Importance

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Abstract

In this invention radioactive or hazardous containing materials are vitrified in a melter having two or more chambers. Glass feed materials are added to the primary chamber of the melter and they are heated to a molten glass which is then transported to one or more secondary chambers where hazardous and/or radioactive containing materials are added and are encapsulated and/or melted. In addition, the non-plutonium part of a glass feed can be melted in a non-radioactive environment which permits contact operations and maintenance; no radioactive shielding; and a conventional off gas system-similar to commercial vitrification plants. The hot molten 'clean' glass is directed into a radioactive containment such as a 'glove box'; shielded 'glove box'; or hot cell, or a combination of these. By delivering hot 'clean' glass from a melter including non-radioactive materials, 90% of the off gases will be non-radioactive. Thereby only minimum heating is needed in the radioactive containment resulting in very significant reductions in size of the maintenance requirements for the radioactive portion of the process. In the radioactive portion, the glove box will include means for adding plutonium feed. The glass melt will be homogenized with the plutonium feed, optionally by additional stirring. Once the plutonium glass is sufficiently homogeneous, it can be cooled in the container in the glove box or the container becomes a disposal container for the glass. If the melt chamber is different than the container, the melt is discharged to a separate container, all within the glove box, for subsequent disposal.

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First Claim