Location
Havener Center, Miner Lounge / Wiese Atrium, 9:30am-11:30am
Start Date
4-2-2026 9:30 AM
End Date
4-2-2026 11:30 AM
Presentation Date
April 2, 2026; 9:30am-11:30am
Description
Molten salt reactors (MSRs) require durable waste forms for immobilizing halide-rich salts. This study examines iron phosphate glasses derived from a simple salt mixture (SSM), focusing on the effect of Fe₂O₃ additions (2.5–10 wt%) on structure and phase stability. Intermediates were processed at 300–600 °C and vitrified at 1050 °C. Raman spectroscopy and HPLC show that increasing iron content depolymerizes the phosphate network, shifting from Q² toward Q¹ species and reducing chain length. XRD confirms amorphous behavior for ≤7.5 wt% Fe₂O₃, while 10 wt% shows crystallization, with KFeP₂O₇ observed in samples processed at 400 °C. Despite reduced connectivity, iron enhances chemical stability through its role of iron in it's 3+ state. These results demonstrate that moderate iron additions enable tunable structure without crystallization, while higher loadings promote phase separation, informing the design of durable phosphate-based waste forms for MSR applications.
Biography
Lucas Greiner is a Third year PhD candidate working with Dr. Charmayne Lonergan on nuclear waste immobilization. Masters and Undergraduate from Alfred University in Alfred New York in Glass Science. Lucas has 15+ years working with glass, glass science or scientific glass technology. I have two associate’s degrees in fine art and applied science from Salem community College, Carney’s Point New Jersey. Lucas’s current work is with nuclear waste vitrification, characterizing iron phosphate glasses for immobilization and long-term storage applications.
Meeting Name
2026 - Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference
Department(s)
Materials Science and Engineering
Document Type
Poster
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
event
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2026 The Authors, All rights reserved
Structural Analysis on Iron Phosphate Glasses after Dechlorination of Mixed Chloride Waste Forms
Havener Center, Miner Lounge / Wiese Atrium, 9:30am-11:30am
Molten salt reactors (MSRs) require durable waste forms for immobilizing halide-rich salts. This study examines iron phosphate glasses derived from a simple salt mixture (SSM), focusing on the effect of Fe₂O₃ additions (2.5–10 wt%) on structure and phase stability. Intermediates were processed at 300–600 °C and vitrified at 1050 °C. Raman spectroscopy and HPLC show that increasing iron content depolymerizes the phosphate network, shifting from Q² toward Q¹ species and reducing chain length. XRD confirms amorphous behavior for ≤7.5 wt% Fe₂O₃, while 10 wt% shows crystallization, with KFeP₂O₇ observed in samples processed at 400 °C. Despite reduced connectivity, iron enhances chemical stability through its role of iron in it's 3+ state. These results demonstrate that moderate iron additions enable tunable structure without crystallization, while higher loadings promote phase separation, informing the design of durable phosphate-based waste forms for MSR applications.
Comments
Advisor: Charmayne E. Lonergan, clonergan@mst.edu