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DOE OSTI2015

A 'Method Based Survey' Succeeds in a Spanish Scrap Clearance Project - 15664

During the last years, a Waste Minimization Project has been implemented in Cofrentes NPP in a collaborative effort performed by IBERDROLA and ENRESA. The final result has been more than 760 t of metallic scrap including containerised materials but also massive surface contaminated objects have been managed and finally cleared. The initial project scope included 10 spent fuel pool racks weighting 130 tones but limited testing demonstrated they presented high contamination levels and were managed as radwaste including down-sizing and conditioning in ENRESA standard radwaste containers for metallic scrap (CMT's). This project started in 2008 and finished just in the summer of 2014. During these years planning and licensing, procurement, execution, including, a huge effort in decontamination and clearance measurement, was developed. The project closure is developing actually. The residual materials were stored and initially characterized previously its down-sizing and decontamination using chemical baths (warm diluted sulfuric acid and ultrasounds) , blasting (water jetting with iron grit) and in special cases mopping using industrial cleaners). Some big items were decontaminated previously its down-sizing. The materials were cleared using an approach similar to MARSAME approach based in MARSSIM guidelines. The 160 containers needed six in situ gamma spectrometry measurements each and 115 massive (from 0.45 t to 13.7 t) items need at least so many measurements as total surface in square meters. In total 763 t were cleared with only 0.6 t rejected and treated as radwaste. (authors)

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DOE OSTI2023

Design and Application of Materials for Sequestration and Immobilization of 99 Tc

99 Technetium ( 99 Tc) is a hazardous radionuclide generated by the nuclear industry that poses a serious environmental threat. The wide variation and complex chemistries of nuclear waste streams containing 99 Tc often create unique, site specific challenges when sequestering and immobilizing the waste in a matrix suitable for long-term storage and disposal. Therefore, an effective management plan for 99 Tc containing radioactive waste will likely require a variety of suitable materials/matrices capable of adapting to and addressing these challenges. In this review, we discuss and highlight the key developments for effective removal and immobilization of 99 Tc in inorganic waste forms. Specifically, we review the synthesis, characterization, and application of materials for targeted removal of 99 Tc from (simulated) waste solutions under various experimental conditions. These materials include: i) layered double hydroxides (LDHs), ii) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), iii) ion-exchange resins (IERs) as well as cationic organic polymers (COPs), and iv) surface modified natural clay materials (SMCMs). Secondly, we discuss some of the major and recent developments towards 99 Tc immobilization in i) glass, ii) cement, and iii) iron mineral waste forms. Finally, we present future challenges that need to be addressed for the design, synthesis, and selection of suitable matrices for the efficient sequestration and immobilization of 99 Tc from targeted wastes. Finally, the purpose of this review is to inspire the researches on the design and application of various suitable materials/matrices for selective removal of 99 Tc present globally in different radioactive wastes and its immobilization in stable/durable waste forms.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2025

International Collaboration Activities in Geologic Disposal R&D: Spent Fuel and High-Level Waste Disposition (FY25 Progress Report)

This report describes the FY25 status of international collaboration on geologic disposal research and development (R&D) in the Office of Spent Fuel and High-Level Waste Disposition (SFHLWD) in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy (NE). The mission of this office is to provide confidence in the safe long-term management of the nation’s spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste by reducing uncertainty and advancing technology for extended storage, transportation, and geologic disposal. R&D in geologic disposal is administered in SFHLWD’s Disposal R&D Campaign.

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DOE OSTI2013

Global recycling services for short and long term risk reduction

New schemes are being developed by AREVA in order to provide global solutions for safe and non-proliferating management of used fuels, thereby significantly contributing to overall risks reduction and sustainable nuclear development. Utilities are thereby provided with a service through which they will be able to send their used fuels and only get returned vitrified and compacted waste, the only waste remaining after reprocessing. This waste is stable, standard and has demonstrated capability for very long term interim storage. They are provided as well with associated facilities and all necessary services for storage in a demonstrated safely manner. Recycled fuels, in particular MOX, would be used either in existing LWRs or in a very limited number of full MOX reactors (like the EPR reactor), located in selected countries, that will recycle MOX so as to downgrade the isotopic quality of the Pu inventories in a significant manner. Reprocessed uranium also can be recycled. These schemes, on top of offering demonstrated operational advantages and a responsible approach, result into optimized economics for all shareholders of the scheme, as part of reactor financing (under Opex or Capex form) will be secured thanks to the value of the recycled flows. It also increases fuel cost predictability as recycled fuel is not subject to market fluctuations as much and allows, in a limited span of time, for clear risk mitigation. (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Update on Parallel Process Execution in the Next Generation System Analysis Model (NGSAM)

