METHOD OF DEACTIVATING RADIOACTIVE METALLIC WASTE

FIELD: radioactive materials disposal. ^ SUBSTANCE: radioactive metallic waste charge (10-50%) is melted in crucible together with slag-forming composition consisted of powdered refining flux (39-85%) and mineral substance (1-15%) in absence of metal deoxidation. Melting is accomplished in one step in presence of air over melt mirror, whereupon slag is withdrawn together with radionuclides incorporated therein. Powdered refining flux utilized is an oxidant/reducer mixture, 60-83 and 17-40%, respectively. Oxidant is selected from fourth period-transition metal oxide and oxide mixture, reducer is aluminum or silicocalcium, or their mixture, and mineral substance is selected from zircon, secondary group IV metal dioxides, and their mixtures. Heating of radioactive metallic waste with slag-forming composition and melting thereof are effected by initiating exothermic reaction between oxidant and reducer in powdered refining flux by external heat source. ^ EFFECT: simplified and accelerated process, and improved stability of matrix blocks obtained after cooling of slags.