The Australian radioactive wasteform, Synroc, is to be tested for the first time using high level radioactive waste. New technology that will compress high-level radioactive waste in a remotely controlled hot cell will be developed in a co-operative research effort involving ANSTO and the U.S. Department of Energys Argonne National Laboratory.
The project, at Argonne-West near Idaho Falls, Idaho, will provide the first remote demonstration of radioactive waste processes that use a technology called hot isostatic pressing.
Hot isostatic pressing involves applying pressure in all directions on the heated waste and its container to compress them into a smaller volume and consolidate the waste into a rock-like material.
This technology is important for Argonnes work to develop a new ceramic form to immobilise radioactive wastes, as well as for ANSTO's Synroc waste form. Both waste forms are being considered for disposal of high-level nuclear waste and plutonium.
ANSTO's Synroc is an advanced ceramic composed of minerals chosen for their stability and ability to immobilise high-level nuclear waste.
In commercial use, radioactive wastes would be mixed with these minerals and compressed under high pressure and heat to produce a dense rock suitable for long-term disposal.
Argonnes ceramic waste form stabilises fission products and transuranic elements (those heavier than uranium) from the electrometallurgical treatment of spent nuclear fuel. The materials are captured in a zeolite-based material, combined with glass additive, and stabilised in a solid monolith produced in a hot isostatic press.
Argonnes ceramic waste form will result from the electrometallurgical treatment of the US. The Australian radioactive wasteform, Synroc, is to be tested for Department of Energys spent nuclear fuel that is otherwise unsuitable for direct disposal in a geologic repository.
Electrometallurgical technology, which has been under development at Argonne for more than a decade, is being demonstrated with spent fuel from Experimental Breeder Reactor II at Argonne-West.
Under this joint-research agreement, ANSTO will demonstrate its proprietary can (container) technology for encapsulating high-level radioactive waste for hot isostatic pressing. Argonne will provide the hot cell, or heavily shielded facility, equipped with remotely controlled equipment, for the demonstration.
ANSTO has more than 10 years experience in using hot isostatic press technology for radioactive waste-form production. Argonne has some 50 years of experience in developing equipment for remote operations in a hot cell.
The Executive Director of ANSTO, Professor Helen Garnett, said the agreement with Argonne will enable demonstration of important aspects of Synroc processing in facilities not available in Australia.
Because Australia does not have high-level radioactive wastes of the kind that generally come from nuclear power plant fuel, it does not have the facilities needed to demonstrate Synroc production and performance at a commercial scale
"The results we gain from this agreement should significantly advance the opportunities to market an important Australian technology internationally," Professor Garnett said. Synroc, or synthetic rock, is a radioactive waste form invented in 1979 by the late Professor Ted Ringwood of the Australian National University.
It has since been developed by ANSTO to commercial scale, but using non-radioactive substances. Extensive testing around the world has shown Synroc to have the high durability and low leaching characteristics required for long term disposal of high-level radioactive wastes.
Interest in Synroc is being shown by organisations seeking contracts for cleaning up radioactive wastes at former nuclear weapons production sites in the United States. Funding for the 31-month joint research project is provided equally by ANSTO and the U.S. Department of Energys Office of Nuclear Energy.
ANSTO operates Australias only nuclear reactor, a research and radioisotope production facility, on the outskirts of Sydney. In addition to developing Synroc, it operates Australias National Medical Cyclotron; works around the world in environmental management, especially in mining; and providing carbon dating and other advanced analysis services using its 8 MeV tandem accelerator.
ANSTO operates Australias only nuclear reactor, a research and radioisotope production facility, on the outskirts of Sydney. In addition to developing Synroc, it operates Australias National Medical Cyclotron; works around the world in environmental management, especially in mining; and providing carbon dating and other advanced analysis services using its 8 MeV tandem accelerator.
With more than 200 different research programs in basic and applied science, Argonne is one of the United States largest federally funded scientific laboratories. Argonne National Laboratory is operated by the University of Chicago as part of the U.S. Department of Energys national laboratory system.