The behavior of melter feed (a mixture of nuclear waste and glass-forming additives) during waste-glass processing has a significant impact on the rate of the vitrification process. We studied the effects of silica particle size and sucrose addition on the volumetric expansion (foaming) of a high-alumina feed and the rate of dissolution of silica particles in feed samples heated at 5°C/min up to 1200°C. The initial size of quartz particles in feed ranged from 5 to 195 µm. The fraction of the sucrose added ranged from 0 to 0.20 g per g glass. Extensive foaming occurred only in feeds with 5-?m quartz particles; particles ?150 µm formed clusters. Particles of 5 µm completely dissolved by 900°C whereas particles ?150 µm did not fully dissolve even when the temperature reached 1200°C. Sucrose addition had virtually zero impact on both foaming and the dissolution of silica particles.
Revised: January 26, 2011 |
Published: August 11, 2010
Citation
Marcial J., P.R. Hrma, M.J. Schweiger, K.J. Swearingen, N.E. Tegrotenhuis, and S.H. Henager. 2010.Effects of Quartz Particle Size and Sucrose Addition on Melting Behavior of a Melter Feed for High-Level Waste Glass. In Proceedings of the 51st Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, July 11-15, 2010, Baltimore, Maryland. Deerfield, Illinois:INMM.PNNL-SA-73263.