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Title: National Low-Level Waste Management Program Radionuclide Report Series. Volume 10, Nickel-63

Abstract

This report outlines the basic radiological, chemical, and physical characteristics of nickel-63 ({sup 63}Ni) and examines how these characteristics affect the behavior of {sup 63}Ni in various environmental media, such as soils, groundwater, plants, animals, the atmosphere, and the human body. Discussions also include methods of {sup 63}Ni production, waste types, and waste forms that contain {sup 63}Ni. The primary source of {sup 63}Ni in the environment has been low-level radioactive waste material generated as a result of neutron activation of stable {sup 62}Ni that is present in the structural components of nuclear reactor vessels. {sup 63}Ni enters the environment from the dismantling activities associated with nuclear reactor decommissioning. However, small amounts of {sup 63}Ni have been detected in the environment following the testing of thermonuclear weapons in the South Pacific. Concentrations as high as 2.7 Bq{sup a} per gram of sample (or equivalently 0.0022 parts per billion) were observed on Bikini Atoll (May 1954). {sup 63}Ni was not created as a fission product species (e.g., from {sup 235}U or {sup 239}Pu fissions), but instead was produced as a result of neutron capture in {sup 63}Ni, a common nickel isotope present in the stainless steel components of nuclear weapons (e.g.,more » stainless-304 contains {approximately}9% total Ni or {approximately}0.3% {sup 63}Ni).« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lockheed Idaho Technologies Co., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
31669
Report Number(s):
DOE/LLW-126
ON: DE95008568; TRN: 95:008958
DOE Contract Number:  
AC07-94ID13223
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Feb 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
05 NUCLEAR FUELS; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; NICKEL 63; RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT; TOXICITY; GROUND WATER; CONTAMINATION; PLANTS; LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES; ANIMAL CELLS; WASTE DISPOSAL; REACTORS; ENVIRONMENT

Citation Formats

Carboneau, M L, and Adams, J P. National Low-Level Waste Management Program Radionuclide Report Series. Volume 10, Nickel-63. United States: N. p., 1995. Web. doi:10.2172/31669.
Carboneau, M L, & Adams, J P. National Low-Level Waste Management Program Radionuclide Report Series. Volume 10, Nickel-63. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/31669
Carboneau, M L, and Adams, J P. 1995. "National Low-Level Waste Management Program Radionuclide Report Series. Volume 10, Nickel-63". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/31669. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/31669.
@article{osti_31669,
title = {National Low-Level Waste Management Program Radionuclide Report Series. Volume 10, Nickel-63},
author = {Carboneau, M L and Adams, J P},
abstractNote = {This report outlines the basic radiological, chemical, and physical characteristics of nickel-63 ({sup 63}Ni) and examines how these characteristics affect the behavior of {sup 63}Ni in various environmental media, such as soils, groundwater, plants, animals, the atmosphere, and the human body. Discussions also include methods of {sup 63}Ni production, waste types, and waste forms that contain {sup 63}Ni. The primary source of {sup 63}Ni in the environment has been low-level radioactive waste material generated as a result of neutron activation of stable {sup 62}Ni that is present in the structural components of nuclear reactor vessels. {sup 63}Ni enters the environment from the dismantling activities associated with nuclear reactor decommissioning. However, small amounts of {sup 63}Ni have been detected in the environment following the testing of thermonuclear weapons in the South Pacific. Concentrations as high as 2.7 Bq{sup a} per gram of sample (or equivalently 0.0022 parts per billion) were observed on Bikini Atoll (May 1954). {sup 63}Ni was not created as a fission product species (e.g., from {sup 235}U or {sup 239}Pu fissions), but instead was produced as a result of neutron capture in {sup 63}Ni, a common nickel isotope present in the stainless steel components of nuclear weapons (e.g., stainless-304 contains {approximately}9% total Ni or {approximately}0.3% {sup 63}Ni).},
doi = {10.2172/31669},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/31669}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}