EP2596503A1 - Aluminoborosilicate contenant un additif et son procédé de production - Google Patents

Aluminoborosilicate contenant un additif et son procédé de production

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Publication number
EP2596503A1
EP2596503A1 EP11754913.9A EP11754913A EP2596503A1 EP 2596503 A1 EP2596503 A1 EP 2596503A1 EP 11754913 A EP11754913 A EP 11754913A EP 2596503 A1 EP2596503 A1 EP 2596503A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
aluminoborosilicate
waste
liquid
additive
components
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP11754913.9A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Istvan Schremmer
Bernadett Ivett KOVÁCS
Zsolt Szitkai
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
G I C Ipari Szolgaltato es Kereskedelmi kft
Original Assignee
Gic Ipari Szolgaltato Es Kereskedelmi Kft
G I C Ipari Szolgaltato es Kereskedelmi kft
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gic Ipari Szolgaltato Es Kereskedelmi Kft, G I C Ipari Szolgaltato es Kereskedelmi kft filed Critical Gic Ipari Szolgaltato Es Kereskedelmi Kft
Publication of EP2596503A1 publication Critical patent/EP2596503A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
    • C03C1/00—Ingredients generally applicable to manufacture of glasses, glazes, or vitreous enamels
    • C03C1/002—Use of waste materials, e.g. slags
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
    • C03C1/00—Ingredients generally applicable to manufacture of glasses, glazes, or vitreous enamels
    • C03C1/006—Ingredients generally applicable to manufacture of glasses, glazes, or vitreous enamels to produce glass through wet route
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B33/00—Clay-wares
    • C04B33/02—Preparing or treating the raw materials individually or as batches
    • C04B33/13—Compounding ingredients
    • C04B33/132—Waste materials; Refuse; Residues
    • C04B33/1325—Hazardous waste other than combustion residues
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B33/00—Clay-wares
    • C04B33/28—Slip casting
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B33/00—Clay-wares
    • C04B33/36—Reinforced clay-wares
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B35/00—Shaped ceramic products characterised by their composition; Ceramics compositions; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products
    • C04B35/71—Ceramic products containing macroscopic reinforcing agents
    • C04B35/78—Ceramic products containing macroscopic reinforcing agents containing non-metallic materials
    • C04B35/80—Fibres, filaments, whiskers, platelets, or the like
    • C04B35/82—Asbestos; Glass; Fused silica
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21F—PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR
    • G21F9/00—Treating radioactively contaminated material; Decontamination arrangements therefor
    • G21F9/04—Treating liquids
    • G21F9/06—Processing
    • G21F9/16—Processing by fixation in stable solid media
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21F—PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR
    • G21F9/00—Treating radioactively contaminated material; Decontamination arrangements therefor
    • G21F9/04—Treating liquids
    • G21F9/06—Processing
    • G21F9/16—Processing by fixation in stable solid media
    • G21F9/162—Processing by fixation in stable solid media in an inorganic matrix, e.g. clays, zeolites
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21F—PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR
    • G21F9/00—Treating radioactively contaminated material; Decontamination arrangements therefor
    • G21F9/28—Treating solids
    • G21F9/30—Processing
    • G21F9/301—Processing by fixation in stable solid media
    • G21F9/302—Processing by fixation in stable solid media in an inorganic matrix
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21F—PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR
    • G21F9/00—Treating radioactively contaminated material; Decontamination arrangements therefor
    • G21F9/28—Treating solids
    • G21F9/30—Processing
    • G21F9/301—Processing by fixation in stable solid media
    • G21F9/302—Processing by fixation in stable solid media in an inorganic matrix
    • G21F9/305—Glass or glass like matrix
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B2235/00—Aspects relating to ceramic starting mixtures or sintered ceramic products
    • C04B2235/02—Composition of constituents of the starting material or of secondary phases of the final product
    • C04B2235/30—Constituents and secondary phases not being of a fibrous nature
