Synthesis and characterization of glass-ceramics from SPL waste

The glass formation characteristics and safe disposal of the hazardous solid waste "spent potliner (SPL)" was studied. Effects of sand, limestone, dicalcium silicate dust, and MgO baghouse dust additions on the viscosity, glass formation and leachability characteristics of SPL were investigated. Results showed that SPL can be fixed in a glassy matrix on making these additions. Optimum amounts of additives were shown for obtaining the lowest viscosity of the melt, the lowest fluoride leachability, and the best glass formation characteristics.; A structure based model was developed for the prediction of viscosity of alkali oxide-borate melts. A polymerization scheme was developed and the distribution of polymeric species in these melts was calculated as a function of alkali oxide content. This distribution was incorporated in developing the viscosity model. The model gives an excellent prediction of viscosity of M{dollar}sb2{dollar}O-B{dollar}sb2{dollar}O{dollar}sb3{dollar} melts over the entire composition and temperature range.