Mössbauer studies of materials used to immobilise industrial wastes

The necessity to immobilise waste safely requires the development of stable materials. Mössbauer spectroscopy has been used to help understand and obtain desirable properties in alkali borosilicate glasses, phosphate glasses and vitrified sewage sludge ash. Phosphate glasses suitable for waste immobilisation have been microwaved and conventionally melted and differences reported. The environment of Fe in promising ceramics has also been studied. Mössbauer studies of irradiated vitrified wasteforms show their resistance to radiation damage.