    • C04B2235/32—Metal oxides, mixed metal oxides, or oxide-forming salts thereof, e.g. carbonates, nitrates, (oxy)hydroxides, chlorides
    • C04B2235/3201—Alkali metal oxides or oxide-forming salts thereof
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B2235/00—Aspects relating to ceramic starting mixtures or sintered ceramic products
    • C04B2235/02—Composition of constituents of the starting material or of secondary phases of the final product
    • C04B2235/30—Constituents and secondary phases not being of a fibrous nature
    • C04B2235/34—Non-metal oxides, non-metal mixed oxides, or salts thereof that form the non-metal oxides upon heating, e.g. carbonates, nitrates, (oxy)hydroxides, chlorides
    • C04B2235/3409—Boron oxide, borates, boric acids, or oxide forming salts thereof, e.g. borax
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B2235/00—Aspects relating to ceramic starting mixtures or sintered ceramic products
    • C04B2235/02—Composition of constituents of the starting material or of secondary phases of the final product
    • C04B2235/30—Constituents and secondary phases not being of a fibrous nature
    • C04B2235/34—Non-metal oxides, non-metal mixed oxides, or salts thereof that form the non-metal oxides upon heating, e.g. carbonates, nitrates, (oxy)hydroxides, chlorides
    • C04B2235/3427—Silicates other than clay, e.g. water glass
    • C04B2235/3436—Alkaline earth metal silicates, e.g. barium silicate
    • C04B2235/3454—Calcium silicates, e.g. wollastonite
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B2235/00—Aspects relating to ceramic starting mixtures or sintered ceramic products
    • C04B2235/02—Composition of constituents of the starting material or of secondary phases of the final product
    • C04B2235/50—Constituents or additives of the starting mixture chosen for their shape or used because of their shape or their physical appearance
    • C04B2235/52—Constituents or additives characterised by their shapes
    • C04B2235/5208—Fibers
    • C04B2235/5216—Inorganic
    • C04B2235/524—Non-oxidic, e.g. borides, carbides, silicides or nitrides
    • C04B2235/5248—Carbon, e.g. graphite
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P40/00—Technologies relating to the processing of minerals
    • Y02P40/50—Glass production, e.g. reusing waste heat during processing or shaping
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P40/00—Technologies relating to the processing of minerals
    • Y02P40/60—Production of ceramic materials or ceramic elements, e.g. substitution of clay or shale by alternative raw materials, e.g. ashes

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the production of additive-containing aluminoborosilicates at low temperature by mixing powder and liquid components.
  • the additive-containing aluminoborosilicate thus produced have exceedingly advantageous characteristics as structural materials and may be utilized in fields where high water and heat resistance, refractoriness, strength, impact resistance, and light weight are required.
  • the fields of application of the invention can be divided into nuclear and non- nuclear applications.
  • the materials may be utilized for producing fire resistant structural parts in a manner that during the setting process the composition that is transforming into an additive- containing aluminoborosilicate is mixed with small particles of suitable materials.
  • suitable materials are for instance polystyrene beads, crushed wood and paper, as well as sawdust. This method may be applied for producing fire- and heat-resistant construction elements.
  • additive-containing aluminoborosilicates are capable of capturing neutrons.
  • the proposed aluminoborosilicate material is suitable for making neutron-capturing walls and structural elements.
  • the current regime involves collecting the waste, and after optional chemical treatment evaporating it and storing it for a limited time (depending on the degree of evaporation) either in water-soluble crystalline form or as a thick liquid in facilities located on the premises of the power plant.
  • Nuclear power plants have finite interim storage capacity, and therefore it is important to solve the problem of the long-term, safe storage of this type of waste.
  • Nuclear waste must be stored for several hundreds of years as it contains isotopes that, though appear in low concentration, represent significant activity having a half-life of typically 30 years ( Cs). Radioactive waste can only be stored for a prolonged period of time in solid, water-insoluble form.
