Application of Sol-Gel Technology to Fixation of Nuclear Reactor Waste

Much of the sol-gel technology developed for reactor fuel fabrication is applicable to fixation of radioactive waste in glass or alternative crystalline forms. Generic advantages of the sol-gel process are the absence of dust, easy pneumatic transfer and sampling of either liquids or free flowing solid microspheres, product readily sinters to high density, and simple equipment amenable to remote operation. Initial attempts to prepare one of the leading candidate crystalline waste forms via the sol-gel process were successful.