Retardation of uranium and thorium by a cementitious backfill developed for radioactive waste disposal

Felipe-Sotelo, M.; Hinchliff, J.; Field, L.P.; Milodowski, A.E.; Preedy, O.; Read, D.. 2017 Retardation of uranium and thorium by a cementitious backfill developed for radioactive waste disposal. Chemosphere, 179. 127-138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.03.109

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.03.109

Abstract/Summary

The solubility of uranium and thorium has been measured under the conditions anticipated in a cementitious, geological disposal facility for low and intermediate level radioactive waste. Similar solubilities were obtained for thorium in all media, comprising NaOH, Ca(OH)2 and water equilibrated with a cement designed as repository backfill (NRVB, Nirex Reference Vault Backfill). In contrast, the solubility of U(VI) was one order of magnitude higher in NaOH than in the remaining solutions. The presence of cellulose degradation products (CDP) results in a comparable solubility increase for both elements. Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) data suggest that the solubility-limiting phase for uranium corresponds to a becquerelite-type solid whereas thermodynamic modelling predicts a poorly crystalline, hydrated calcium uranate phase. The solubility-limiting phase for thorium was ThO2 of intermediate crystallinity. No breakthrough of either uranium or thorium was observed in diffusion experiments involving NRVB after three years. Nevertheless, backscattering electron microscopy and microfocus X-ray fluorescence confirmed that uranium had penetrated about 40 μm into the cement, implying active diffusion governed by slow dissolution-precipitation kinetics. Precise identification of the uranium solid proved difficult, displaying characteristics of both calcium uranate and becquerelite.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.03.109
ISSN:	00456535
Date made live:	14 Aug 2017 11:44 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/517571

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.03.109

ISSN:

00456535

Date made live:

14 Aug 2017 11:44 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/517571