  • the present invention may be applied for solidifying the above mentioned nuclear waste at room temperature with no or only minimal increase of the volume of the waste material relative to its initial state.
  • the solidified waste form produced with the application of the present invention is heat and fire-resistant, with the radioactive isotopes being bonded in such a way that they are not released to a significant extent even when leached in water.
  • the solidified waste produced with the application of the present invention can be safely stored for a prolonged period of time at underground radioactive waste disposal facilities, primarily in barrel containers. Of the above listed nuclear applications the most important one is the storage of radioactive waste.
  • Borosilicate glasses are boron oxide-containing low thermal expansion glasses having a softening temperature of about 820 degrees Celsius. These glass types are produced at temperatures of 800-1000 degrees Celsius, and usually have technical applications, e.g. are applied for making laboratory equipment etc. To our knowledge, to date no one has produced an additive-containing aluminoborosilicate at low temperature.
  • cementation involves mixing the waste with cement, and, if necessary, water and additives, and storing the cement-embedded waste in barrel containers after setting.
  • a major problem with the cementation of boron-containing wastes is that boron compounds inhibit the setting of the cement.
  • the waste must either be chemically pre-treated, large amounts of additives must be used, or special cement compositions must be applied.
  • US patent application No. 20090156878 discloses a method applying a sulphoaluminate cement comprising gypsum, lime, and sand as additives. In case conventional cement is applied, the waste material containing boric acid becomes cementable only due to the application of special organic dispersants and set retardation agents (US PAT 4,504,317).
  • a common disadvantage of all methods involving cementation is that the cement and its additives should be applied in great quantities, which results in the 2.5-3 times volume increase of the solidified waste with respect to the initial waste volume. This is a huge disadvantage, as two-thirds of the capacity of the highly expensive nuclear waste storage facilities is used up for storing ballast materials.
  • Another disadvantages of processes involving cementation are that isotopes may dissolve under the effect of water relatively easily from the cement-embedded waste, and also that above 800 degrees Celsius the cement breaks into pieces due to the volatilization of the water bonded therein. This latter characteristic of the cement also poses a problem for construction applications.
  • Another conceivable solution for storing radioactive waste is embedding the waste in plastic.
  • An obvious advantage of this solution is that the waste in its form embedded in the plastic cannot be dissolved by water at room temperature from the solidified material.
  • This solution involves either mixing the waste with molten plastic or mixing the plastic monomers with the radioactive waste in containers, and producing the plastic later by stirring and adding a catalyst. The newly formed plastic embeds the waste as it sets.
  • US patent No. 4,582,638 discloses such a method, which may generally be carried out utilizing many different sorts of plastic, additives, and catalyst.
  • radioactive waste water-resistant Probably one of the simplest solutions for making radioactive waste water-resistant is embedding it in paraffin. This is brought about by mixing the crystallized radioactive waste with molten paraffin (wax), and letting it cool and solidify. Such a method is disclosed in the document US 5,879,110.
  • Vitrification is usually applied for the ultimate disposal of high-activity solid radioactive waste, typically spent nuclear fuel material. Since conventional glasses are not particularly suitable for this application, heat resistant, high boron-content borosilicate glasses are usually utilized, which are also more resistant chemically.
  • the process involves mixing the water-free, solid waste with molten, liquid glass at a temperature of 700-1000 degrees Celsius, and letting the mixture solidify, or mixing the waste to the components of the glass and heating the mixture to the temperature where glass is produced from the components. With the application of vitrification, highly resistant waste forms may be produced. Vitrified nuclear waste can be stored for a prolonged time without any significant risk.
  • the compressive strength of the material according to the present invention is, however, always higher than 5 MPa, and may be as high as 20-30 MPa. Applying our method it is possible to make solid blocks not only from liquid solutions but also from crystalline borax. According to our method no acid is utilized, only aluminium-containing inorganic components and additives are applied during the solidification process. In our case the application of potassium water glass increases (rather than decreases) the compressive strength of the solidified waste. The end product of our process has low water content, and therefore the solidified waste is heat resistant up to 600-800 degrees Celsius.
