U.S. Department of EnergyOffice of Scientific and Technical Information
Use of fly-ash for sealing a radioactive waste repository
Abstract
The mining industry currently uses fly-ash from coal-fired power-plants to close access shafts in abandoned mines, in sedimentary formations. The technique consists of installing a plug of fly-ash, about fifty meters high, at the base of the shaft-lining. In this study, fly-ash is considered as a possible sealant for radioactive repositories in sedimentary formations, as well as in hard rock. Specific studies have been conducted in order to assess the feasibility of this technique, and to improve the long-term performance of the fly-ash seals. The hydraulic and mechanical characteristics of fly-ash, taken from the plug of an abandoned shaft, as well as from dumps of various ages, were measured. Laboratory tests showed that it is possible to reduce the hydraulic conductivity of fly-ash by a factor of thousand, with the addition of ten percent bentonite. Moreover, it seems possible to block fine fissures in the surrounding damaged rock by injecting grouts made of cement and fly-ash having maximum diameters of twenty micrometers.
- Authors:
-
- ANDRA, Fontenay-Aux-Roses (France)
- INERIS, Verneuil-En-Halatte (France)
- EDF, Aix-En-Provence (France)
- Publication Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 62213
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-921101-Vol.294
TRN: 95:002922-0029
- Resource Type:
- Conference
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 16. Materials Research Society (MRS) fall meeting, Boston, MA (United States), 30 Nov - 5 Dec 1992; Other Information: PBD: 1993; Related Information: Is Part Of Scientific basis for nuclear waste management XVI; Interrante, C.G. [ed.] [Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (United States)]; Pabalan, R.T. [ed.] [Southwest Research Inst., San Antonio, TX (United States)]; PB: 959 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 05 NUCLEAR FUELS; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; FRANCE; RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL; FLY ASH; MECHANICAL PROPERTIES; SHAFT EXCAVATIONS; SEALS; GROUTING; SEALING MATERIALS
Citation Formats
Ollagnier, M, Tauziede, C, and Olivier, J. Use of fly-ash for sealing a radioactive waste repository. United States: N. p., 1993.
Web.
Ollagnier, M, Tauziede, C, & Olivier, J. Use of fly-ash for sealing a radioactive waste repository. United States.
Ollagnier, M, Tauziede, C, and Olivier, J. 1993.
"Use of fly-ash for sealing a radioactive waste repository". United States.
@article{osti_62213,
title = {Use of fly-ash for sealing a radioactive waste repository},
author = {Ollagnier, M and Tauziede, C and Olivier, J},
abstractNote = {The mining industry currently uses fly-ash from coal-fired power-plants to close access shafts in abandoned mines, in sedimentary formations. The technique consists of installing a plug of fly-ash, about fifty meters high, at the base of the shaft-lining. In this study, fly-ash is considered as a possible sealant for radioactive repositories in sedimentary formations, as well as in hard rock. Specific studies have been conducted in order to assess the feasibility of this technique, and to improve the long-term performance of the fly-ash seals. The hydraulic and mechanical characteristics of fly-ash, taken from the plug of an abandoned shaft, as well as from dumps of various ages, were measured. Laboratory tests showed that it is possible to reduce the hydraulic conductivity of fly-ash by a factor of thousand, with the addition of ten percent bentonite. Moreover, it seems possible to block fine fissures in the surrounding damaged rock by injecting grouts made of cement and fly-ash having maximum diameters of twenty micrometers.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/62213},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1993},
month = {Fri Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1993}
}