Radionuclide release into the gas phase during the calcination and vitrification of radioactive wastes

During laboratory calcination and vitrification of three kinds of radioactive wastes, the release of aerosols of 90Sr, 137Cs and the mixture of aerosols of 106Ru with 106RuO4 vapors was examined in dependence on the vitrification time, on the calcination and vitrification temperature and, for one type of waste, on the volume flow rate of the exhausted gas. For industrial vitrification, in which one waste type only was treated, the quantities measured included the release of all solid particles and of aerosols of cesium, the fraction of solid aerosols and aerosols of cesium settling in the tube connecting the furnace with the cooler, and the fraction of solid aerosols and of aerosols of cesium separated in the cooler. (author). 9 figs., 12 tabs., 11 refs