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Congruent and Incongruent Radionuclide Release During Matrix Dissolution of Partly Oxidized High Burnup Spent Fuel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2011

A. Loida ,
B. Grambow  and
H. Geckeis
A. Loida
Affiliation:
Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe - Technik und Umwelt, Institut für Nukleare Entsorgungs-technik, P.O.Box 3640, D-76021 Karlsruhe
B. Grambow
Affiliation:
Ecole de Mines de Nantes, F- 44307 Nantes
H. Geckeis
Affiliation:
Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe - Technik und Umwelt, Institut für Nukleare Entsorgungs-technik, P.O.Box 3640, D-76021 Karlsruhe
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Abstract

With respect to the assessment of the long-term behavior of the waste form spent fuel it is of high importance to study in particular the UO2 matrix dissolution behavior and the associated release/retention of radionuclides in contact with groundwater. During long term fuel storage, fuel oxidation may not be avoided. Main issue of this work is to identify the impact on the corrosion of partly oxidized fuel of environmental conditions such as (1) the nature of solution contacting the matrix, the (2) presence/absence of CO2, (3) fixed pH values within a range between pH 7- pH 11, and (4) the presence/absence of corroding container material (Fe-powder). Dissolution tests with powdered oxidized spent fuel in various granite waters, and NaCl-brine resulted in matrix dissolution rates in the same order of magnitude for all investigated media (ca.5×10−4/d). The presence of CO2 and fixed pH values (pH 5 – 11) was without a distinct effect. The independence of the dissolution rate of the oxidized fuel matrix upon the nature of solution, pCO2, fixed pH values (5-11) can probably be explained by a masking effect of radiolysis. In presence of Fe powder the matrix dissolution rate was found to be slowed down by a factor of ca. 20, associated with strong retention effects of radionuclides.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 663: Symposium – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste management XXIV , 2000 , 417
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2001

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References

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