Redox Systematics in Model Glass Compositions from West Valley

Abstract

ABSTRACTAt a processing temperature of 1150°C for model West Valley glass compositions, the prescribed range of oxygen fugacities needed to achieve an [Fe2+]/[Fe3+] of 0.1 to 0.5 is 10−4 to 10−7 atm. Establishment of the Fe2+-Fe0 equilibrium, resulting in metal precipitation from the melt, occurs at oxygen fugacities lower than 10−11 atm at this temperature. The target processing range as defined by the iron redox ratio is equally valid at both lower and higher temperatures (±100°C). Elevations of the concentrations of redox-active components to I wt% Cr2O3, 1 wt% NiO, 1 wt% CuO, 1 wt% CeO2, and 4 wt% Mn2O3 in the waste glass will not affect the redox limits as established by the iron redox ratio of 0.1 to 0.5; these limits provide sufficiently large margins of safety to assure no stabilization of reduced or oxidized forms of these elements.