PNNL

Abstract

Many studies of plutonium in glass and ceramics have been conducted since its discovery and have been partly motivated by the desire to immobilize and safely store this long-lived radioactive material. These studies have led to a substantial understanding, arising from fundamental research on actinides in solids and research and development in three technical fields: immobilization of the high level wastes (HLW) from commercial nuclear power plants and processing of nuclear weapons materials, environmental restoration in the nuclear weapons complex and, most recently, the immobilization of weapons-grade plutonium as a result of disarmament activities.