The effects of container materials and buffer additives on decreasing the iodide concentration in a disposal vault for spent nuclear fuel.
To retard the migration of iodine released from a spent fuel after the break of a container, the reducing effects on the concentration of the iodide by container corrosion products and some buffer additives were examined in a solution with bentonite. Iron and copper, and their corrosion products scarcely reduced the iodide concentration. And kaolinite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, copper ore and galena, known as having a sorption property for iodine, did not noticeably sorb the iodide. However, palm active carbon, silver metal and Ag2O lowered the iodide concentration. Especially, Ag2O put into a disposal container would effectively hinder the migration of iodine to the outside of a disposal vault without a great loss if the pore size of the compacted buffer layer is maintained below 1 mu m.
Kim
S S
SS
Radwaste Disposal Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daejon, Korea. nsskim@kaeri.re.kr
Chun
K S
KS
Choi
J W
JW
Kim
S K
SK
Cho
W J
WJ
D002021:Buffers; D007454:Iodides / Q000378:metabolism*; D009678:Nuclear Energy; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D018505:Waste Management / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
D002021:Buffers; D007454:Iodides; D011850:Radioactive Waste