Solubility limits on radionuclide dissolution

Technical Report · Mon Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/59167· OSTI ID:59167

Kerrisk, J F

This paper examines the effects of solubility in limiting dissolution rates of a number of important radionuclides from spent fuel and high-level waste. Two simple dissolution models were used for calculations that would be characteristics of a Yucca Mountain repository. A saturation-limited dissolution model, in which the water flowing through the repository is assumed to be saturated with each waste element, is very conservative in that it overestimates dissolution rates. A diffusion-limited dissolution model, in which element-dissolution rates are limited by diffusion of waste elements into water flowing past the waste, is more realistic, but it is subject to some uncertainty at this time. Dissolution rates of some elements (Pu, Am, Sn, Th, Zr, Sm) are always limited by solubility. Dissolution rates of other elements (Cs, Tc, Np, Sr, C, I) are never solubility limited; their release would be limited by dissolution of the bulk waste form. Still other elements (U, Cm, Ni, Ra) show solubility-limited dissolution under some conditions. 9 references, 3 tables.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 59167
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--84-3054; CONF-841157--7; ON: DE85000665
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AMERICIUM
CARBON
CESIUM
CURIUM
DISSOLUTION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GROUND WATER
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
IODINE
NEPTUNIUM
NICKEL
PLUTONIUM
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RADIUM
SAMARIUM
SOLUBILITY
SPENT FUELS
STRONTIUM
TECHNETIUM
THORIUM
TIN
TUFF
URANIUM
YUCCA MOUNTAIN
Yucca Mountain Project
ZIRCONIUM