Abstract
Leaching results to compare the dissolution behavior of a new type of fuel with additives (Advanced Doped Pellet Technology, ADOPT) with standard UO2 fuel are presented. Both fuels were irradiated in the same assembly of a commercial boiling water reactor to a local burnup of ~58 MWd/kgU. Fuel fragments are leached in simplified groundwater in two autoclaves under hydrogen atmosphere, representing conditions in a canister failure scenario resulting in water intrusion for a spent nuclear fuel repository. Preliminary results indicate the uranium concentration decreased to 3-4x10-8 M after 421 days, slightly above the solubility of amorphous UO2. Xe has been detected in the gas phase of both autoclaves. The concentration of Cs and I seems to gradually approach constant values, yet the redox sensitive elements continue to slowly increase with time. The preliminary data obtained supports the hypothesis that there is no major difference in leaching behavior between the two fuels.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
J. Arborelius et al. J. Nucl. Sci. Technol., 43, 967–976 (2006).
O. Roth et al. Leaching of high burn up spent fuel with and without matrix dopants, In Kienzler, B., Metz, V., Duro, L., Valls, A. Final (3rd) Annual Workshop Proceedings of the 7th EC FP CP FIRST-Nuclides project 2014.
K. Nilsson et al. J. Nucl. Mater., 488, 123–128 (2017).
R. Guillamont et al. Update on the chemical thermodynamics of U, Np, Pu, Am and Tc, OECD NEA, Elsevier (2003)
A. Puranen, O. Roth, L.Z. Evins, K. Spahiu, MRS Advances 3(19), 1013–1018 (2018)
Roudil et al. J. Nucl. Mater, 362, 411–415 (2007)
P. Fors, P. Carbol, S. Van Winkel, K. Spahiu, J. Nucl. Mater. 394, 1–8 (2009).
A. Loida, V. Metz, B. Kienzler, H. Geckeis, J. Nucl. Mater. 346, 24–31 (2005)
K. Spahiu, D. Cui, M. Lundström, Radiochimica Acta, 92(9-11), 625–629 (2004)
W.J. Gray and C.N. Wilson (1995) Spent Fuel Dissolution Studies FY 1991 to 1994, PNL-10540, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
A. Puranen et al., MRS Advances, Vol. 1(52), 4169–4175 (2016)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fidalgo, A.B., Roth, O., Puranen, A. et al. Aqueous leaching of ADOPT and standard UO2 spent nuclear fuel under H2 atmosphere. MRS Advances 5, 167–175 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1557/adv.2020.69
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/adv.2020.69