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Solubility limits, on radionuclide dissolution

Book ·
OSTI ID:59869
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 characteristic 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 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 dissolution of the bulk waste form. Still other elements (U, Cm, Ni, Ra) show solubility-limited dissolution under some conditions. 9 refs., 3 tab.
Research Organization:
Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (United States); New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque, NM (United States); Los Alamos National Lab., NM
OSTI ID:
59869
Report Number(s):
CONF-841157--; ON: TI85015352; ISBN 0-931837-09-X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English