Preparation and Characterization of Immobilizing Radioactive Waste Glass From Industrial Wastes

Abstract

The borosilicate glass is the most common industrial solution host barrier used for the immobilization of low-level wastes for its excellent chemical durability and mechanical properties. The borosilicate glass samples were prepared in a muffle furnace at a temperature 1300 °C, glass samples were then annealed in a furnace at 400 °C. In this study, density, microhardness, pH and the durability of borosilicate glass were tested. Many leaching solutions such as HCl, NaOH and ground water were used. The results show that the prepared glass has good microhardness. The glass composition containing 37.5 % slag −37.5 % cement dust – 25 % B2O3 is the most durable glass in acidic solution and the borosilicate glass of the composition 37.5 % cullet – 37.5 % cement dust – 25 % B2O3 is the most corroded glass in acidic solution. The durability was also studied after subjecting the glass samples to different irradiation doses of γ- rays. Infrared absorption results were interpreted in the light of the effect of corrosion and irradiation on the vibrational bands.