Impacts of temperature on sulfur solubility in low‐activity waste glasses

• Published in: International journal of applied glass science Vol. 13; no. 2; pp. 244 - 253
• Main Authors: Jin, Tongan, Skidmore, Chloe H., Kruger, Albert A., Vienna, John D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Westerville Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.04.2022
• Subjects: forming melts; Glass; nuclear waste glass; properties‐borosilicate; properties‐glass; Radioactive wastes; Solubility; sulfate; Sulfur; temperature effect; Temperature effects
• ISSN: 2041-1286; 2041-1294
• DOI: 10.1111/ijag.16550

Solubility of sulfur in glass melts has been studied to estimate the maximum sulfur tolerance in nuclear waste glass melter operations. Sulfur solubility data at various temperatures are needed to investigate the possible sulfate segregation in different stages of the melting process. In this work, a crucible salt saturation method was applied to measure the sulfur solubility in three low‐activity glasses at different temperatures ranging from 950°C to 1200°C. The results show that temperature has little impact on sulfur solubility, with one exception that the sulfur solubility increases slightly from 950°C to 1100°C. The temperature effect of solubility data using SO2/O2 gas and sulfate salt as the sulfur source are compared. The decreased melter tolerance with decreasing temperature is likely caused by multiple factors including sulfur solubility.