The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
We have successfully completed some preliminary spectroscopic experiments on the dissolution of uranyl (UO2 2) in a glass matrix through the glass transition temperature. Raman spectra of uranium mixed with borosilicate glass (made by grinding a Pyrex microscope slide into a powder) were obtained at incremental temperature values up to approximately 11000C. Figure 1(a) shows the Raman spectrum of uranyl in glass at 9500C with the peak at -767 cm 1. At this temperature, blackbody radiation begins to affect the spectrum as indicated by the steadily increasing background. At higher temperatures, the blackbody radiation completely obscured the Raman signal. Glass melting points are generally lower than 10000C, so blackbody radiation should not be a significant problem during experiments involving in situ measurements of Raman spectra of actinides in molten glass. The solubility of the uranium in this particular type of molten glass was quite poor, thus producing large inhomogeneities in the uranium concentration throughout the glass melt. Even after heating at 10000C for 16 hours, there was only nominal improvement of the dissolution of the uranyl in the borosilicate glass. Figure 2(b) shows the Raman spectrum, with the peak at -762 cm-1 , of uranyl in glass after heating overnight.
Figure 1. Raman spectra of uranyl in borosilicate glass (a) at 9500C and (b) at room temperature after heating at 10000C for 16 hours. We have received samples of three different frits from the Savannah River Site which have been used in the immobilization of nuclear waste material. We are currently preparing experiments to investigate the chemistry, beginning with solubility, of uranyl in molten glasses of various compositions, particularly in the fits obtained from the Savannah River Site.
Dai, Sheng; Boatner, Lynn; Schumacher, Ray F. & Barnes, C. E.Chemistry of Actinides in Molten Glasses and Its Correlation to Structural Performance of Solid Glasses: Filling the Knowledge Gap,
report,
June 1, 2002;
Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
(https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc785822/m1/2/:
accessed March 29, 2024),
University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu;
crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.