Conversion of radioactive wastes to stable form for disposal

Abstract

Radioactive waste material, such as that resulting from radioactive weapons plant operation or from nuclear fuel reprocessing, in suitable form, such as radionuclide-containing oxide and/or oxyhydroxide and/or hydroxide particles, is held by a metal or metal 'alloy' to an electrically conductive cathodic material upon which the metal or alloy is electrodeposited. In this way the radionuclide species including strontium and/or cesium, which are biologically extremely hazardous, are incorporated into a metal matrix held to a base and may be disposed of, as by underground storage, in such form, which is considered to be more resistant to dissolution by ground water and to damage by mechanical stresses arising from tectonic activity than are glasses or ceramics incorporating radionuclides. In improvements of the process and of the resulting radionuclide-including article, the article is electrolytically or otherwise covered or coated with suitably corrosion resistant and mechanical damage resistant covering(s) or coating(s), as by continuing electrodeposition of the metal, sometimes after addition of more material, which is a source of the metal, to a suitable electrolyte, or after replacement of the electrolyte.