Direct Investigations of the Immobilization of Radionuclides in the Alteration Phases of Spent Nuclear Fuel
In a moist oxidizing environment, such as in the proposed geological repository at Yucca Mountain, rapid alteration rates are expected for spent nuclear fuel. Laboratory simulations and studies of natural analogues demonstrate that the dominant alteration products of spent fuel under repository conditions will be uranyl phases. There is an inadequate database concerning the effects of the alteration products on the release of radionuclides, but this information is essential to provide a radionuclide-release estimate. It is likely that many of the radionuclides contained in the spent fuel will be incorporated into the uranyl phases that form during alteration, potentially with a profound impact on the future mobility of radionuclides in the repository. Our objective is to develop a theoretically founded and experimentally verified understanding of the incorporation of radionuclides into uranyl phases under repository conditions. The research will permit a more realistic estimate of the release rates of the radionuclides from the near-field environment.
- Research Organization:
- Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN (US); Chemical Technology Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL (US); Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, MO (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM) (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG07-97ER14820
- OSTI ID:
- 833717
- Report Number(s):
- EMSP-73691-2001; R&D Project: EMSP 73691; TRN: US0406755
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 1 Jun 2001
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Direct Investigations Of The Immobilization Of Radionuclides In The Alteration Phases Of Spent Nuclear Fuel
Direct Investigation of the Immobilization of Radionuclides in the Alteration Phases of Spent Nuclear Fuel