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Remaining Uncertainties in Predicting Long-Term Performance of Nuclear Waste Glass From Experiments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2011

B. Grambow  and
Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe
B. Grambow
Affiliation:
Institut für Nukleare Entsorgungstechnik, Postfach 3640, D-76021 Karlsruhe
Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe
Affiliation:
Institut für Nukleare Entsorgungstechnik, Postfach 3640, D-76021 Karlsruhe
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Abstract

The current knowledge on the glass dissolution mechanism and the representation of glass dissolution concepts within overall repository performance assessment models are briefly summarized and uncertainties related to mechanism, radionuclide chemistry and parameters are discussed. Understanding of the major glass dissolution processes has been significantly increased in recent years. Long-term glass stability is related to the long-term maintenance of silica saturated conditions. The behavior of individual radionuclides in the presence of a dissolving glass has not been sufficiently and results do not yet allow meaningful predictions. Conservative long-term predictions of glass matrix dissolution as upper limit for radionuclide release can be made with sufficient confidence, however these estimations generally result in a situation were the barrier function of the glass is masked by the efficiency of the geologic barrier. Realistic long-term predictions may show that the borosilicate waste glass contributes to overall repository safety to a much larger extent than indicated by overconservatism. Today realistic predictions remain highly uncertain and much more research work is necessary. In particular the long-term rate under silica saturated conditions needs to be understood and the behavior of individual radionuclides in the presence of a dissolving glass deserves more systematic investigations.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 333: Symposium V – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XVII , 1993 , 167
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1994

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References

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