Fixation of high level solid waste (HLSW) in a TiO2 base ceramic matrix provided with an integrated overpack

Compared with glass resulting from ceramic melter, the product described has the following advantages: significantly higher leaching resistance, lower losses of radioactive isotopes during processing in the off-gas, and possibility of integrating a ceramic overpack into the waste form. Compared to other crystalline waste forms, the advantages are: no necessity of very intimate mixing of HLW and matrix materials and potentially lower effects of transmutation (i.e., α-recoil ageing) on the stability of the product as they should be confined to a very small area around each waste particle. Obviously, the process development can by no means be compared with the glass melting technology which, however, should not lead to the conclusion that in the long rung glass will keep its leading position as a primary candidate for HLW fixation