As of the end of 2022, it is estimated that over 90,000 metric tons of heavy metal (MTHM) of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) were stored at various commercial nuclear power reactor sites (both operating and shutdown) across the United States [1]. The Office of Storage and Transportation within the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy is planning for the transportation, storage, and eventual disposal of SNF and high-level radioactive waste (HLW). To aid in this effort and inform decision-makers about the backend of the spent fuel cycle, systems analysis tools capable of analyzing the various options with respect to SNF and HLW management are being used as well as continuously improved to meet the evolving needs of the program. System analysts typically use these tools to vary underlying assumptions (shipping rates, available facilities, start dates, interim storage capacity, etc.) and study the associated system implications such as timing for clearing sites of SNF, various cost elements, transportation infrastructure acquisition needs, etc.

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DOE OSTI2013

NUHOWS - Storage and Transportation of Irradiated Reactor Components in Large Packages - 13439

Most irradiated reactor components (hardware such as Control Rod Blades, Fuel Channels, Poison Curtains, etc.) generated at reactors previously required significant processing for size reduction due to the available transportation casks not being physically capable of containing unprocessed material. As of July 1, 2008, disposal for this typical waste class (B and C) became inaccessible (for the major part of the nation) due to the Barnwell, SC disposal facility being closed to all but its three compact states (CT, NJ and SC). Currently in the United States, most facilities are storing their irradiated hardware on-site in the spent fuel pools. Until recently with the opening of the Waste Control Specialists' Texas disposal facility, utilities faced the challenges of spent fuel pool space and capacity management. However, even with WCS's disposal availability, the site currently has annual Curie limitations for disposal, which will continue to promote interim on-site storage until such time as disposal is available. In response, Transnuclear Inc., (TN) an AREVA company, proceeded with designing a new large Radioactive Waste Container (RWC) that can be used to package irradiated hardware without the need for significant processing. The design features of the RWC allows for intermittent loadings of the hardware for better packaging efficiency, higher packaging density, space savings and reduced cost. This RWC is also compatible with TN's on-site modular vault storage system. Once completely loaded, the RWC can be transported to an on-site storage facility, an off-site storage facility and/or an available disposal facility. To accommodate the transportation, TN has designed a large transportation cask, the MP197HB. As the original design was for transporting fuel, it contains the necessary shielding to allow for the transport of unprocessed irradiated reactor components, while significantly reducing the amount of irradiated hardware shipments required with the use of the new RWC. This paper provides information on the unique design features of the RWC, storage module vaults, MP197HB Transportation Cask and cost saving benefits of using the large RWC for packaging, storage, transport and disposal. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

DOE OSTI2015

Siting considerations for consolidated storage of used fuel in the United States - Assessing the impact of key developments since release of the Blue Ribbon Commission Report in 2012 - 15458

This paper offers a formula for achieving success in siting a facility for the Interim Pilot Storage Facility and a Consolidated Storage Facility for Used Fuel as envisioned by the Blue Ribbon Commission Report in 2012 and by the DOE in its Strategy Recommendations issued in 2013. Particular attention is given to the potential impact of recent events (i.e., the underground fire and radioactive release incidences at WIPP in February 2014) on the proposed formula and for their potential impact on future siting efforts. Particular attention is giving to the continuation and application of the Consensus Based Approach which will now face additional challenges. (authors)

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DOE OSTI2020

FY2019 Performance Assessment Annual Review for the E-Area Low-Level Waste Facility

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DOE OSTI2020

FY2019 Performance Assessment Annual Review for the E-Area Low-Level Waste Facility

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DOE OSTI2021

FY2020 performance assessment annual review for the E-area low-level waste facility

