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Treatment of Graphite Waste to Minimize Disposal Volume

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

Willie C.M.H. Meyer
Affiliation:
South African Nuclear Energy Corporation Ltd (Necsa), P O Box 582, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
I.J. van der Walt
Affiliation:
South African Nuclear Energy Corporation Ltd (Necsa), P O Box 582, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Vusi Kabila
Affiliation:
South African Nuclear Energy Corporation Ltd (Necsa), P O Box 582, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Jacoba J. Badenhorst
Affiliation:
South African Nuclear Energy Corporation Ltd (Necsa), P O Box 582, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Danie Moolman
Affiliation:
South African Nuclear Energy Corporation Ltd (Necsa), P O Box 582, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Wouter Klopper
Affiliation:
South African Nuclear Energy Corporation Ltd (Necsa), P O Box 582, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
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Abstract

South Africa initiated a program to significantly expand its total nuclear energy capacity by acquiring additional Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) and is currently researching Pebble Bed Modular Reactors (PBMRs) as next generation nuclear energy sources. The result of such an expansion in the current nuclear program will be a need for the disposal of additional nuclear waste. However, as an alternative strategy for spent PBMR fuel, the separation of the spent fuel into TRISO particles for disposal and graphite for re-use in the nuclear industry could also be considered.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2009

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References

1 SEVENTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME EURATOM: Nuclear Research and Training Activities, CARBOWASTE: Treatment and Disposal of Irradiated Graphite and Other Carbonaceous Waste, Grant Agreement No.:211333 (2008).Google Scholar
2 AREVA, Preliminary study relative to the back-end of the PBMR fuel cycle. Presentation by AREVA during a Necsa – AREVA meeting held at Necsa on March 6-7, 2007.Google Scholar
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