Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 January 1992
The dissolution of unirradiated UO2(s), with a particle size of 1 mm, has been studied in MgCl2 brines at 298 K under both reducing and oxidizing conditions. Results obtained under reducing conditions (H atmosphere in the presence of a palladium catalyst) show an initial increase of the total uranium concentration in solution and a subsequent decrease until equilibrium (or steady state) values are reached. Results obtained under oxidizing conditions (nominal oxygen partial pressures of 0.05, 0.21 and 1 atm) show two different trends. A relatively fast initial dissolution rate and, after approximately two or three weeks, a slower dissolution rate. X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) has shown that the UO2 surface composition changes during the experiment.