Uranyl peroxide enhanced nuclear fuel corrosion in seawater

Armstrong, C. R.; Nyman, M.; Shvareva, T.; Sigmon, G. E.; Burns, P. C.; Navrotsky, A.

doi:10.1073/pnas.1119758109

Uranyl peroxide enhanced nuclear fuel corrosion in seawater

Journal Article · Mon Jan 23 04:00:00 EST 2012 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1119758109· OSTI ID:1386715

Armstrong, C. R.; Nyman, M.; Shvareva, T.; Sigmon, G. E.; Burns, P. C.; Navrotsky, A.

The Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear accident brought together compromised irradiated fuel and large amounts of seawater in a high radiation field. Based on newly acquired thermochemical data for a series of uranyl peroxide compounds containing charge-balancing alkali cations, here we show that nanoscale cage clusters containing as many as 60 uranyl ions, bonded through peroxide and hydroxide bridges, are likely to form in solution or as precipitates under such conditions. These species will enhance the corrosion of the damaged fuel and, being thermodynamically stable and kinetically persistent in the absence of peroxide, they can potentially transport uranium over long distances.

Research Organization:: Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Materials Science of Actinides (MSA)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE SC Office of Basic Energy Sciences (SC-22)

DOE Contract Number:: SC0001089

OSTI ID:: 1386715

Journal Information:: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 109; ISSN 0027-8424

Publisher:: National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC (United States)

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Uranyl peroxide enhanced nuclear fuel corrosion in seawater

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