  • the aim of the invention is to develop a process enabling the production of additive- containing aluminoborosilicates at low temperature, preferably at room temperature.
  • low temperature is hereinafter used to refer to a temperature range of 0-120 degrees Celsius, while the phrase “room temperature” designates a temperature range of 20-25 degrees Celsius.
  • the additive-containing aluminoborosilicates produced according to the present invention have the following advantageous characteristics:
  • the material may be prepared by mixing powders and liquids, by casting or moulding, either in a batch or continuous process.
  • the material is pliable immediately after mixing, but sets in a short time.
  • the objective of the invention is to provide an additive-containing aluminoborosilicate for nuclear and non-nuclear applications and a process for the production thereof that can be produced relatively simply and cheaply.
  • the main objective of the invention is to provide that radioactive waste solutions containing boric acid or borates, as well as thicker radioactive sludges, slurries or powders, can be solidified such that the solidified form is suitable for long-term (terminal) storage, and fulfils the following requirements:
  • the materials added during solidification should not only encapsulate the boric acid- containing waste, but should react with it, thereby forming a homogeneous, resisting material.
  • the volume of the solidified waste should be higher than the original volume of the boric acid-containing waste by maximum 0-15%.
  • the solidified waste should not contain added organic materials and should not be inflammable.
  • the added inorganic material content of the solidified waste form should be lower than 70% by mass, and more preferably around 50% by mass.
  • the boron concentration of the solidified waste should be higher than 3% by mass, and preferably 6.5% by mass or higher.
  • the aluminium concentration of the solidified waste, expressed in aluminium oxide, should be lower than 25% by mass, preferably around 7% by mass.
  • the boron to aluminium molar ratio of the solidified waste should be higher than 0.2, and preferably around 2.
  • the solidified waste should be heat resistant, not significantly losing its characteristic properties after a 600-degree Celsius heat treatment.
  • the compressive strength of the solidified waste should be higher than 5 MPa on the 28th day after preparation.
  • the hardness of the solidified waste should be higher than 7 (the solidified waste should be able to scratch glass).
  • the leachability index of the waste as determined utilizing the leachability test defined in US standard ANSI/ANS- 16.1-2003 should be higher than 6.
  • the process to be applied for producing the solidified waste form should therefore fulfil the following requirements:
  • the process should be able to be implemented at low temperature, preferably also at room temperature (at 20-25 degrees Celsius), basically implying that no external heating should be necessary.
  • the solidification process should be applicable to concentrates and boric acid solutions discharged from nuclear power plants that contain 330-400 g of dry solids (sodium borate) per litre.
  • the process material should not foam during preparation and mixing to an extent that would hinder the technology process.
  • the solidified waste form should be preparable by simple mixing, even in the barrel containers applied for its long-term (or terminal) storage.
  • Our invention is based on the recognition that alkali silicates, as alkaline substances, form aluminoborosilicates when they are reacted with borates and certain aluminium- containing inorganic components at low temperature.
  • liquid alkali silicates and liquid or solid borates should be mixed with aluminium-containing inorganic components, and with additives applied in smaller quantities.
  • the properties of the aluminoborosilicates thus synthesised may be adjusted beneficially by adding different amounts of inorganic materials to achieve the desired characteristics.
  • the alkali silicates may be produced from silicon dioxide and alkali hydroxides either before or during the mixing of the components. In most cases kaolin or kaolin pre-treated at high temperature may be applied as aluminium source.
  • Applicable additives are Ca-silicate and other silicates, zeolite, diatomite, clay minerals and metal oxides (e.g. ZnO, CaO, MgO, Ti0 2 , A1 2 0 3 , lead oxides, chromium oxides, manganese oxides, cobalt oxides, iron oxides, boron oxides). Before setting finishes, the additive-containing aluminoborosilicates thus produced may of course be mixed with different filler materials.
