Hydrothermal reactions of clay minerals and shales with cesium phases from spent fuel elements

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Clays Clay Miner.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1346/CCMN.1981.0290408· OSTI ID:5296915

Komarneni, S; White, W B

The research described in this paper is part of a continuing program aimed at understanding the chemical reactions between nuclear waste materials and shale repositories in the presence of hot, pressurized ground water. This paper treats the immobilization of Cs released from spent fuel elements by simulated hydrothermal fluids when this fission product interacts with clay minerals in the repository wall rock. Various clay minerals or shales were reacted with likely Cs sources and water at 300 bars pressure and 100/degree/, 200/degree/, and 300/degree/C for 4, 2 and 1 months, respectively. Pollucite was the principal product, but CsAlSiI/sub 4/ was also observed, along with unreacted or hydrothermally altered aluminosilicates. From Cs concentrations of the product solutions partition of Cs between liquid and solids was found to vary depending on the Cs source, the clay or shale phase, temperature, and run duration. Fixation of as much as 97% of the Cs in some solids was observed. In addition to Cs-aluminosilicates, Cs was fixed on cation-exchange sites by interlayer collapse in montmorillonite. Reactions with Cs/sub 2/MoO/sub 4/ also produced powellite. The reaction products pollucite and uraninite can immobilize much of the Cs and U from spent fuel elements. Refs.

• Research Organization: Pa State Univ, University Park
• OSTI ID: 5296915
• Journal Information: Clays Clay Miner.; (United States), Journal Name: Clays Clay Miner.; (United States) Vol. 29:4; ISSN CLCMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ACTINIDES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALI METALS
CESIUM
CESIUM COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLAYS
ELEMENTS
FUEL ELEMENTS
HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION
MANAGEMENT
METALS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
REACTOR COMPONENTS
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALES
SOLIDIFICATION
SPENT FUEL ELEMENTS
URANIUM
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT