Assessment of the important radionuclides in nuclear waste

Technical Report · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/59767· OSTI ID:59767

Kerrisk, J F

The relative importance of the various radionuclides contained in nuclear waste has been assessed by consideration of (1) the quantity of each radionuclide present, (2) the Environmental Protection Agency`s release limits for radionuclides, (3) how retardation processes such as solubility and sorption affect radionuclie transport, and (4) the physical and chemical forms of radionuclides in the waste. Three types of waste were reviewed: spent fuel, high-level waste, and defense high-level waste. Conditions specific to the Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations project potential site at Yucca Mountain were used to describe radionuclide transport. The actinides Am, Pu, Np, and U were identified as the waste elements for which solubility and sorption data were most urgently needed. Other important waste elements were identified as Sr, Cs, C, Ni, Zr, Tc, Th, Ra, and Sn. Under some conditions, radionuclides of three elements (C, Tc, and I) may have high solubility and negligible sorption. The potential for transport of some waste elements (C and I) in the gas phase must also be evaluated for the Yucca Mountain Site. 12 refs., 17 tabs.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 59767
• Report Number(s): LA--10414-MS; ON: DE86004366
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AMERICIUM
CARBON
CESIUM
GROUND WATER
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
INFORMATION NEEDS
NEPTUNIUM
NICKEL
PLUTONIUM
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RADIUM
SOLUBILITY
SORPTION
SPENT FUELS
STRONTIUM
TECHNETIUM
THORIUM
TIN
URANIUM
YUCCA MOUNTAIN
Yucca Mountain Project
ZIRCONIUM