The Role of Water Diffusion in the Corrosion of the French Nuclear Waste Glass SON 68 under Solution Saturation Conditions

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe alteration kinetics of the French borosilicate glass SON 68 have been investigated in a dynamic system at 50°C and 90°C under solution saturation conditions. The pH was adjusted to 4.8, 7.2 and 9.8 with addition of chemical buffers or/and by bubbling CO2 in solution. In all experiments, Li and Cs leaching seems to be controlled by a diffusion process. The Li- and Cs-concentrations were used to calculate the sum of ionic exchange and matrix dissolution rates of the glass while Mo-concentrations indicate matrix dissolution. The final leaching rates in saturation condition of Mo were in the order of 10–4–10- g.m-2.d-1 in good agreement with those given in literature for static tests. The glass surface was studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, STEM) for analysis of the corrosion products and by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for water speciation and concentration. A good inverse correlation between the water content and the alkali concentrations released from the glass has been obtained. About three hydrogen ions replaced one alkali ion. Modeling of the experimental data using GM 2001 model gives water diffusion coefficients between 10–20 and 10–22 m2.s-1.