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The Long-Term Stability of Becquerelite

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

R.J. Finch ,
J. Suksi ,
K. Rasilainen  and
R.C. Ewing
R.J. Finch
Affiliation:
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
J. Suksi
Affiliation:
University of Helsinki, Unioninkatu 35, FIN-00014, Helsinki, Finland
K. Rasilainen
Affiliation:
VTT Energy, P.O. Box 1604, FIN-02044, Helsinki, Finland
R.C. Ewing
Affiliation:
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131, U.S.A.
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Abstract

Uranium-series disequilibria data, in conjunction with petrographic analyses, indicate that the uranyl oxide hydrate becquerelite can persist for hundreds of thousands of years, possibly longer. Becquerelite probably forms continuously as ground water compositions permit and is resistant to U leaching by ground water. On the time scale of interest for the geologic disposal of spent UO2 nuclear fuel, becquerelite is a long-lived sink for uranium in oxidizing, U and Ca-bearing ground waters. Such long-term stability also supports recent solubility experiments that indicate natural becquerelite has a lower solubility product than that determined for synthetic becquerelites.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 353: Symposium – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XVIII , 1994 , 647
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1995

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References

REFERENCES

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