Ancient glass clue to storing Hanford waste
Friday, August 12, 2011
RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) -- A piece of glass from a container on a ship that sank 1,800 years ago in the Adriatic Sea may help scientists who plan to turn Hanford radioactive waste into glass.
The Tri-City Herald reports (http://bit.ly/neAod0) scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are conducting an atom-by-atom study of the ancient glass. They particularly want to know how it holds up to water.
One scientist, Denis Strachan, says it has held up well. And the glass planned to incorporate the nuclear waste will be more durable.
The Energy Department is building a $12 billion vitrification plant at Hanford.
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Information from: Tri-City Herald, http://www.tri-cityherald.com
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