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Testing of uranium dioxide enriched with 233U under reducing conditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2011

K. Ollila  and
V. Oversby
K. Ollila
Affiliation:
VTT Processes, Technical Research Centre of Finland, P.O. Box 1608, FIN-02044 VTT, Finland
V. Oversby
Affiliation:
VMO Konsult, Karlavägen 70, SE-11459 Stockholm, Sweden
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Abstract

Experiments have been conducted to determine an upper limit to the dissolution rate of UO2 under reducing conditions at great depths in granitic bedrock. The aqueous phase was a dilute, synthetic groundwater that simulates fresh groundwater conditions, so-called modified Allard groundwater. Four dissolution tests of long duration were performed. Test duration ranged from 52 to 140 days. Reducing conditions were produced with metallic iron. Average dissolution rates for the UO2 samples under the test conditions were preliminarily calculated based on the total recovery of U at the end of the tests. The dissolution rates ranged from 0.12 to 0.14 ppm/yr for the sum of the total release from the third and fourth cycles of testing (269 days). There was no indication of an effect of alpha radiolysis on the dissolution rate results for UO2 samples with 0, 5, and 10% 233U.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 932: Symposium – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXIX , 2006 , 76.1
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

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References

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