Claims
- 1. A method for producing a cesium-specific waste form, characterized by a high degree of mechanical integrity and compositional stability, comprising, in combination, the steps of:
- (a) subjecting a cesium-specific zeolite containing cesium values to a rapid heating schedule within an air environment of about 100.degree. C./hour until a temperature within the range of about 550.degree. C. to 650.degree. C. is attained;
- (b) maintaining this temperature for up to about four hours to effect removal of volatiles and moisture from the zeolite thereby retentively immobilizing cesium within stablized zeolite; and
- (c) coating the zeolite with at least one dense layer of pyrolytic carbon by confinement for sufficient duration within a suitable coating environment operating at about 1,000.degree. C. while utilizing a carbon-donor gas selected from the group consisting essentially of acetylene and propylene and an inert fluidizing gas selected from the group consisting essentially of argon, nitrogen, and helium to effect a solidifed, cesium-retentive waste form.
- 2. A method for packaging the cesium-retentive waste of claim 1 comprising the step of incorporating said waste form into solid waste processes for storing radioactive wastes, selected from the group of packaging materials consisting of glass, asphalt, cement, concrete, metal, and alternate ceramics.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to primary containment of nuclear wastes and, more particularly, to containment of cesium. This invention is a result of a contract with the United States Department of Energy.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1456980 |
Dec 1976 |
GBX |