Evaluation of radionuclide geochemical information developed by DOE high-level nuclear waste repository site projects. Annual progress report for October 1983-September 1984

Technical Report · Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5892402

Kelmers, A D; Kessler, J H; Seeley, F G; Arnold, W D; Meyer, R E; Smith, F J; Cutshall, N H; Jacobs, G K; Lee, S Y

Geochemical information relevant to the retention of radionuclides by candidate high-level nuclear waste geologic repositories being characterized by Department of Energy (DOE) projects is being evaluated by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). During this report period, emphasis has been given to the experimental evaluation of published sorption and solubility information for key radionuclides which is relevant to the Hanford Site in the Columbia River basalts being characterized by the Basalt Waste Isolation Project (BWIP). We have been employing anoxic redox conditions (established by use of argon-filled controlled-atmosphere glove boxes) to allow the basalt to establish the effective redox condition in batch contact sorption experiments. We believe that sorption of neptunium(V) or technetium(VII) by basalt from synthetic groundwaters under anoxic redox conditions involves chemi-sorption reduction reactions on the basalt surface. In our experimental work, apparent concentration limit values of 10/sup -5/ or 10/sup -6/ mol/L have been measured for technetium. A mineralogical and chemical characterization was completed for the three basalt samples used in our work. Significant differences were seen in both the quantity and composition of the mesostasis. Since iron(II) in the mesostasis may be the active reducing element in basalt, such sample differences in reducing element composition could be important in comparing experimental sorption results for different basalt samples. A potential deficiency in the information published by the BWIP is the absence of lithological information as well as mineralogical and chemical characterization for the basalt samples used in the experiments to measure sorption information. 50 refs., 4 figs., 16 tabs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5892402
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-4136; ORNL/TM-9526; ON: TI85011479
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
58 GEOSCIENCES
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
BASALT
PHASE STUDIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
NEPTUNIUM
SOLUBILITY
STRONTIUM
TECHNETIUM
ADSORPTION ISOTHERMS
URANIUM
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GEOCHEMISTRY
GROUND WATER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
WATER CHEMISTRY
ACTINIDES
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
CHEMISTRY
DATA
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
INFORMATION
ISOTHERM
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
METALS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
ROCKS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
VOLCANIC ROCKS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
580300 - Mineralogy
Petrology
& Rock Mechanics- (-1989)
580100 - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)
580400 - Geochemistry- (-1989)
053000 - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects