Alpha-recoil damage in monazite: preferential dissolution of the radiogenic actinide isotopes
A preferential dissolution by a factor of 1.1 to about 10 of the radiogenic nuclides /sup 234/U, /sup 230/Th, and /sup 228/Th relative to their corresponding structurally incorporated isotopes /sup 238/U and /sup 232/Th has been observed upon leaching of natural monazite samples in a bicarbonate-carbonate solution. This isotopic fractionation may be attributed to radiation damage caused by alpha recoil atoms. The observations have implications for the storage of crystalline nuclear waste forms in deep geological formations. The damage may endanger the integrity of any crystalline phase that contains alpha-emitting nuclides in groundwater environments. It is inferred that in monazite-like phases the overall alpha-recoil damage may increase nearly in proportion to the alpha-particle dose over the long time range ( about 10/sup 5/yr) required for the isolation of actinide wastes.
- Research Organization:
- Technion-Israel Institute of Technology Department of Nuclear Engineering, Haifa, Israel
- OSTI ID:
- 6132207
- Journal Information:
- Nucl. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 58:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
MONAZITES
RADIATION EFFECTS
THORIUM 228
DISSOLUTION
THORIUM 230
URANIUM 234
ALPHA DECAY
CRYSTALLIZATION
ISOTOPE RATIO
LEACHING
RECOILS
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DECAY
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MATERIALS
MINERALS
NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHOSPHATES
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE MINERALS
RADIOISOTOPES
RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
THORIUM COMPOUNDS
THORIUM ISOTOPES
THORIUM MINERALS
THORIUM PHOSPHATES
URANIUM ISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
360605* - Materials- Radiation Effects
052002 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
053000 - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects