High-capacity isomorphic immobilization and leaching mechanism of Gd2Zr2O7-based ceramic waste form

Gd2Zr2O7(GZO)-based ceramic waste form has attracted broad interest due to its potential applications in the long-term disposal of high-level nuclear waste. However, its high-capacity isomorphic immobilization and leaching mechanism are not well understood yet. Herein, GZO-based waste form with a single pyrochlore phase and homogeneous element distribution, achieving an isomorphic waste load as high as 50 wt%, was fabricated successfully. Isomorphism failure of the waste form is due to the Ln6MoO12 (Ln is lanthanides) formation and direct precipitation of PdO from the oversaturated solid solution. Chemical durability tests showed that the 42-day leaching rates of nearly all elements in the waste form with the maximum waste load were only between 10−6 and 10−5 gm−2d−1. The leaching of 0.5SW·0.5GZO over a period of 42 days is primarily controlled by dissolution, leading to a gradual restructuring of the surface in two distinct stages: the formation of an amorphous passivation film and the agglomeration of amorphous precipitates. Notably, the formation of the amorphous passivation film stands as the primary factor influencing the leaching rate of the waste form.