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Title: Leaching of /sup 14/C and /sup 36/Cl from Hanford reactor graphite

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6655750· OSTI ID:6655750

The leach rates of /sup 14C/ and /sup 36Cl/ were measured on solid cylindrical samples of graphite prepared from a bar retrieved from one of the surplus Hanford production reactors. Static leach tests were conducted in deionized water and Hanford ground water at temperatures of 20/degree/C to 90/degree/C for 8 weeks. The graphite samples were completely submerged in the leachant, and the entire volume of leachant was changed and analyzed weekly. The leach rates of both /sup 14C/ and /sup 36Cl/ decreased with time and appeared to approach steady-state values that were independent of temperature in the case of /sup 36Cl/ but decreased with temperature in the case of /sup 14C/. Both radionuclides leached more slowly in Hanford ground water. The data are compared with previously measured and estimated leach rates. Implications of the data regarding possible rate-limiting mechanisms are also discussed. 4 refs., 18 figs., 4 tabs.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
6655750
Report Number(s):
PNL-6769; ON: DE89004979
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English