Status of geochemical problems relating to the burial of high-level radioactive waste, 1982

Technical Report · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6218944

Apps, J A; Carnahan, C L; Lichtner, P C; Michel, M C; Perry, D; Silva, R J; Weres, O; White, A F

Geochemistry research supporting high-level radioactive waste burial in underground repositories is evaluated. General research covering the whole repository includes the bounding of physical and chemical conditions in the repository environment, estimation of toxic radionuclides present in spent fuel and high-level waste at various times after 1000 years, the forms in which radionuclides might be transported in groundwater, the mechanisms by which radionnuclides are retarded, and transport models incorporating chemical reactions. Specific issues relating to the backfill, near field, and far field are also examined. These include low-permeability backfills, diffusional radionuclide transport through backfills (both with and without sorption), the long-term criticality potential in a repository, near-field phase changes and their impact on rock geomechanical properties and radionuclide migration, the effect of temperature gradients on host rock permeability, and, finally, the assessment of groundwater dating to determine groundwater flow rates. Each evaluation results in a series of conclusions and recommendations. The recommendations are prioritized, and further research needed to resolve current uncertainties is suggested.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 6218944
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-3062; LBL-15103; ON: DE83010251
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
58 GEOSCIENCES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
GROUND WATER
ISOTOPE DATING
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
BACKFILLING
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
GEOCHEMISTRY
PERMEABILITY
SOLUBILITY
AGE ESTIMATION
CHEMISTRY
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER
053000* - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects
052002 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
580400 - Geochemistry- (-1989)
520301 - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Water- (1987)