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Washington, D.C.
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Client
Vitreous State Laboratory at The Catholic University of America
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Completion date
Ongoing
Brad Bowan
Atkins Fellow, Senior Vice President , Washington, D.C., United States of America contact form+1 443 741 9241
The Vitreous State Laboratory (VSL), a research and development facility at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., specializes in glass science and vitrification technologies, playing a pivotal role in the safe immobilization of nuclear waste. It also supports major environmental cleanup efforts in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) and other international partners.
For nearly 50 years, partnering with VSL has enabled us to solve complex environmental challenges in nuclear waste management. Together, we’re currently using advanced technologies like robotics, artificial intelligence and digital twins to safely immobilize high-level radioactive waste and reduce environmental risks at nuclear sites around the world.
Vitrifying different types of radioactive waste isn’t a one-size-fits-all job. It takes custom glass formulations and precision engineering to increase melter efficiency and maximize waste loading rates. Our global engineering expertise, combined with VSL’s research capabilities, has facilitated the design of customized flowsheets and melter configurations meeting strict safety and performance standards. Such innovations have helped save billions of dollars on projects, too.
One of these innovations is the development and deployment of Joule Heated Ceramic Melter (JHCM) technology, including advanced DuraMelter systems. Originally designed for the West Valley Demonstration Project in western New York, DuraMelter systems operate at temperatures hotter than 2,000°F to convert radioactive waste into a durable glass product, locking in harmful chemicals and preventing them from leaching into the environment. They are also scalable, producing up to 30 metric tons of glass per day, making them the top-performing vitrification solution for high-level radioactive waste. Installing the technology at the DoE’s Savannah River site in South Carolina doubled glass production within a few months. It’s also driven vitrification advancements at other sites worldwide, from Hanford in Washington state to Rokkasho in Japan and Sellafield in the United Kingdom. Today, nearly all glass produced from nuclear waste in the United States relies on JHCM technology.
These efforts have made a profound impact. By stabilizing hazardous waste, we’ve helped protect communities near nuclear sites and safeguard the environment. In addition, we’re investing in the future through internships and training programs equipping the next generation of scientists and engineers to tackle tomorrow’s nuclear waste challenges.
Moving forward, we will continue working together to advance vitrification technologies and improve communities across the globe.
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