Vitrification thumb|upright=1.8|The Waste Vitrification Plant at Sellafield Long-term storage of radioactive waste requires the stabilization of the waste into a form that will neither react nor degrade for extended periods. It is theorized that one way to do this might be through vitrification.Ojovan, M. I. and Lee, W. E. (2005) An Introduction to Nuclear Waste Immobilisation, Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands, p. 315. Currently at Sellafield, the high-level waste (PUREX first cycle raffinate) is mixed with sugar and then calcined. Calcination involves passing the waste through a heated, rotating tube. The purposes of calcination are to evaporate the water from the waste and de-nitrate the fission products to assist the stability of the glass produced.
Vitrification thumb|upright=1.8|The Waste Vitrification Plant at Sellafield Long-term storage of radioactive waste requires the stabilization of the waste into a form that will neither react nor degrade for extended periods. It is theorized that one way to do this might be through vitrificationOjovan, M. I. and Lee, W. E. (2005) An Introduction to Nuclear Waste Immobilisation, Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands, p. 315. Currently at Sellafield, the high-level waste (PUREX first cycle raff.inate) is mixed with sugar and then calcined. Calcination involves passing the waste through a heated, rotating tube. The purposes of calcination are to evaporate the water from the waste and de-nitrate the fission products to assist the stability of the glass produced.