Hydrothermal leaching of rhyolite glass in the environment has implications for nuclear waste disposal

摘要: Glass has been widely advocated as a suitable medium for the immobilization of high-level nuclear waste1–6. Methods vitrification to borosilicate glass are advanced, with processes set up on semi-industrial scale7–9, but an alternative strategy would be incorporate waste into high-silica glass10. It is generally proposed5,6 that vitrified radioactive enclosed in metal canisters and stored underground. However, presence heated groundwater rocks means may corrode, allowing hot aqueous fluids come contact leach out elements. Numerous laboratory tests have performed short periods at relatively low temperatures assess leaching performances different types glass11–15, however, extrapolation predict long-term behaviour glasses after burial very uncertain. I report here microprobe analysis technique which investigated hydrothermal rhyolite adjacent fluid conduit Tertiary system Isle Skye, north-west Scotland. As composition proposed similar, this study help such underground burial.