Characterization of Waste Generated from Nuclide Management Process in Waste Burden Minimization Technology for Spent Nuclear Fuel

Abstract

To reduce the environmental burden caused by the disposal of spent nuclear fuel, waste burden minimization technology is currently being developed at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. The technology includes a nuclide management process that can maximize disposal efficiency by selectively separating and collecting major nuclides in spent nuclear fuel. To manufacture a waste form of high durability, the characteristics of the waste generated during the process should be evaluated. In this study, the physical, radiological, and thermal characteristics of the waste and waste forms for major nuclides (Cs, Sr, I, transuranic/rare earth, and Tc/Se) generated in the nuclide management process were analyzed. In the case of Cs nuclides, characterization was conducted according to the capture rate of the adsorbent in the high-temperature heat treatment process; meanwhile, in the case of Sr nuclides, characterization was performed by considering the ratio of similar nuclides in the chlorination process. For I nuclide, analysis was performed based on the available waste form, and for TRU/RE and Tc/Se nuclides, analysis was performed by considering chlorination and mid-temperature heat treatment. The radioactivity and heat generation rate of each waste and waste form were evaluated over a period of 1,000 years. The results of this study could be used to derive the centerline temperature for the thermal stability evaluation of waste forms and for the feasibility evaluation of each disposal system considered in the waste burden minimization technology.