Vitrification of a simulator of Savannah River site (USA) wastes with high iron and aluminum content on bench and commercial facilities with a cold crucible

Abstract

Bench and commercial-facility experiments have been performed on cold-crucible vitrification of a simulator of high-level wastes from the Savannah River site (USA). The wastes contained up to 29 mass% Fe₂O₃ and 26 mass% Al₂O₃. The specific product flow reached 1700 and 2450 kg/(m²·day) with specific energy consumption 14–16 and 9–10 kW·h/kg, respectively. The crucibles did not undergo any appreciable corrosion during the period of the work performed and are reusable. The product consisted of a borosilicate matrix, containing up to 10 vol.% crystalline phase of spinel. The method of induction melting in a cold crucible is especially effective for crucibles with a large diameter, since the specific productivity increases and the specific energy consumption on the vitrification of high-level wastes decreases.