In accordance with the present invention, provided is a method for producing a solidifying material for radioactive waste disposal, the method including a first step (S100) of pulverizing radioactive concrete waste and separating aggregates and paste and a second step (S200) of using the paste to produce a solidifying raw material, wherein the second step (S200) includes a calcination treatment step (S210) of calcining a mixture obtained by mixing an additional material with the paste; a sintering treatment step (S220) of sintering the mixture in a sintering furnace after the calcination treatment step (S210); and a rapid-cooling treatment step (S230) of rapid-cooling the mixture after the sintering treatment step (S220) to produce a clinker.

A hazardous material storage bank includes a wellbore extending into the Earth and including an entry at least proximate a terranean surface, the wellbore including a substantially vertical portion, a transition portion, and a substantially horizontal portion; a storage area coupled to the substantially horizontal portion of the well bore, the storage area within or below a shale formation, the storage area vertically isolated, by the shale formation, from a subterranean zone that includes mobile water; a storage container positioned in the storage area, the storage container sized to fit from the wellbore entry through the substantially vertical, the transition, and the substantially horizontal portions of the wellbore, and into the storage area, the storage container including an inner cavity sized enclose hazardous material; and a seal positioned in the wellbore, the seal isolating the storage portion of the wellbore from the entry of the wellbore.

According to one aspect of the invention, a method to create a ceramic waste form from used nuclear fuel. An active metal salt waste, a rare earth metal waste, and raw materials are received. The active metal salt waste is combined with the rare earth metal waste, forming a waste salt. The waste salt is then heated to approximately 500 C. The raw materials are also heated to approximately 500 C. The waste salt and raw materials are then blended to form a homogenous waste mixture. The homogenous waste mixture is heated to a first predetermined temperature for a predetermined amount of time, creating a ceramic waste form. The ceramic waste form is cooled to a second predetermined temperature.

According to one aspect of the invention, a method to create a ceramic waste form from used nuclear fuel. An active metal salt waste, a rare earth metal waste, and raw materials are received. The active metal salt waste is combined with the rare earth metal waste, forming a waste salt. The waste salt is then heated to approximately 500 C. The raw materials are also heated to approximately 500 C. The waste salt and raw materials are then blended to form a homogenous waste mixture. The homogenous waste mixture is heated to a first predetermined temperature for a predetermined amount of time, creating a ceramic waste form. The ceramic waste form is cooled to a second predetermined temperature.

A hazardous material storage repository includes a borehole that extends into the Earth from a terranean surface. The borehole includes an entry and a hazardous material storage borehole portion formed in a subterranean salt formation. The repository includes a storage canister positioned in the hazardous material storage borehole portion. The storage canister is sized to fit from the entry through a substantially vertical borehole portion of the borehole, and into the hazardous material storage borehole portion. The storage canister includes an inner cavity sized to enclose nuclear waste material that includes TRansUranic waste.

Described herein are cementitious composite materials incorporating carbon nanostructures (e.g., nanotubes, nanoplatelets, nanoribbons) that are employed as amendments (i.e., admixtures or additives) to cementitious waste forms as a means to enhance radionuclide and hazardous waste (e.g., heavy metals, toxic organics) retention wherein the incorporation of well-dispersed carbon nanostructures yields more effective waste forms through the resulting modification of the cementitious composite nano-, micro-, and meso-structure (e.g., hindering the infiltration of oxygen and the leaching of waste), and the chemical interactions between chemically-affine waste molecules and the amended cementitious composite.

A hazardous material storage bank includes a wellbore extending into the Earth and including an entry at least proximate a terranean surface, the wellbore including a substantially vertical portion, a transition portion, and a substantially horizontal portion; a storage area coupled to the substantially horizontal portion of the well bore, the storage area within or below a shale formation, the storage area vertically isolated, by the shale formation, from a subterranean zone that includes mobile water; a storage container positioned in the storage area, the storage container sized to fit from the wellbore entry through the substantially vertical, the transition, and the substantially horizontal portions of the wellbore, and into the storage area, the storage container including an inner cavity sized enclose hazardous material; and a seal positioned in the wellbore, the seal isolating the storage portion of the wellbore from the entry of the wellbore.

A method for stabilizing a neutralization slag of uranium associated zirconium and zirconia, and a stabilization agent used therein are disclosed. The stabilization agent includes the following components in parts by weight: a pretreatment agent of 2-8 parts, anhydrous calcium chloride of 2-6 parts, an adsorbent of 3-5 parts and a stabilizer of 4-9 parts. The stabilization agent is used to stabilize the uranium that is existed in the neutralization slag in a waste slag. The method includes the following steps: the pretreatment agent is used to alkalize and disperse the neutralization slag; soluble calcium salt is added to cement the neutralization slag; and the adsorbent and the stabilizer are used as a composite material to passivate the neutralization slag. The method has low cost, fast effectiveness, simple process, easy operation, and long-term stable remediation efficiency, which can be applied to the treatment and disposal of associated radioactive waste residues.

A method for stabilizing a neutralization slag of uranium associated zirconium and zirconia, and a stabilization agent used therein are disclosed. The stabilization agent includes the following components in parts by weight: a pretreatment agent of 2-8 parts, anhydrous calcium chloride of 2-6 parts, an adsorbent of 3-5 parts and a stabilizer of 4-9 parts. The stabilization agent is used to stabilize the uranium that is existed in the neutralization slag in a waste slag. The method includes the following steps: the pretreatment agent is used to alkalize and disperse the neutralization slag; soluble calcium salt is added to cement the neutralization slag; and the adsorbent and the stabilizer are used as a composite material to passivate the neutralization slag. The method has low cost, fast effectiveness, simple process, easy operation, and long-term stable remediation efficiency, which can be applied to the treatment and disposal of associated radioactive waste residues.

Provided herein are methods and compositions utilizing one or more cementitious replacement materials, one or more alkaline activating materials, and, optionally one or more bonding materials and/or one or more setting time enhancer materials. The one or more cement precursors comprises one or more of non-radioactive nuclear waste; swarf, insoluble hydroxide of carbonate salts, radioactive wastes, petroleum coke, spent solvent wastes, electroporating and other metal finishing wastes, dioxin-bearing wastes, chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons production, wood preserving wastes, petroleum refinery wastewater treatment sludges, multisource leachate, organic chemicals manufacturing waste, pesticide manufacturing waste, petroleum refining waste, human pharmaceuticals manufacturing waste; veterinary pharmaceuticals manufacturing waste; inorganic pigment manufacturing waste; inorganic chemicals manufacturing waste; explosives manufacturing waste; iron and/or steel production waste; primary aluminum production waste; secondary lead processing waste; ink formulation waste; coking waste; or a combination thereof. The one or more alkaline activating agents comprises potassium silicate, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, reactive magnesium oxide, calcium chloride, sodium carbonate, silicone dioxide, sodium aluminate, calcium sulfate, sodium sulfate, or dolomite, or a combination thereof. The system comprises a vertical impact mill.