Determination of the Fe ²⁺ /Fe ³⁺ Ratio in Nuclear Waste Glasses

The Fe 2+ /Fe 3+ ratios of 47 simulated nuclear waste glass samples with ratios varying from 0.01 (oxidized) to 1.6 (reduced) were determined by wet‐chemical and Mössbauer spectral analyses. The wet‐chemical method involved the spectrophotometric determination of Fe 2+ and total iron using remote spectroscopy with fiber optic chemical sensing. Interferences from other species present in these glasses were examined and alternative analytical techniques were investigated. Results of wet‐chemical and Mössbauer spectral analysis were comparable; however, the wet‐chemical method is probably preferable for the analysis of highly radioactive glasses until such glasses have been shown to have satisfactory Mössbauer spectra.