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Leaching of actinides from the French LWR reference glass

Conference · · Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5399731

The French LWR reference glass was spiked successively with /sup 237/Np, /sup 239/Pu, /sup 238/Pu and /sup 241/Am to study the specific leaching behavior of each actinide, as part of a larger program investigating the effects of ..cap alpha.. decay in this glass. This paper describes the preparation of the ..cap alpha.. doped glasses and presents the initial leaching results for neptunium, plutonium and americium. Glass samples were leached for up to six months at 90/sup 0/C under static conditions. Weight loss measurements were performed, and the leachate was analyzed by ICP for the inactive elements, and by ..cap alpha.. spectrometry for the actinides. The results provide a basis for comparing the retention capability of the glass for each actinide, and the alterability of the bulk glass. Finally, a comparison between glass specimens doped with /sup 239/Pu and with /sup 238/Pu, having the same chemical composition but very different specific activities, allows the effects of radiolysis on leaching to be estimated.

Research Organization:
CEN/Valrho, Bagnols sur Ceze, France
OSTI ID:
5399731
Report Number(s):
CONF-850995-
Journal Information:
Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc.; (United States), Journal Name: Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc.; (United States) Vol. 50; ISSN MRSPD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English