Characterization of carbon-14 generated by the nuclear power industry. Final report
- ed.; Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
- Vance and Associates, Inc., Ruidoso, NM (United States)
- Cline (J.E.) and Associates, Inc., Potomac, MD (United States)
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
This report describes an evaluation of C-14 production rates in light-water reactors (LWRs) and characterization of its chemical speciation and environmental behavior. The study estimated the total production rate of the nuclide in operating PWRs and BWRs along with the assessment of the C-14 content of solid radwaste. The major source of production of C-14 in both PWR`s and BWRs was the activation of 0-17 in the water molecule and of N-14 dissolved in reactor coolant. The production of C-14 was estimated to range from 7 Ci/GW(e)-year to 11 Ci/GW(e)-year. The estimated range of the quantity of C-14 in LLW was 1-2 Ci/ reactor-year which compares favorably with data obtained from shipping manifests. The environmental behavior of C-14 associated with low-level waste (LLW) disposal is greatly dependent upon its chemical speciation. This scoping study was performed to help identify the occurrence of inorganic and organic forms of C-14 in reactor coolant water and in primary coolant demineralization resins. These represent the major source for C-14 in LLW from nuclear power stations. Also, the behavior of inorganic and two of the organic forms of C-14 on soil uptake was determined by measuring distribution coefficients (Kd`s) on two soil types and a cement, using two different groundwater types. This study confirms that C-14 concentrations are significantly higher in the primary coolant from PWR stations compared to BWR stations. The C-14 followed trends of Co-60 generation during primary coolant demineralization at all but one of the stations examined. However, the C-14/Co-60 activity ratios measured by this study in resin samples through which samples of coolant were drawn were about 8 to 42 times higher than those reported for waste samples in the industry data base for PWR stations, and 15 to 730 times lower for the BWR stations.
- Research Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst. (EPRI), Palo Alto, CA (United States); Vance and Associates, Inc., Ruidoso, NM (United States); Cline (J.E.) and Associates, Inc., Potomac, MD (United States); Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 149817
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-TR-105715; TRN: 96:005117
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Nov 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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