Short communication: The dissolution of UK simulant vitrified high-level-waste in groundwater solutions

Dissolution of a simulant UK nuclear waste glass containing Mg, Ca and Zn was investigated over 35 d at 50 °C in ultra-high quality (UHQ) water and simulant groundwater solutions. The dissolution rates were influenced subtly by the groundwater composition, following the trend, from least to most dur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of nuclear materials 2020-09, Vol.538, p.152245, Article 152245
Main Authors: Fisher, Adam J., Imran, Mohammed N.B., Mann, Colleen, Gausse, Clémence, Hand, Russell J., Hyatt, Neil C., Corkhill, Claire L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aluminoborosilicate glass
Boron
Calcium
Chemical durability
Corrosion
Dissolution
Glass
Groundwater
Magnesium
Nuclear waste
Precipitates
Radioactive wastes
Silica
Silica gel
Silicon dioxide
Water quality
Zinc
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Summary:Dissolution of a simulant UK nuclear waste glass containing Mg, Ca and Zn was investigated over 35 d at 50 °C in ultra-high quality (UHQ) water and simulant groundwater solutions. The dissolution rates were influenced subtly by the groundwater composition, following the trend, from least to most durable: clay > UHQ water > granite ≈ saline. Solutions were rapidly silica saturated but boron dissolution rates continued to increase. This is hypothesised to be due to the formation of secondary Mg-silicate precipitates, preventing the formation of a passivating silica gel layer and allowing glass dissolution to proceed at close to the maximum rate.
ISSN:0022-3115
1873-4820
DOI:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2020.152245