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A new approach to the selection of materials for engineered barriers and appropriate host rocks for high level waste disposal

Book ·
OSTI ID:377957
; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow (Russian Federation). Inst. of Geology of Ore Deposits
Sorptive properties of weathered dunites, gabbro-diabases and basic volcanic rocks for Sr and Cs were studied. The results show that the sorptive capacities of these rocks are equivalent to or, in some cases, superior to the industrial sorptive materials. Results of a uranium distribution study by fission-track radiography suggest that material from weathered basic rocks is characterized by high sorptive properties for uranium also. One can assume that other radionuclides of the transuranic group will be intensely sorbed by the residuum of weathered basic rocks. Low-temperature hydrothermal transformation leads to sealing fissures of the basic rocks with highly sorptive minerals, for example, smectite, chlorite, serpentine, in talc, zeolite, hydroxides of Fe, Ti, Mn. The process results in contemporaneous decreasing hydraulic conductivity and increasing sorptive capacity of the rocks. HLW disposal at the radiochemical plant Mayak is expected to be produced in deep wells situated in basaltic rocks. The safety of disposal is based on high sorptive properties of the crust of weathering and protective capacities of volcanic rocks. This method is not expensive and may allow the disposal of HLW in the near future.
OSTI ID:
377957
Report Number(s):
CONF-941075--; ISBN 1-55899-253-7
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English