Possibilities and conditions for vitrification of medium-level wastes

Of the materials for which manufacturing processes are currently being developed, vitreous preparations have the best qualities (maximum reduction in volume, lowest rate of leaching of radionuclides, absence of requirements for fire safety in transportation and burial, etc.). In this connection, it is interesting to evaluate the possibility and conditions for vitrification of medium-level wastes. The investigatory and experimental work was performed for a setup using an electrically heated furnace, such as is being developed in the USSR for high-level wastes as well [I].