The effect of fuel type in unsaturated spent fuel tests

Conference · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:10141946

Finn, P A; Gong, M; Bates, J K; Emery, J W; Hoh, J C

Two well-characterized types of spent nuclear fuel (ATM-103 and ATM-106) were tested under simulated unsaturated conditions with simulated groundwater at 90{degree}C. The actinides present in the leachate were measured after periods of approximately 60, 120, and 275 days. The vessels were acid stripped after 120 and 275 days. Both colloidal and soluble actinide species were detected in the leachates which had pHs ranging from 4 to 7. Alpha spectroscopy studies of filtered and unfiltered leachates showed that large amounts of actinides may be bound in colloids. The uranium phases identified in the colloids were schoepite and soddyite. The actinide release behavior of the two fuels appears to be different. The ATM-106 fuel began to release actinides later than the ATM-103 fuel, but after 275 days, it had released more. The amount of americium released from the two fuels was a higher percentage of the maximum amount of americium present than was the percentage of the simultaneous amount of uranium released.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 10141946
• Report Number(s): ANL/CMT/CP--80979; CONF-940553--36; ON: DE94009668
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540230
ACTINIDES
COLLOIDS
GROUND WATER
LEACHING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SIMULATION
SPENT FUELS
WASTE DISPOSAL AND STORAGE