Natural and artificial minerals as matrices for immobilization of actinides

Abstract

The possibility of insulation of long-lived actinides for the entire period of their potential hazard, i.e., over a virtually infinite time, is the crucial problem in safe disposal of high-level radioactive wastes (HLW). The reality of such a possibility is corroborated by the study of natural radioactive minerals that firmly retain U, Th, and REE, which are close in geochemical properties to transuranic actinides, for millions of years despite the effects of groundwater. The natural analogues of actinide HLW matrices are minerals where U, Th, and REE are contained as major elements or isomorphic admixtures. The study of these minerals is helpful for synthesis of durable artificial forms of wastes that ensure reliable insulation of HLW up to the complete decay of actinides independently of such engineering barriers of underground repositories as containers and bentonite buffers. The main requirements on confinement matrices include a high isomorphic capacity with respect to actinides and other HLW components, chemical and radiation stability, and technological feasibility of their industrial production. The natural and artificial minerals—uraninite, monazite, zirconolite, pyrochlore, britholite, garnet, and murataite— characterized in this paper may serve as a basis for efficient matrices for immobilization of actinide wastes.