A Kinetic Study of UO2 Dissolution and H202 Stability in the Presence of Groundwater Ions

Current reactors spent nuclear UO2 fuel that will probably be directly disposed in geologic formations is assumed to get into contact with groundwater of a repository earliest after several thousands of years. After this time, its alpha activity will be still high enough to induce a process of water radiolysis that leads to production of oxidants and, probably, to the oxidative dissolution of the material, that would start a mobilisation of radiotoxic nuclides. The main oxidant produced during this process would be hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which is thermodynamically unstable and can decompose during reactions with certain groundwater ions. Information on the stability of H2O2 is therefore important for assessing the behaviour of the material in the repository.

AMME Marcus;  SVEDKAUSKAITE Jolanta;  BORS W.;  MURRAY FARTHING Mairead;  MERINO J.; 

2010-04-16

OLDENBOURG VERLAG

JRC31810

0033-8230,   

http://www.atypon-link.com/OLD/doi/abs/10.1524/ract.2007.95.12.683,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC31810,   

10.1524/ract.2007.95.12.683,