Synthesis and Characterization of Simplified Nuclear Waste Glasses Containing Molybdenum

Glass has the potential to be a cost-effective and chemically durable immobilizer of nuclear waste, but its structure, uniformity, and efficacy vary greatly depending on its chemical composition. This is potentially problematic, because by directly incorporating nuclear waste into a glass, molybdenum(VI) oxide, a large component of nuclear waste, may detrimentally impact the structure and properties of the glass containing it. Over the course of this research, three 50g glasses of differing chemical compositions were designed, synthesized, and tested. These glasses represent simplified versions of compositions used for nuclear waste immobilization, two of which had added concentrations of molybdenum oxide. Results from tests for density, phase change temperature, and crystallinity were analyzed and compared to classify the structure and resultant properties of each composition. The compositions containing molybdenum oxide were closely analyzed to determine the effect of this compound on the glass structure. It was concluded that molybdenum(VI) oxide likely causes a glass composition's constituent compounds to arrange themselves heterogeneously, weakening the structure.