The Savannah River Site (SRS) E-Area Low-Level Waste Facility (ELLWF) consists of six types of disposal units described in the Performance Assessment (PA) (WSRC, 2008): Low Activity Waste Vault (LAWV), Intermediate Level Vault (ILV), Trenches [Slit Trenches (STs), Engineered Trenches (ETs), and Component-in-Grout (CIG) Trenches], and Naval Reactor Component Disposal Areas (NRCDAs). The ELLWF is a part of the Solid Waste Management Facility (SWMF). SWMF is managed and operated by the SRS Management and Operations prime contractor, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS). Within SRNS, the Solid Waste Management (SWM) organization is responsible for operating the SWMF, and the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is the technical agency responsible for preparing and maintaining the PA. SWMF operations have been performed at SRS since 1952. The mission of the SWMF is to provide storage, processing, disposal, and shipment of radioactive, hazardous, and mixed waste. The SWMF is committed to treat, store, and dispose of these waste products in a manner that protects the environment and the health and safety of the facility worker, the co-located worker, and the offsite general public. Wastes handled in the SWMF include low level waste, transuranic waste, hazardous waste, Toxic Substances Control Act waste, and mixed waste (containing both hazardous and radioactive constituents). The FY2020 PA Annual Review for the ELLWF affirms that the disposal facility continued to operate within the bounds of the current PA and Composite Analysis (CA) baseline and the subsequent SA’s and satisfied all the requirements, conditions, and limitations identified in the 2008 DAS (DOE 2008a), RWMB SRNL_STI-2020-00588 Revision 0 vi (McGill, 2020), and ELLWF Low-Level Waste Acceptance Criteria (SRS-1S, 2014). This annual review affirms that the supporting studies performed in FY2020 do not alter the conclusions of the ELLWF PA (WSRC, 2008) and that there is a reasonable expectation that the ELLWF will meet the performance objectives delineated in DOE Manual 435.1-1 (DOE 2011)

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DOE OSTI2018

The Status of LILW Complex Disposal Facility Construction in Korea-18511

This paper provides the status and experiences of Low and Intermediate-level radioactive Waste (LILW) disposal facility in Korea. The LILW disposal facility is being constructed in Gyeongju-si, Korea. It can dispose of 800,000 drums (hereafter, 'drums' means '200 liter drum equivalents' unless specified otherwise) of radioactive waste in a site of 2,060,000 m{sup 2}. The first stage of the LILW facility construction was completed in June 2014, and approved for use by Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) in December 2014. The first stage of the LILW facility, which is a type of underground silo with disposal capacity of 35,200 m{sup 3} (100,000 drums), consists of a construction tunnel, an operation tunnel, an access shaft, and six silos, etc. Silo for final disposal is located 80∼130 m below sea level, 25 m in diameter and 50 m in height. The capacity of each silo is approximately 16,700 drums. The second stage of the LILW facility is under construction and will be completed by December 2020. The second stage of the LILW facility, which is a type of near-surface disposal with disposal capacity of 32,875 m{sup 3} (125,000 drums), consists of an underground gallery, three movable cranes and twenty vaults, etc. Vault for final disposal is located about 100 m above sea level, 20 m in width, 20 m length and 10.9 m in height. The capacity of each vault is approximately 6,250 drums. A second receipt and storage facility is to be completed by June 2021. This facility is under designing to prepare for further increasing radioactive waste receipt quantities. It has storage capacity of 10,000 drums (existing receipt and storage facility have storage capacity of 7,000 drums)and will be divided into several sections for pre-disposal work, storage, a passage to link the existing facility to the second receipt and storage facility and truck bay, etc. These components of the LILW disposal facilities are together called LILW complex disposal facility. It is the world's first LILW disposal facility with two different types of disposal facilities in one site. For efficient operation, these disposal facilities share a receipt and storage building, a waste water treatment system, a measurement and monitoring system, etc. Once the construction of the first two stages is completed, LILW disposal facilities will be incrementally expanded, and as the whole LILW disposal facilities are completed, all LILW in Korea will be disposed of these disposal facilities efficiently according to its radioactivity level and managed safely by KORAD. (authors)

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DOE OSTI2015

Rail Shock and Vibration Pre-Test Modeling of a Used Nuclear Fuel Assembly

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE), Office of Fuel Cycle Technology, has established the Used Fuel Disposition Campaign (UFDC) to conduct the research and development activities related to storage, transportation, and disposal of used nuclear fuel (UNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW). The mission of the UFDC is to identify alternatives and conduct scientific research and technology development to enable storage, transportation and disposal of used nuclear fuel and HLW generated by existing and future nuclear fuel cycles. The Storage and Transportation staff within the UFDC is responsible for addressing issues regarding the long-term or extended storage (ES) of UNF and its subsequent transportation. Available information is not sufficient to determine the ability of ES UNF, including high-burnup fuel, to withstand shock and vibration forces that could occur when the UNF is shipped by rail from nuclear power plant sites to a storage or disposal facility. There are three major gaps in the available information – 1) the forces that UNF assemblies would be subjected to when transported by rail, 2) the mechanical characteristics of fuel rod cladding, which is an essential structure for controlling the geometry of the UNF, a safety related feature, and 3) modeling methodologies to evaluate multiple possible degradation or damage mechanisms over the UNF lifetime. In order to address the first gap, options for tests to determine the physical response of surrogate UNF assemblies subjected to shock and vibration forces that are expected to be experienced during normal conditions of transportation (NCT) by rail must be identified and evaluated. The objective of the rail shock and vibration tests is to obtain data that will help researchers understand the mechanical loads that ES UNF assemblies would be subjected to under normal conditions of transportation and to fortify the computer modeling that will be necessary to evaluate the impact those loads may have on the integrity of the UNF assembly. The shock and vibration testing along with computer modeling is a vital part of research to achieve closure of a gap in information related to the ability of ES UNF to maintain its safety function when subjected to NCT. In support of this effort, preliminary structural dynamics modeling is presented herein. The modeling investigates the rigidity of a hypothetical cask and cradle structure by comparing it to a monolithic concrete mass. The concrete mass represents a practical option for achieving the necessary cask and cradle mass on a flatbed railcar, but this comparative modeling study investigates whether or not the dynamic loads transmitted through a monolithic concrete configuration are adequately representative of a realistic cask and cradle system. This modeling highlights the need for rail testing by reporting the phenomenon of structural transmissibility. As shown herein, this structural transmissibility can cause an amplification of shock and vibration loads through the structure, which could potentially lead to accelerated mechanical degradation of UNF under NCT.

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DOE OSTI2019

Comparing Ecological Risk between D and D Facilities and Operating Facilities at the Hanford Site - 19531

Many countries are faced with a large remediation task resulting from World War II, the Cold War, and subsequent industrial development. In the U.S. the Department of Energy (DOE) faces the largest hazardous waste remediation tasks, with a commitment to protect human health and the environment during and following remediation. DoE's biggest challenge is remediation of the many remaining cleanup areas at the Hanford Site, Washington. Some Hanford sites have extensive ecological resources and ecosystems that require protection or restoration. We briefly 1) describe a rapid evaluation method for ecological resources on units slated for cleanup that allows comparison among the different areas at the Hanford Site, 2) examine some D4 (deactivation, decommissioning, decontamination and demolition) facilities and Operating facilities that require remediation, 3) describe potential ecological harm to resources on these sites, and 4) compare how risks from potential harm vary at the Hanford Site. The ecological evaluation includes three phases: 1) general steps (identify resource categories, identify cleanup areas), 2) ecological descriptions (describe resources on the site to be cleaned up), and 3) ecological ratings (rate the value of the resources on a scale that can be applied across remediation sites). After completion of these steps for the sites requiring cleanup, a comparison of potential risks can be made among types of facilities (e.g. D4 facilities, legacy waste sites, operating facilities). D4 facilities are those slated for deactivation, decommissioning, decontamination and demolition, while operating facilities at Hanford include waste treatment plants, sludge basins, waste trenches, Central Waste Complex, storage facilities, and disposal facilities, among others required to support the D4 and other remediation activities, before they too are remediated. Currently the potential harm to ecological (and eco-cultural) resources on the Hanford Site for remediation at D4 facilities is very low, but increases to very high (for reactors) during remediation when there is physical disruption, increased traffic and personnel, and possible increased contamination. Following remediation, the potential harm to ecological resources is low, and the value may increase due to restoration of native vegetation on sites that were largely industrial prior to remediation. In contrast, the potential harm to ecological resources at Operating Facilities was higher currently than for D4 facilities, but was low to medium following cleanup. The higher harm (risk) at D4 facilities partly derives from the location of the reactors near the Columbia River, a resource extremely important to Tribal Nations and to other peoples in the Northwestern United States, as well as for the iconic and threatened salmon populations. Methods described in this paper provide Congress, DOE managers, regulators, Tribes, and the general public with assurance that ecological and eco-cultural resources and the environment are being protected during and following remediation. The analysis of specific sites provides managers, regulators and the public with information to make cost-effective decisions about remediation that continues to enhance ecological value while protecting human health. (authors)

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DOE OSTI2022

Advanced Analysis of Nuclear Waste Storage Cask Health

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11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2013

