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Preliminary Results of Laboratory Studies of Repository Chemistry for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2011

L. H. Brush ,
D. Grbic-Galic ,
D. T. Reed ,
X. Tong ,
R. H. Vreeland  and
R. E. Westerman
L. H. Brush
Affiliation:
Disposal Room Systems Division 6345, Sandia National Laboratories, PO Box 5800, Albuquerque, NM 87185
D. Grbic-Galic
Affiliation:
Department of Civil Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
D. T. Reed
Affiliation:
Chemical Technology Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Ave., Argonne, IL 60439
X. Tong
Affiliation:
Wahler Associates, 1023 Corporation Way, PO Box 10023, Palo Alto, CA 94303
R. H. Vreeland
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383
R. E. Westerman
Affiliation:
Materials and Chemical Applications Department, Pacific Northwest Laboratory, PO Box 999, Richland, WA 99352
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Abstract

The design-basis, defense-related, transuranic (TRU) waste to be emplaced in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) could, if sufficient H2O and nutrients were present, produce as much as 1,500 moles of gas per drum of waste. Gas production could pressurize the repository to lithostatic pressure (150 atm) and perhaps higher.

Anoxic corrosion of Fe and Fe-base alloys and microbial degradation of cellulosics are the processes of greatest concern, but radiolysis of brine could also be important. The proposed backfill additives CaC03, CaO, CuSO4, KOH, and NaOH may remove or prevent the production of some of the expected gases. We describe these processes and present preliminary results of laboratory studies of anoxic corrosion and microbial activity.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 212: Symposium P – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XIV , 1990 , 893
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1991

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References

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