Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 September 2012
Three wt% each of Cs and Tc were mixed with the standard Synroc precursorand the ceramic was formed by hot-pressing. Attempts were made toincorporate the Tc as either metal or Tc 4+, using differentredox conditions in processing. Volatile losses of Tc during calcinationwere < 0.1% in all cases. Short-term Tc leach rates when the Tc waspresent as a metal alloy were in the order of 10−4 g/m /d at 90°Cwith frequently changed water, and decreased with increasing leaching time.The valence of the Tc was monitored by X-ray absorption spectroscopy at thedrying and calcination stages of the production. The general viability ofSynroc/glass composites for immobilising the Hanford HLW sludges is furtherdemonstrated by using further refinements of additive schemes for theinactive “All-blend” formulation and initial studies using the U-containing“All-blend” waste formulation.