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The Incorporation of Cerium in Zirconolite

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 September 2012

B. D. Begg
Affiliation:
Materials Division, ANSTO, PMB 1, Menai, NSW, 2234, Australia, email b.begg@ansto.gov.au
E. R. Vance
Affiliation:
Materials Division, ANSTO, PMB 1, Menai, NSW, 2234, Australia, email b.begg@ansto.gov.au
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Abstract

Zirconolite (CaZrTi2O7) is the primaryactinide-bearing Synroc phase for the immobilisation of high-level nuclearwaste. Using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and microanalysis we haveinvestigated the incorporation of cerium, as a simulant for plutonium, onboth zirconolite's Ca and Zr sites under a range of redox conditions. The Cevalence state was found to vary between Ce3+ and Ce4+depending on the both the sintering atmosphere and temperature. Theexistence of alternative charge compensation schemes, predominantly cationvacancies, in addition to those used in the sample design was inferred inmany of the zirconolites and will be discussed in detail.

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Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1997

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References

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