The Chemistry of Iodine in Containment

Recent investigations of iodine behavior under radiolytic conditions have demonstrated that kinetics, not thermodynamics, will govern iodine speciation and partitioning under conditions typical of those expected in a reactor containment during an accident. In the presence of radiation, iodine volati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nuclear technology 2000-03, Vol.129 (3), p.297-325
Main Authors: Wren, Jungsook Clara, Ball, Joanne M., Glowa, Glenn A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accident prevention
Applied sciences
CHEMISTRY
CONTAINMENT
Energy
Energy. Thermal use of fuels
Exact sciences and technology
Fission nuclear power plants
GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
IMPURITIES
Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy
IODINE
KINETICS
OXIDATION
RADIOLYSIS
Reaction kinetics
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR SAFETY
SAFETY ANALYSIS
SIMULATION
VOLATILITY
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Summary:Recent investigations of iodine behavior under radiolytic conditions have demonstrated that kinetics, not thermodynamics, will govern iodine speciation and partitioning under conditions typical of those expected in a reactor containment during an accident. In the presence of radiation, iodine volatility is orders of magnitude higher than that expected based on thermodynamic calculations. Kinetic studies have contributed extensively to the existing database of iodine chemistry and have several implications for modeling iodine behavior for safety analyses. For example, as a result of these investigations, many uncertainties in the iodine database, such as those regarding thermal oxidation of iodine, which were formerly regarded as reactor safety issues, are now considered to be relatively unimportant. In contrast, previously unconsidered factors, such as the effect on aqueous chemistry of impurities originating from surfaces, are now recognized as playing major roles in determining iodine volatility. An updated review of the existing literature regarding iodine behavior is provided, with a focus on recent developments. A critical evaluation of the data in the context of developing a model for iodine behavior under reactor accident conditions is also provided.
ISSN:0029-5450
1943-7471
DOI:10.13182/NT129-297