Gmn. Baston et al., EFFECTS OF CELLULOSIC DEGRADATION PRODUCTS ON URANIUM SORPTION IN THEGEOSPHERE, Journal of alloys and compounds, 213, 1994, pp. 475-480
The current design concept for intermediate- and some low-level radioa
ctive waste disposal in the UK involves emplacement in a cementitious
repository deep underground. The movement of radionuclides away from s
uch a repository through the host rock formation towards the biosphere
is expected to be retarded to a significant degree by sorption proces
ses. One major issue being studied is the effect on uranium sorption o
f degradation products arising from organic waste matter, especially c
ellulosic materials. The sorption of uranium could be reduced by degra
dation products, either because of complexation, or through the organi
c materials competing for sorption sites. Because of the complexity of
authentic degradation products, work has also been carried out using
gluconate and iso-saccharinate as well-characterised simulants. In the
presence of high concentrations of either the authentic or simulated
degradation products, significant reductions in uranium sorption have
been observed. However, in the presence of lower concentrations of the
se organic materials, such as would be present in the repository, sorp
tion was reduced at most by only a small margin and, in some cases, th
e results suggested a slight increase.