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Behavior of MgO as a CO2 Scavenger at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), Carlsbad, New Mexico

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

J.L. Krumhansl ,
H. W. Papenguth ,
P-.C. Zhang ,
J. W. Kelly ,
H.L. Anderson  and
J. O. E. Hardesty
J.L. Krumhansl
Affiliation:
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87185
H. W. Papenguth
Affiliation:
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87185
P-.C. Zhang
Affiliation:
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87185
J. W. Kelly
Affiliation:
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87185
H.L. Anderson
Affiliation:
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87185
J. O. E. Hardesty
Affiliation:
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87185
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Abstract

Transuranic nuclear wastes being disposed of in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) contain large amounts of organic material that may decay producing substantial quantities of undesirable CO2. Because of this possibility a MgO backfill has been included in the repository design. In addition to scavenging CO2, the backfill may also hydrate forming Mg(OH)2. Backfill hydration may provide a sink that may sorb much, or all, of the brine that enters the repository. The key to understanding the full implications of including the MgO backfill lies in knowing the rates of the various processes that may operate as the repository ages and evolves. Both carbonation and hydration reactions were found to occur rapidly enough to have beneficial impacts on repository performance.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 608: Symposium QQ – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXIII , 1999 , 155
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2000

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References

REFERENCES

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