessed through the study of the disposability of thermally treated waste products. This paper will communicate the strategic aims of the ongoing project and highlight some key findings and results achieved to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mineralogy and structure of cements in the system Mg(OH)2-NaAlO2-SiO2-H2O are investigated, with a view toward potential application in the immobilization of Mg(OH)2-rich Magnox sludges resulting from historic United Kingdom nuclear operations. The reaction process leading to the formation of these aluminosilicate binders is strongly exothermic, initially forming zeolite NaA (LTA structure), which is metastable in low SiO2/Al2O3 binders, slowly evolving into the more stable sodalite and faujasite framework types. Notable chemical reaction of Mg(OH)2 was only identified in the formulation with SiO2/Al2O3 = 1.3 (the lowest molar ratio among those tested) after extended curing times. In this case, some of the Mg(OH)2 reacted to form an Mg-Al-OH layered double hydroxide. These results demonstrate that encapsulation of Magnox sludge waste streams could be carried out in these alternative binders but that the binders would encapsulate rather than chemically incorporate the Mg(OH)2 into the wasteform unless low SiO2/Al2O3 ratios are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cementitious system for the immobilisation of magnesium rich Magnox sludge was produced by blending an Mg(OH)2 slurry with silica fume and an inorganic phosphate dispersant. The Mg(OH)2 was fully consumed after 28 days of curing, producing a disordered magnesium silicate hydrate (M–S–H) with cementitious properties. The structural characterisation of this M–S–H phase by 29Si and 25Mg MAS NMR showed clearly that it has strong nanostructural similarities to a disordered form of lizardite, and does not take on the talc-like structure as has been proposed in the past for M–S–H gels. The addition of sodium hexametaphosphate (NaPO3)6 as a dispersant enabled the material to be produced at a much lower water/solids ratio, while still maintaining the fluidity which is essential in practical applications, and producing a solid monolith. Significant retardation of M–S–H formation was observed with larger additions of phosphate, however the use of 1 wt% (NaPO3)6 was beneficial in increasing fluidity without a deleterious effect on M–S–H formation. This work has demonstrated the feasibility of using M–S–H as binder to structurally immobilise Magnox sludge, enabling the conversion of a waste into a cementitious binder with potentially very high waste loadings, and providing the first detailed nanostructural description of the material thus formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural evolution of a sodium carbonate activated slag cement blended with varying quantities of Mg(OH) 2 was assessed. The main reaction products of these blended cements were a calcium-sodium aluminosilicate hydrate type gel, an Mg-Al layered double hydroxide with a hydrotalcite type structure, calcite, and a hydrous calcium aluminate phase (tentatively identified as a carbonate-containing AFm structure), in proportions which varied with Na 2 O/slag ratios. Particles of Mg(OH) 2 do not chemically react within these cements. Instead, Mg(OH) 2 acts as a filler accelerating the hardening of sodium carbonate activated slags. Although increased Mg(OH) 2 replacement reduced the compressive strength of these cements, pastes with 50 wt% Mg(OH) 2 still reached strengths of ∼21 MPa. The chemical and mechanical characteristics of sodium carbonate activated slag/Mg(OH) 2 cements makes them a potentially suitable matrix for encapsulation of high loadings of Mg(OH) 2 -bearing wastes such as Magnox sludge., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)