Observation of Studtite and Metastudtite on Spent Fuel

Conference · Wed Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 2003

OSTI ID:15011252

McNamara, Bruce K; Buck, Edgar C; Hanson, Brady D

We have characterized significant quantities of uranyl peroxide phases on commercial spent nuclear fuel (CSNF) samples formed under immersion conditions over a two-year-period. Milligrams of corroded fuel aggregates were observed at the air water interface in each sample. The bulk fuel and the suspended material were examined by SEM, EDX, and XRD and were found to contain studtite and metastudtite, respectively. The reason for the partitioning of the two phases is unclear at this time. SEM micrographs of the bulk powders indicate extensive corrosion. Indeed, under the conditions that developed in the sample containers, dissolution of the fuel was in some cases as severe as a purposeful etching of the surface with concentrated nitric acid. Radiochemical analyses of the leachates and the aggregate materials indicate that dissolution of the fuel surface by hydrogen peroxide may have resulted in rapid release and increased solubility of radiocontaminants in the fuel matrix.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 15011252
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-43566; 830403000
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CONTAINERS
CORROSION
CSNF
DISSOLUTION
ETCHING
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
INTERFACIAL AGGREGATES
LEACHATES
MANAGEMENT
NITRIC ACID
NUCLEAR FUELS
PEROXIDES
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SOLUBILITY
SPENT FUELS
STUDTITE/METASTUDTITE
X-RAY DIFFRACTION