Removal of Radioactive Nuclides from Mo-99 Acidic Liquid Waste - 13027

About 200 liters highly radioactive acidic liquid waste originating from Mo-99 production was stored at INER (Institute of Nuclear Energy Research). A study regarding the treatment of the radioactive acidic liquid waste was conducted to solve storage-related issues and allow discharge of the waste while avoiding environmental pollution. Before discharging the liquid waste, the acidity, NO{sub 3}{sup -} and Hg ions in high concentrations, and radionuclides must comply with environmental regulations. Therefore, the treatment plan was to neutralize the acidic liquid waste, remove key radionuclides to reduce the dose rate, and then remove the nitrate and mercury ions. Bench tests revealed that NaOH is the preferred solution to neutralize the high acidic waste solution and the pH of solution must be adjusted to 9∼11 prior to the removal of nuclides. Significant precipitation was produced when the pH of solution reached 9. NaNO{sub 3} was the major content in the precipitate and part of NaNO{sub 3} was too fine to be completely collected by filter paper with a pore size of approximately 3 μm. The residual fine particles remaining in solution therefore blocked the adsorption column during operation. Two kinds of adsorbents were employed for Cs-137 and a third for Sr-90 removal to minimize cost. For personnel radiation protection, significant lead shielding was required at a number of points in the process. The final process design and treatment facilities successfully treated the waste solutions and allowed for environmentally compliant discharge. (authors)

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DOE OSTI2018

Hot Isostatically Pressed Ceramic Waste forms for High Dose Spent Adsorbents - 18129

Decommissioning and clean-up of nuclear facilities requires the development of new technologies to condition radioactive wastes, producing passively safe waste packages of minimal volume, to reduce storage and disposal costs. We have applied hot isostatic pressing to demonstrate conceptual waste forms for high dose spent adsorbents (i.e. ion exchange materials) present on the Sellafield site, UK, and Fukushima Daiichi site, Japan. These radioactive wastes pose several challenges which demand early conditioning to produce a passively safe wasteform, including: a wet and granular nature, and hence dispersible as a result of loss of containment; a very high dose rates as a result of their selectivity for short lived radionuclides (e.g. Sr-90, Cs-137, Co-60); radiogenic self-heating, as a result of the concentration of such lived radio nuclides; hydrogen production as a result of radiolysis of entrained water [1]. Here, we demonstrate the conversion of natural inorganic ion exchange materials into multiphase ceramic waste forms, achieving a waste loading of 100 wt.% and density in excess of 97% theoretical. High resolution thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectroscopy was utilised to characterise the evolution of water and volatiles during the in-can bake out step, prior to the HIP cycle. This allowed optimisation of the bake out parameters (temperature, time and vacuum) to enable complete removal of water and volatiles, affording ceramic bodies with minimal residual porosity by hot isostatic pressing at 1250 deg. C for 4 h in stainless steel canisters. Characterisation of the ceramic waste forms by SEM /EDX and X-ray diffraction revealed the nuclides of concern to be incorporated within well-known natural mineral and synthetic phases, with Cs partitioning into the K-feldspar. (authors)

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DOE OSTI2018

Development of a Remote Sealing Technique for Dry Nuclear Storage Casks

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DOE OSTI2016

The function of Sn(II)-apatite as a Tc immobilizing agent

Technetium-99 is a radioactive contaminant of high concern at many nuclear waste storage sites. At the U.S. Department of Energy Hanford Site, 99Tc is a component of low-activity waste (LAW) fractions of the nuclear tank waste, which are highly caustic, high ionic strength and have high concentrations of chromate. Removal of 99Tc from LAW streams would greatly benefit the site remediation process. In this study, we investigated the removal of 99Tc(VII), as pertechnetate, from deionized water (DIW) and a LAW simulant using two solid sorbents, tin (II) apatite (Sn-A) and SnCl2 through batch sorption testing and solid phase characterization. Sn-A showed higher levels of removal of Tc from both DIW and LAW simulant compared with the SnCl2. Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/XEDS) and X-ray adsorption spectroscopy (XAS) of Sn-A following batch experiments in DIW showed that TcO4- is reduced to Tc(IV) on the Sn-A surface with no incorporation into the lattice structure of Sn-A. The performance of Sn-A in the LAW simulant was lowered due to a combined effect of the high alkalinity, which lead to an increased dissolution of Sn from the Sn-A, and a preference for the reduction of Cr(VI) over Tc(VII).

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