  • inorganic polymer-structure aluminoborosilicates and additive-containing aluminoborosilicates are produced.
  • the main difference in the inorganic polymer structure is that in our invention the aluminium atoms are largely replaced by chemically similar boron atoms.
  • the most important tenet of the process for producing a waste form suitable for safe long-term storage from a concentrate containing radioactive boron or from radioactive contaminated crystalline boric acid or borate is that the boron-containing waste is transformed to additive-containing aluminoborosilicate.
  • the material added to the radioactive waste not only encapsulates the waste but chemically reacts with it and forms a relatively chemically resistant, homogeneous, pure or additive-containing aluminoborosilicate polymer.
  • the newly formed material consists of inorganic, rather than organic, components.
  • the chemical reaction producing the aluminoborosilicate material occurs in aqueous and aqueous gel phases.
  • Our solution for the safe long-term storage of borate or boric acid-containing radioactive waste therefore consists in chemically transforming the waste at low temperature to stone-like additive-containing aluminoborosilicate blocks.
  • the aluminoborosilicates according to the invention may be produced at low temperature, preferably at room temperature such that alkaline alkali silicates are reacted with boric acid and/or borates and with certain aluminium-containing inorganic components.
  • the properties of the aluminoborosilicates thus synthesised may preferably be adjusted by adding low quantities of inorganic additives.
  • the material may be produced in a fibre-reinforced form, in which case solid fibre materials should be admixed to the prepared composition when it is still plastic.
  • the process for producing the material involves first producing a liquid component and a solid component in fine powder form, and then admixing at low temperature the powder component to the liquid component in small charges.
  • the thick composition thereby obtained solidifies at room temperature in a time between 10 minutes and 1 hour, and continues to set slowly, with its compressive strength reaching its final value in 3 weeks. Setting time is shorter at temperatures higher than room temperature.
  • the boron content of the material comes from the nuclear waste.
  • the radioactive waste is not only encapsulated by and embedded in the added material, but the added material chemically reacts with it and forms a new resistant, homogeneous material (additive-containing aluminoborosilicate) that contains the radioactive isotopes in chemically bonded form.
  • the nuclear waste solidified in such a manner may be stored for a prolonged period of time at underground radioactive waste disposal facilities without releasing radioactive isotopes.
  • the material may be produced at low temperature, applying either manual or machine stirring. In case of industrial manufacturing either batch-type or continuous technologies may be applied. In case radioactive waste is processed, it is necessary to provide means for radiation shielding.
  • Additive-containing aluminoborosilicates may be produced at low temperature from the following basic components:
  • the grain size distribution of the powder is extremely important. As a general rule, it can be said that the smaller the grain size of the applied material, the better the mechanical properties of the additive-containing aluminoborosilicate will become.
  • a grain size range of 1-1000 micrometres is suitable, but preferably materials with a grain size less than 90 micrometres should be applied.
  • silicon sources e.g. silicon dioxide
  • the suitable grain size range is 0.1-10 micrometres, but preferably materials having a grain size of 0.1-5 micrometres should be applied to ensure that an additive-containing aluminoborosilicate with sufficiently good characteristics is obtained.
  • silicon dioxide the grain size should be so small as to enable the powder to be dissolved in 30-40% potassium- or sodium hydroxide solution at room temperature.
  • aluminoborosilicate material may be adjusted by applying different additives.
  • additives a grain size range of 1-500 micrometres is suitable, but it is preferable to apply materials with a grain size of 10-90 micrometres. Based on their effective behaviour, additives may be divided into the following groups:
  • Zinc oxide (ZnO) Zinc oxide (ZnO)
  • Manganese oxides such as manganese dioxide (Mn0 2 )
  • Lead oxide Provides shielding against gamma radiation, to be applied for making radiation shielding elements.
  • Barium sulphate Provides shielding against gamma rays, to be applied for making radiation shielding elements.
  • Magnetite Borosilicates containing added magnetite are attracted by magnet.
