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Neptunium-doped Synroc: Partitioning, leach data and secondary phase development

Book ·
OSTI ID:264436
; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Menai, New South Wales (Australia). Advanced Materials Program

Np-doped Synroc was subjected to modified MCC-1 leach tests in demineralized water at 70 C. Normalized total differential Np leach rates were about 10{sup {minus}4} g/m d initially, decreased to about 10{sup {minus}5} g/m d after 60 days and stayed approximately constant for periods totaling up to 2,283 d. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and analytical transmission electron microscope (AEM) examination of discs leached for periods totaling 56 d or longer showed that they were covered with crystalline anatase, brookite and ilmenite. The crystalline secondary phases initially nucleated in polishing scratches and on perovskite grains. However, after leaching for a total of 422 d most of the surface was covered. None of the secondary phases contained observable amounts of Np (< 0.2 wt%). These data are discussed in relation to previous work.

OSTI ID:
264436
Report Number(s):
CONF-951155--; ISBN 1-55899-315-0
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English