Geological Disposal of Radioactive Wastes and Natural Analogues
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Table of contents
- Contentsix
- Chapter 1. The issue of radioactive waste disposal1
- 1.1 The nature of radioactive wastes3
- 1.2 The concept of geological disposal4
- 1.3 Evaluating repository safety7
- 1.4 Natural analogue studies16
- 1.5 Other field-based studies of natural systems21
- 1.6 Toxic waste disposal26
- Chapter 2. Radioactive waste types and repository designs29
- 2.1 The nuclear fuel cycle and radioactive wastes29
- 2.2 Classification of radioactive wastes32
- 2.3 Repository designs33
- 2.4 Geological disposal environments47
- Chapter 3. Varieties of analogue studies53
- 3.1 Chemical analogues54
- 3.2 Natural geological and geochemical systems56
- 3.3 Archaeological analogues61
- 3.4 Sites of anthropogenic contamination62
- Chapter 4. Analogues of repository materials65
- 4.1 Silicate glass66
- 4.2 Spent fuel77
- 4.3 Mineral and ceramic wasteforms94
- 4.4 Metals97
- 4.5 Bentonite113
- 4.6 Concretes and cement126
- 4.7 Bitumen142
- 4.8 Organic materials148
- Chapter 5. Analogues of transport and retardation153
- 5.1 Elemental solubility and speciation153
- 5.2 Elemental retardation processes172
- 5.3 Matrix diffusion189
- 5.4 Radiolysis209
- 5.5 Redox fronts216
- 5.7 Microbiological activity234
- 5.8 Gas generation and migration238
- Chapter 6. The application of analogue information243
- 6.1 Natural analogues in the support of performance assessment243
- 6.2 Natural analogues in non-technical demonstrations of safety252
- 6.3 Natural analogues applied to other environmental issues254
- Chapter 7. Summary, conclusions and recommendations257
- 7.1 Summary of analogue results257
- 7.2 Conclusions262
- References265
- Index311
Many countries are currently exploring the option to dispose of highly radioactive solid wastes deep underground in purpose built, engineered repositories. A number of surface and shallow repositories for less radioactive wastes are already in operation. One of the challenges facing the nuclear industry is to demonstrate confidently that a repository will contain wastes for so long that any releases that might take place in the future will pose no significant health or environmental risk.
One method for building confidence in the long-term future safety of a repository is to look at the physical and chemical processes which operate in natural and archaeological systems, and to draw appropriate parallels with the repository. For example, to understand why some uranium orebodies have remained isolated underground for billions of years. Such studies are called 'natural analogues'.
This book investigates the concept of geological disposal and examines the wide range of natural analogues which have been studied. Lessons learnt from studies of archaeological and natural systems can be used to improve our capabilities for assessing the future safety of a radioactive waste repository.