Increasing Sulfur Solubility for More Efficient Nuclear Waste Vitrification

The invention of nuclear technology and weaponry has led to issues with the production and handling of nuclear waste. Because of glass's unique chemical properties, it has been the center of many studies and systems attempting to contain nuclear waste. Current processes vitrify radioactive waste and turn it into glass for storage, however, it is difficult to create a glass that can hold large amounts. This research attempts to determine a method to incorporate more waste into a glass without sacrificing durability by increasing sulfur solubility. To achieve this, glasses were made to find the ideal concentration of sodium oxide, an alkali that allows for more sulfur to be dissolved. Through various tests, it was proven that the sulfur successfully dissolved into the glasses it was added into and did not compromise the glasses' amorphous structure. These results indicated that increasing sodium oxide has a direct effect on sulfur solubility in nuclear waste glasses.