Vitrification of nuclear and other toxic wastes

摘要

A toxic waste and glass frit are fed into an extruder having a helical screw. The glass frit, as well as any glassy material and glass-forming component in the waste, are melted in the extruder as the screw transports the waste and the frit through the extruder. The screw further mixes the waste and the frit and homogenizes the resulting mixture. The extruder is designed to generate high shear rates and high internal friction and at least a portion of the heat for melting is produced by such friction. A vitrified mass of the toxic waste is discharged from the extruder. The vitrified mass can be stored as is or can be pelletized and/or encapsulated.