  • those materials are also important which, if applied in low concentration (below 1% by mass) do not affect the properties of the additive- containing aluminoborosilicate but become chemically bonded in the additive-containing aluminoborosilicate polymer.
  • Such elements are for instance cobalt and cesium. These elements have radioactive isotopes appearing in nuclear waste.
  • the additive-containing aluminoborosilicate may be mixed with filler materials before setting.
  • the applied amount of filler materials may be 0.01-5 times the amount of the additive-containing aluminoborosilicate.
  • the applied filler material may be a mineral containing aluminium and silicon, including but not limited to:
  • the setting time may be most efficiently controlled by adjusting the ratio of the potassium and sodium concentration of the additive-containing
  • aluminoborosilicate In case of high sodium to potassium molar ratio the material sets slowly, while in case of high potassium to sodium molar ratio it sets quickly. In the latter case the fully set additive-containing aluminoborosilicate material has better mechanical characteristics and improved water resistance.
  • Setting time may also be controlled by additives, for instance adding titanium
  • the temperature at which the material is prepared by mixing may also affect
  • composition (expressed in oxides, given in percents by mass) of the additive-containing aluminoborosilicate preparable at low temperature can have the following concentration ranges per element: Elementary component Concentration Preferable range concentration (mass %) range
  • Titanium Ti0 2
  • Lead PD3O4
  • Mn0 2 Manganese
  • Iron Fe 2 0 3
  • Barium BaO
  • Chromium (Cr 2 0 3 ), Cobalt (CoO), Cesium (Cs 2 0),
  • the molar ratio of major components of the additive-containing aluminoborosilicate prepared at room temperature may be within the following ranges:
  • the elementary components oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H) occur in high proportion in the basic compounds utilized to produce the additive-containing aluminoborosilicate. However, since their quantity or proportion is not one of the best characterizing properties of the aluminoborosilicate, their concentration ratios are not specified.
  • the process for producing the additive-containing aluminoborosilicate involves first producing both a liquid component and a solid component in fine powder form, and then admixing at low temperature the powder component to the liquid component in small charges.
  • the liquid component cannot be added in small charges to the powder component.
  • the liquid component may be partially or entirely constituted by a thick liquid obtained by partially evaporating the aqueous radioactive waste solution. In this case it is not necessary to crystallize the waste material.
  • the radioactive waste material may therefore constitute a portion of both the liquid and powder components.
  • Setting of the material may be retarded by cooling the container in which the material is being mixed.
  • the borosilicate material may be produced by casting or moulding.
  • a granular, earth-damp material should be produced by the mixing process, with the final shape of the material being determined by the shape of the mould.
  • the manufacturing process can be batch-type or continuous. In a continuous-type process the material may be transported utilizing a transport screw. The manufacturing process can be automated.
  • containing aluminoborosilicate is room temperature (20-25 deg Celsius)
  • Example 1 a process for making an additive-containing aluminoborosilicate at room temperature is described. The process involves first preparing a liquid component and a solid, fine powder component, and then admixing the powder to the liquid component in small charges.
  • a Na-borate solution is prepared. 26 g of solid NaOH is added to 153.6 g of water, and then 38 g of crystalline boric acid (H3BO3) is dissolved in the solution. Thereby a solution with a mass of 220 g and volume of 200 cm 3 is obtained. 43 g of KOH and a further 12 g of NaOH is dissolved in this solution to complete the production of the liquid component.
  • H3BO3 crystalline boric acid
  • the powder component is admixed to the liquid component in small charges, and the composition thus obtained is cast in mould and left to solidify at room temperature.
  • the thick composition thereby obtained solidifies in under half an hour, and continues to set slowly, with its compressive strength reaching its final value in 3 weeks.
  • the solidified material is extremely hard, to the effect that a sharp piece of the material can scratch glass.
  • the fibre reinforcement material may for instance be carbon fibre, basalt fibre, glass fibre, Kevlar fibre, or other fibres.
