Patent Number: 058754075
Section: claims

1. A method for immobilizing waste chloride salts containing cesium for long term storage, comprising: mixing substantially dry, non-aqueous cesium chloride with chabazite; and  heating the mixture to a temperature sufficient to form a pollucite.  mixing non-aqueous cesium chloride with zeolite A; and  heating the cesium chloride and zeolite to a temperature sufficient to form a product comprised of pollucite and sodalite.  blending and heating zeolite with a waste chloride salt to trap the waste chloride salt ions within the zeolite structure to form a salt-loaded zeolite;  adding chabazite;  combining the salt-loaded zeolite and chabazite with glass; and  heating and pressurizing the combination to form a ceramic composite.  blending and heating zeolite with a waste chloride salt to trap the waste chloride salt ions within the zeolite structure to form a salt-loaded zeolite;  heating the salt-loaded zeolite to a temperature sufficient to form sodalite;  adding chabazite;  combining the sodalite zeolite and chabazite with glass; and  heating and pressurizing the combination to form a ceramic composite. 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of heating the mixture includes heating the mixture to a temperature above the melting temperature of cesium chloride. 3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of heating the mixture includes heating the mixture to a temperature above about 700.degree. C. 4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of cooling the pollucite, contacting the pollucite with glass, and heating the glass and pollucite to a temperature sufficient to form a pollucite and glass product. 5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the step of heating the glass and pollucite includes heating the glass and pollucite to a temperature above about 700.degree. C. 6. The method according to claim 4 wherein the glass is borosilicate glass. 7. The method according to claim 4 wherein the glass is initially present as glass frit. 8. The method according to claim 4 wherein the step of heating the glass and pollucite includes hot isostatic pressing. 9. A method for immobilizing waste chloride salts containing cesium for long term storage, comprising: 10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the cesium chloride and zeolite are heated to a temperature of above about 700.degree. C. 11. A method for improving the retention of cesium in waste products, comprising: 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of adding the chabazite includes adding 10% by weight chabazite. 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the chabazite is added during the blending of the waste chloride salt and the zeolite. 14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the chabazite is added after the blending of the waste chloride salt and the zeolite, and prior to heating the zeolite and waste chloride salt. 15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the zeolite is zeolite A. 16. A method for improving the retention of cesium in waste products, comprising: 17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the step of adding the chabazite includes adding 10% by weight chabazite. 18. The method according to claim 16 wherein the zeolite is zeolite A.