Structural characterization of uranium and lanthanide loaded borosilicate glass matrix

Abstract Borosilicate glass is a potential candidate for high-level radioactive waste conditioning, thus understanding the effects caused by the combined presence of uranium and actinides within these matrices is of great importance. The glass matrix was simultaneously loaded with UO3 and lanthanide...

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Main Authors: I. Tolnai, J. Osan, P. Jovari, F. Pinakidou, A. Sulyok, M. Fabian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13166-1
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author I. Tolnai
J. Osan
P. Jovari
F. Pinakidou
A. Sulyok
M. Fabian
author_facet I. Tolnai
J. Osan
P. Jovari
F. Pinakidou
A. Sulyok
M. Fabian
author_sort I. Tolnai
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Borosilicate glass is a potential candidate for high-level radioactive waste conditioning, thus understanding the effects caused by the combined presence of uranium and actinides within these matrices is of great importance. The glass matrix was simultaneously loaded with UO3 and lanthanide oxides (CeO2, Nd2O3, and Eu2O3) as chemical surrogates for actinides. Neutron diffraction in combination with Reverse Monte Carlo simulation confirmed that the basic glass structure is comprised of tetrahedral SiO4, and BO3/BO4 units. X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicated the presence of Ce mainly as CeIII and the co-existence of UV and UVI. U acts as an intermediate oxide and reduces the number of four-coordinated B, lanthanide ions serve as modifiers, with their increasing concentration shifting the B-O coordination from 3 to 4. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed a depth-dependent variation in the UIV/UVI ratio. Leaching tests showed increased dissolution of Si, B, and Na, compared to the glass matrix.
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spelling doaj-art-9bedcd3f85124e44ba62269a3b2938a42025-08-20T03:04:33ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111910.1038/s41598-025-13166-1Structural characterization of uranium and lanthanide loaded borosilicate glass matrixI. Tolnai0J. Osan1P. Jovari2F. Pinakidou3A. Sulyok4M. Fabian5Environmental Physics Department, HUN-REN Centre for Energy ResearchEnvironmental Physics Department, HUN-REN Centre for Energy ResearchHUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for PhysicsSchool of Physics, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiEnvironmental Physics Department, HUN-REN Centre for Energy ResearchEnvironmental Physics Department, HUN-REN Centre for Energy ResearchAbstract Borosilicate glass is a potential candidate for high-level radioactive waste conditioning, thus understanding the effects caused by the combined presence of uranium and actinides within these matrices is of great importance. The glass matrix was simultaneously loaded with UO3 and lanthanide oxides (CeO2, Nd2O3, and Eu2O3) as chemical surrogates for actinides. Neutron diffraction in combination with Reverse Monte Carlo simulation confirmed that the basic glass structure is comprised of tetrahedral SiO4, and BO3/BO4 units. X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicated the presence of Ce mainly as CeIII and the co-existence of UV and UVI. U acts as an intermediate oxide and reduces the number of four-coordinated B, lanthanide ions serve as modifiers, with their increasing concentration shifting the B-O coordination from 3 to 4. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed a depth-dependent variation in the UIV/UVI ratio. Leaching tests showed increased dissolution of Si, B, and Na, compared to the glass matrix.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13166-1Borosilicate glassNeutron diffractionReverse monte carlo simulationX-ray absorption spectroscopyX-ray photoelectron spectroscopyLeaching test
spellingShingle I. Tolnai
J. Osan
P. Jovari
F. Pinakidou
A. Sulyok
M. Fabian
Structural characterization of uranium and lanthanide loaded borosilicate glass matrix
Scientific Reports
Borosilicate glass
Neutron diffraction
Reverse monte carlo simulation
X-ray absorption spectroscopy
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
Leaching test
title Structural characterization of uranium and lanthanide loaded borosilicate glass matrix
title_full Structural characterization of uranium and lanthanide loaded borosilicate glass matrix
title_fullStr Structural characterization of uranium and lanthanide loaded borosilicate glass matrix
title_full_unstemmed Structural characterization of uranium and lanthanide loaded borosilicate glass matrix
title_short Structural characterization of uranium and lanthanide loaded borosilicate glass matrix
title_sort structural characterization of uranium and lanthanide loaded borosilicate glass matrix
topic Borosilicate glass
Neutron diffraction
Reverse monte carlo simulation
X-ray absorption spectroscopy
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
Leaching test
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13166-1
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