  • Example 2 illustrates the process of transforming a radioactive boric acid-containing concentrate into an additive-containing aluminoborosilicate polymer.
  • the composition of the radioactive boric acid-containing concentrate is 70% by mass water, 18,3% by mass boric acid and 11.7% by mass sodium hydroxide.
  • the density of the concentrate is about 1.2 kg/litre.
  • a fine powder material of the following composition is admixed to the liquid concentrate:
  • the thick composition thereby obtained solidifies in under half an hour, and continues to set slowly, with its compressive strength reaching its final value in 3 weeks.
  • the solidified material is extremely hard, to the effect that a sharp piece of the material can scratch glass.
  • the volume of the solidified waste thus produced is only 5% higher than the volume of the original liquid radioactive waste solution.
  • Example 3 illustrates the application of the process for encapsulating radioactive contaminated crystalline borax in an additive-containing aluminoborosilicate polymer.
  • the thick composition thereby obtained solidifies in under half an hour, and continues to set slowly, with its compressive strength reaching its final value in 3 weeks.
  • the solidified material is extremely hard, to the effect that a sharp piece of the material can scratch glass.
  • the volume of the waste solidified in such a manner is only 1.05 times the volume of the 1 kg of crystalline borax that was the input of the process.
  • aluminoborosilicates Since additive-containing aluminoborosilicates have extremely advantageous mechanical characteristics, and may be produced at low temperatures relatively cheaply, they may be applied in many non-nuclear fields, for instance to replace porcelain and ceramic materials. Due to their advantageous characteristics, aluminoborosilicates may also be applied as fire- or heat-resistant coating or as fire-resistant structural elements.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
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  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
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  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
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  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)

Abstract

Le stockage à long terme (final) des déchets nucléaires à activité faible et moyenne est un problème environnemental extrêmement important. Une quantité considérable de ces types de déchets est constituée de matériaux liquides cristallins épais contenant de l'acide borique ou borate de sodium. Cette invention offre une solution simple à ce problème afin de solidifier les matières résiduaires. Le procédé selon l'invention est relativement peu coûteux, implique une faible augmentation de volume et la forme solidifiée obtenue présente des caractéristiques avantageuses. L'invention consiste à produire un aluminoborosilicate contenant un additif, à basse température, de préférence à température ambiante, à partir des composants suivants : un silicate alcalin liquide, de l'acide borique ou du borate liquide et/ou solide, un composant inorganique contenant de l'aluminium et au moins un additif. Le procédé de production de ce matériau consiste à produire un liquide homogène à partir des composants liquides, obtenir une poudre solide à partir des composants solides et mélanger progressivement le composant en poudre au composant liquide.
EP11754913.9A 2010-07-19 2011-07-15 Aluminoborosilicate contenant un additif et son procédé de production Withdrawn EP2596503A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
HU1000378A HU1000378D0 (en) 2010-07-19 2010-07-19 Method and apparatus for transforming salts and acids containing boron and/or solutions thereof into solid borosilicate at low temperature
PCT/HU2011/000075 WO2012010917A1 (fr) 2010-07-19 2011-07-15 Aluminoborosilicate contenant un additif et son procédé de production

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EP2596503A1 true EP2596503A1 (fr) 2013-05-29

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KR (2) KR20170089042A (fr)
HU (1) HU1000378D0 (fr)
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WO (1) WO2012010917A1 (fr)

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KR101734902B1 (ko) * 2015-12-23 2017-05-12 한국기초과학지원연구원 실리콘 및 차폐분말이 혼합된 방사선 차폐재 토출장치

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CN108686646B (zh) * 2018-05-30 2021-01-12 江苏开放大学（江苏城市职业学院） 一种磁性易分离的抗生素废水光催化降解催化剂及其制备方法和应用

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KR20170089042A (ko) 2017-08-02
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KR20130042569A (ko) 2013-04-26
WO2012010917A1 (fr) 2012-01-26

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