Research Programs to Investigate the Fundamental Chemistry of Technetium

Technical Report · Wed Jul 10 04:00:00 EDT 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/834462· OSTI ID:834462

Shuh, David K; Burns, Carol J; Lukens, Jr, Wayne W

Technetium (99Tc, half-life = 2.13x105 years, b-emitter) is one of the radionuclides of major concern for nuclear waste disposal. This concern is due to the long half-life of 99Tc, the ease with which pertechnetate, TcO4 -, migrates in the geosphere, difficulties in incorporating technetium into glass waste forms, and the corresponding regulatory considerations. The problem of mobility of pertechnetate in the environment is compounded by the fact that pertechnetate is the thermodynamically stable form of technetium in oxidizing environments. Because of this stability, pertechnetate was presumed to be the predominant chemical form of technetium in the aqueous phase of nuclear waste tanks. However, studies have indicated that a significant fraction of the technetium is in a different chemical form. These factors present challenges for the separation and immobilization of technetium. The objective of this research project is to provide new knowledge about the chemical behavior of technetium so that the factors underlying technetium speciation in nuclear waste and in waste forms can be understood and the problems can be addressed.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab., Berkeley, CA; Los Alamos National Lab., Los Alamos, NM (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM) (US)
• OSTI ID: 834462
• Report Number(s): EMSP-73778-2002
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHEMISTRY
GLASS
HALF-LIFE
PERTECHNETATES
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
STABILITY
TANKS
TECHNETIUM
WASTE FORMS