MIXING APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

The invention provides an apparatus for the encapsulation of waste materials, the apparatus comprising: (a) a container; (b) a plurality of means for the aeration of the waste materials; and (c) agitation means, wherein the agitation means is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation in the container and the plurality of aeration means is located on the agitation means. Preferably, the agitation means comprises a lost paddle system and the plurality of aeration means comprises a plurality of projecting elements, these elements most preferably comprising annular louvers. The invention also provides an encapsulation method using the apparatus of the invention. The apparatus and method of the invention are preferably used for the encapsulation of radioactive waste materials, typically comprising uranium and/or its compounds, and avoid the formation of pyrophoric uranium hydride.