**GeoMelt® vitrification destroys organic wastes and immobilizes radionuclides and heavy metals in an ultra-stable glass.** ## Vitrification: Durability for Millennia Vitrification – the process of converting something into glass – has long been considered an ideal choice for high-level nuclear waste by regulators internationally, because of its expected durability over hundreds of thousands of years. GeoMelt® creates ultra-stable glass that is typically 10 times stronger than concrete, and more durable than granite or marble. Its leach-resistance is among the highest of all materials in the world. Through vitrification technologies, we offer an economical, practical way to protect the environment from the threats of nuclear and hazardous waste. GeoMelt® is ideal for solid waste and debris. ## Industry Challenges Despite glass’s superiority, conventional vitrification technologies have been too complicated – and far too expensive – to deploy widely. Such technologies also require a homogeneous waste feed and are less flexible than GeoMelt®. Unlike most other vitrification technologies, GeoMelt® is cost effective and can process various types of wastes simultaneously. ## GeoMelt® Technology Paradigm Change How we transform waste into glass? GeoMelt® uses electric current to melt and produce glass. During the melt, hazardous wastes are destroyed from exposure to high temperatures, and radioactive isotopes are captured into a glass matrix. The GeoMelt® container is selected so that, after the melt, the glass within the container can be directly stored or disposed. The GeoMelt**®** Systems can be an In-Situ vitrification technology ideal for soil, solid wastes and debris but also an In-Container vitrification technology ideal for waste streams. This is a unique commingling of wastes to utilize glass forming capabilities of one stream to stabilize the other. ![Geomelt In-Situ & In-Container Vitrification](/sites/g/files/dvc4041/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/image/2017/02/Geomelt-Schema2_0.png.webp?itok=fFSbYJqG "Geomelt In-Situ & In-Container Vitrification") ![](/sites/g/files/dvc4041/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/image/2017/02/Geomelt-Schema3_0.png.webp?itok=Zsvxx1OI "Geomelt") ### GeoMelt’s® batch-treatment process delivers the following benefits that create its significant cost advantage: Ability to customize the glass formulation and melting temperatures for a specific waste stream Reduction of the amount of pretreatment An increase in waste-loading capacity The significant reduction of maintenance costs A dramatic volume reduction Minimizes handling of waste, thereby reducing risk to workers when compared to other waste treatment technologies Through vitrification technologies, we offer an economical, practical way to protect the environment from the threats of nuclear and hazardous waste. GeoMelt® is ideal for solid waste and debris, while the Modular Vitrification System (MVS®) is designed for liquid waste. ## Proven and Commercially Used Worldwide GeoMelt® Melters have been treating nuclear and hazardous waste since the 1990s, producing over 26,000 metric tons of glass for disposal in the U.S., UK, Australia, Japan and other countries. Initially developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in the U.S., GeoMelt® has been used successfully around the world for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in Hanford and at Sellafield in the UK for example. ### Learn more: [ ![GeoMelt® plant at Sellafield Central Laboratory Active Rig Hall](/sites/g/files/dvc4041/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2017/02/GeoMelt-Plant_0.jpg.webp?itok=PcwE93V7 "GeoMelt® plant at Sellafield Central Laboratory Active Rig Hall") ](/sellafield-uk-we-tackle-historic-challenge "Sellafield, UK") [Sellafield, UK](/sellafield-uk-we-tackle-historic-challenge "Sellafield, UK") At Sellafield, Veolia Nuclear Solution developed a project to design tooling and perform trials to test the remote removal of fuel and isotope materials from the Pile 1 reactor at the Windscale facility. [Read More](/sellafield-uk-we-tackle-historic-challenge) [ ![](/sites/g/files/dvc4041/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2020/07/Hanford_columbia%20river.jpg.webp?itok=tN9gY-Cd) ](/our-expertise/case-studies/support-us-department-of-energy-doe-cleanup-mission-at-the-hanford-site "Support US Department of Energy (DOE) cleanup mission at the Hanford site") [Support US Department of Energy (DOE) cleanup mission at the Hanford site](/our-expertise/case-studies/support-us-department-of-energy-doe-cleanup-mission-at-the-hanford-site "Support US Department of Energy (DOE) cleanup mission at the Hanford site") In support of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) mission to remediate and restore U.S. Defense facilities, our access robotics and waste Separation & Stabilization technologies have been deployed with great effect. [READ MORE](/our-expertise/case-studies/support-us-department-of-energy-doe-cleanup-mission-at-the-hanford-site) [ ![](/sites/g/files/dvc4041/files/styles/content_push_teaser/public/image/2018/10/MVS_veolia_1_0.jpg.webp?itok=4rIH_yZi "MVS header") ](/our-modular-vitrification-system-mvs-stabilize-liquid-waste "Our Modular Vitrification System (MVS®) to stabilize liquid Waste") [Our Modular Vitrification System (MVS®) to stabilize liquid Waste](/our-modular-vitrification-system-mvs-stabilize-liquid-waste "Our Modular Vitrification System (MVS®) to stabilize liquid Waste") Veolia Nuclear Solutions has designed a Modular Vitrification System (MVS®) to stabilize liquid waste, while GeoMelt® is ideal for solid waste and debris. [READ MORE](/our-modular-vitrification-system-mvs-stabilize-liquid-waste)