Effects of Bi2O3, Al2O3, PbO on silver tellurite glass for radioactive iodine immobilization

Abstract

An iodine immobilization matrix, the AgI–Ag2O–TeO2 glass system, was developed. The effects of different additives, i.e., Bi2O3, Al2O3, and PbO, on performance were investigated. In an ambient atmosphere and at 800 °C, the melting of the glass precursor mixture was completed after 1.0 h, without significant loss of the constituent elements of the glass except for aluminum. The loading of iodine in the matrix was approximately 11–15% by weigh, excluding oxygen. The normalized releases of all the elements from the matrix were below the order of 10−1 g/m2, which satisfies US regulation (2 g/m2). Additionally, each additive had a different effect on the glass system, and their effects on element release from the matrix were clarified.