Leach rates of high activity waste from borosilicate glass

Eighteen glass buttons weighing approximately 10 g each were leached in static, distilled water at room temperature. Leach rates of 137Cs, 90Sr, and gross α-particle activity were approximately equal: 10-5 to 10-6 g/(cm-day) initially; 10-7 to 10-8 g/(cm2-day) after two weeks; and 10-8 to 10-9 g/(cm2-day) after 100 days. Leachability was not sensitive (within a factor of two) to either waste loading or waste type, confirming that borosilicate glass is a versatile matrix for long-term storage of solid radioactive wastes. 3 tables