Alpha spectrum profiling of plutonium in leached simulated high-level radioactive waste-glass

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Nucl. Chem. Waste Manage.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0191-815X(81)90017-6· OSTI ID:6073229

Diamond, H; Friedman, A M

Low-geometry x-ray spectra from /sup 239/Pu and /sup 237/Np, incorporated into simulated high-level radioactive waste-glass, were transformed into depth distributions for these elements. Changes in the depth profiles were observed for a series of static leachings in 75/sup 0/C water. Radiochemical assay of the leach solutions revealed that little neptunium or plutonium was leached, and that the amount leached was independent of leaching time. The depth profiles of the leached specimens showed that there was selective leaching of nonradioactive components of the glass, concentrating the remaining neptunium and plutonium in a broad zone near (but not at) the glass surface. Eventual redeposition of nonradioactive material onto the glass surface inhibited further leaching. Since the depth profiles exhibit uniform concentrations of plutonium and neptunium in undisturbed simulated waste-glass, the depth of attack by the solution can be inferred by departures from the uniform concentrations. A different mechanism was observed in leaching the simulated waste-glass by room temperature 0.03 M NaHCO/sub 3/. There was no evidence for selective leaching or invasion of the glass by the leaching solution. There was, however, a steady buildup of plutonium (but not neptunium) upon the surface of the glass. 4 figures, 3 tables.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL
• OSTI ID: 6073229
• Journal Information: Nucl. Chem. Waste Manage.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Chem. Waste Manage.; (United States) Vol. 2; ISSN NCWMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052001* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Processing
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ALPHA SPECTRA
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
BOROSILICATE GLASS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
DATA
DISSOLUTION
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
EXTRACTION
GLASS
HEAVY NUCLEI
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
ISOTOPES
LEACHING
MATERIALS
MEDIUM PRESSURE
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
NEPTUNIUM 237
NEPTUNIUM ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIMULATION
SODIUM CARBONATES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
SPECTRA
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TIME DEPENDENCE
WASTES
WATER
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES