Corrosion of low level vitrified radioactive waste in a loamy soil

Corrosion of high sodium borosilicate glass K-26 was examined over 16 years of storage in a loamy soil. An altered layer was formed on the glass surface which is inhomogeneous in thickness and composition. This layer is mostly amorphous with small crystalline inclusions. The pH of the groundwater in contact with the radioactive glass gradually from 7·5 to 7·9 and the groundwater was slightly contaminated with 137Cs at levels from ~20 to below 10 Bq/L after 16 years. The corrosion rate of glass diminishes with time and is 0·22 µg/cm2 day after 16 years.