Progress in evaluation of radionuclide geochemical information developed by DOE high-level nuclear waste repository site projects. Report for January-March 1984

Technical Report · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:6227055

Kelmers, A D; Kessler, J H; Arnold, W D; Meyer, R E; Cutshall, N H; Jacobs, G K; Lee, S Y; Clark, R J

Geochemical information relevant to the retention of radionuclides by Department of Energy (DOE) candidate high-level waste repositories is being investigated by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for the Nuclear regulatory Commission (NRC). The project has evaluated values that have been reported by the Basalt Waste Isolation Project (BWIP) and the methodologies used to develop those values. Neptunium(V) sorption was dependent upon the basalt flow used in the test. Increasing the test temperature from 24 to 60/sup 0/C increased the neptunium sorption ratio. Hydrazine did not reduce neptunium(V) to neptunium(IV) in solution. The Amicon filters used to separate the basalt and groundwater after contact have been shown to adsorb a low but significant fraction of the neptunium(V) in solution. Technetium(VII) removal by basalt from groundwater solutions was shown to be independent of the contact methodology but was quite sensitive to the solution composition. Sorption of uranium(VI) by basalt has yielded sorption ratio values higher than those reported by BWIP. Column chromatographic experiments have confirmed the technetium(VII) sorption ratio of approx. 0 L/kg. The McCoy Canyon basalt used in this experimental work was mineralogically characterized. Six phases were identified: plagioclase, mesostasis, pyroxene, magnetite, apatite, and pyrite. Geochemical modeling with PHREEQE and MINTEQ checked the calculated solubilities of 16 radionuclides reported by BWIP; the agreement was generally excellent.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6227055
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-3851-Vol.2; ORNL/TM-9191-Vol.2; ON: TI85001477
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ACTINIDES
ADSORPTION
BASALT
CHEMISTRY
DATA
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GEOCHEMISTRY
GROUND WATER
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
INFORMATION
MATERIALS
METALS
MINERALOGY
NEPTUNIUM
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ROCKS
SOLUBILITY
SORPTION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TECHNETIUM
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
URANIUM
VOLCANIC ROCKS
WASTES
WATER