Sustainable iron phosphate glass for efficient nuclear waste immobilization: structural, physical, and environmental protection characterization

This study investigates the development of iron phosphate glasses doped with simulated nuclear waste for the purpose of waste vitrification, a process crucial for preventing environmental leakage. The structural, physical, and radiological properties of these glasses are analyzed to assess their suitability for radioactive waste containment. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms that the glasses are amorphous, while density increases and molar volume decreases as the waste content rises. Infrared (FTIR) spectra indicate shifts in band positions, reflecting changes in the glass network structure. Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS) shows modifications in the coordination of iron ions influenced by incorporating waste oxides. Microhardness improves with higher waste content, indicating increased network stability. The chemical durability, measured by dissolution rate, improves with increased waste content, suggesting better resistance to leaching. Gamma-ray shielding properties, including mass attenuation coefficients (µm) and half-value layers (HVL), are enhanced with higher waste concentrations, calculated using the ‘Phy-X/PSD’ software. The novelty of this work lies in integrating structural, durability, and gamma-shielding evaluations to provide a comprehensive assessment of waste-loaded iron phosphate glasses. These results demonstrate the potential of these vitrified glass systems for securely immobilizing nuclear waste, preventing leakage, and providing effective radiation shielding.