Optimizing nuclear waste repository development by implementing experimental data on radiolysis
- Idaho State University, 1776 Science Center Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83402 (United States)
In a conceivable scenario of proposed geological salt repositories for nuclear waste within the time frame of 10,000 to 100,000 years being considered for performance assessment, groundwater intrusion leads to inundation of the repository and the formation of chloride-based brines. These brines will be exposed to {alpha}- radiation emitted by released transuranic waste constituents, mainly Pu, U, Am, and Np. In the absence of bromide, {alpha}-radiolysis causes the formation of radiolytic species such as hypochlorite (OCl{sup -}) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl). Natural brines contain at least traces of bromide ions to influence radiation chemical effects in the near-field of the nuclear disposal site. We are presenting new results on the irradiation-induced formation of two bromide species: ClBr{sub 2}{sup -} and Br{sub 3}{sup -} observed at 247 nm and 266 nm by spectrophotometry after irradiating synthetic NaCl based brine solutions, containing 1.13 g of NaBr, by 5.2 MeV He{sup ++} ions by using a 3 MV Tandem accelerator. The measured formation rates as G values (100 eV yields) are G(Br{sub 2}Cl{sup -}) = 3.51*10{sup -3} {+-} 0.04*10{sup -3} molecules per 100 eV, and G(Br{sub 3}{sup -}) = 2.67*10{sup -3} {+-} 0.04.10{sup -3} molecules per 100 eV radiation energy. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- American Nuclear Society, 555 North Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, IL 60526 (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 20979614
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Advanced nuclear fuel cycles and systems (GLOBAL 2007), Boise - Idaho (United States), 9-13 Sep 2007; Other Information: Country of input: France; 20 refs; Related Information: In: Proceedings of GLOBAL 2007 conference on advanced nuclear fuel cycles and systems, 1873 pages.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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