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A Transport Code for Radiocolloid Migration: With an Assessment of an Actual Low-Level Waste Site

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

Bryan J. Travis
Affiliation:
ESS-5, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
H. E. Nuttall
Affiliation:
Nuttall & Associates, Inc., 1445 Honeysuckle Dr N.E. Albuquerque, New Mexico 87122
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Abstract

Recently, there is increased concern that radiocolloids may act as a rapid transport mechanism for the release of radionuclides from high-level waste repositories. The role of colloids is, however, controversial because the necessary data and assessment methodology have been limited. To quantitatively assess the role of colloids, the TRACR3D transport code has been enhanced by the addition of the population balance equations. The code was tested against the experimental laboratory column data of Avogadro et al. Next a low-level radioactive waste site was investigated to explore whether colloid migration could account for the unusually rapid transport of plutonium and americium observed. The nature and modeling of radiocolloids are discussed along with site simulation results from the TRACR3D code.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1985

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