STUDY OF CORROSION ON VARIOUS METALS IN THE CALCINING OF AQUEOUS RADIOACTIVE WASTES CONTAINING ZIRCONIUM FLUORIDE AND ALUMINUM NITRATE AS BULK SALTS

摘要

The calcinations of bulk salts of zirconium and aluminum in high level radioactive wastes to their stable oxides is a logical step toward ultimate disposal. The outstanding objectives here are to achieve maximum chemical stability and minimum volume. Since zirconium wastes contain the bulk salts zirconium fluoride, aluminum fluoride, and aluminum nitrate, the calcinations which requires temperatures up to 700 CC obviously presents a serious problem with respect to corrosion of the container materials. The present study was undertaken for the purpose of measuring the resistance of certain selected materials to the corrosive conditions encountered in the calcinations of simulated zirconium waste solutions in rotary ball kilns. Two separate investigations were made:the first centered on the use of two kilns in series and the second involved only a single kiln.