Experience of V. G. Khlopin Radium Institute on synthesis and investigation of pu-doped ceramics

Our research has shown that mono-phase cubic zirconia has the highest loading capacity for Pu (not less than 10 wt. %) in the form of Zr-Pu solid solution. Zircon host-phase provides complete incorporation of 6.9 wt. % Pu into zircon crystalline structure; however, higher Pu loading into initial precursor phases causes formation of separated PuO2 in the final polycrystalline zircon. Incorporation of actinides into the garnet and perovskite crystal structures depends on waste chemical composition, and in our experiments we were able to incorporate approximately 5–6 wt. % Pu. We will also discuss the industrial scale applications of these suggested ceramic waste forms.