Homogeneous radiolysis studies using 238Pu
Licentiate thesis, 2014

Used nuclear fuel contains radiotoxic elements with lifetimes in the range of 100 000 years. Although possibilities for recycling of the fuel exist, a final storage for the ultimate high-level waste will be necessary. In Sweden, a deep geologic repository will be constructed, in which the used fuel will be protected from ground water contact by different barriers. However, considering the extensive time scale, scenarios of barrier failures and ground water intrusion are a necessary part of the safety assessment. In such a scenario, the possible release of radiotoxic elements into the environment will be governed by the solubility of the UO2 matrix, which may be altered by oxidative radiolysis products formed in the water. In this work, a method has been developed for the study of homogeneous α-radiolysis under final repository conditions, with the intention to determine the effect of dissolved bromide on the radiolytic yield of oxygen. To enable this study, a high activity 238Pu solution was stabilized at neutral pH, and a method for mass spectrometric measurement of oxygen gas at the ppm level was developed. Contrary to expectations, a qualitative evaluation of the measurement data indicated a consumption of oxygen in the radiolysis experiment. It was however concluded that the experimental procedure will require further improvements before any radiolytically produced, or consumed, oxygen could be quantified.

gas mass spectrometry

alpha-radiolysis

plutonium oxidation

10:an, Kemigården 4
Opponent: Xiaolin Hou

Author

Lovisa Bauhn

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Nuclear Chemistry

Dark oxidation of water in soils

Tellus, Series B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology,; Vol. 65(2013)

Journal article

Extraction experiments after radiolysis of a proposed GANEX solvent - the effect of time

Procedia Chemistry,; Vol. 7(2012)p. 123-129

Paper in proceeding

Areas of Advance

Energy

Thesis for the degree of licentiate of engineering - Department of Chemistry and Bioscience/Organic Chemistry, Chalmers University of Technology: 2014:31

10:an, Kemigården 4

Opponent: Xiaolin Hou

More information

Created

10/7/2017