Patent Number: 041728076
Section: claims

1. A method for anchoring radioactive waste from nuclear fuel in a body resistant to leaching by water comprising providing a mass containing radioactive substances and either a material which is resistant to leaching by water or a material which, when heated, forms a material resistant to leaching by water, enclosing the mass in a gas and liquid impervious capsule and isostatically pressing at a pressure and temperature sufficient for the formation of a coherent, dense body of the mass. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein particles of a radioactive material are mixed with particles of a material resistant to leaching by water to form the mass. 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the material resistant to leaching consists of a material containing one or more oxides. 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the material resistant to leaching consists of aluminum oxide. 5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the material resistant to leaching consists of quartz. 6. A method according to claim 3, wherein the material resistant to leaching consists of titanium dioxide. 7. A method according to claim 2, wherein the material resistant to leaching consists of rock existing in nature, such as a silicate. 8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mass includes a material in which the radioactive substances are fixed. 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the mass contains compounds of radioactive substances which are resistant to leaching by water. 10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the mass contains a material obtained by heating an ion exchange material in which the radioactive substances are fixed. 11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the ion exchange material consists of a zeolite. 12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the ion exchange material consists of a titanate. 13. A method according to claim 8, wherein the mass contains material resistant to leaching by water in addition to material in which the radioactive substances are fixed. 14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the additional material resistant to leaching by water consists of a material containing one or more oxides. 15. A method according to claim 1 wherein the capsule consists of metallic material. 16. A method according to claim 1 wherein the capsule consists of quartz glass. 17. A method according to claim 1 wherein the capsule consists of boron silicate glass. 18. A method according to claim 1 wherein the pressure during the isostatic pressing is at least 10 MPa. 19. A method according to claim 1 wherein the temperature during the isostatic pressing is at least 700.degree. C.