A process for immobilizing metallic sodium in glass form. The process
comprises: (A) introducing in a dispersed state, into a reactor, an
amount of a vitrified matrix precursor, metallic sodium and iron oxide
(Fe.sub.2O.sub.3) sufficient to ensure oxidation of the metallic sodium;
(B) producing a homogeneous mixture of these constituents; (C) heating
the mixture to a temperature between 1000 1600.degree. C. to form a
molten homogeneous mixture in which the sodium introduced in (A) is
converted to sodium oxide; and (D) recovering and cooling the molten
mixture to obtain a vitrified matrix having a homogeneous composition,
which matrix incorporates the sodium introduced in (A) as a constituent
oxide. In a particular embodiment, the process may be used for the
containment of metallic sodium containing radioactive elements.