Fgf. Gibb, High-temperature, very deep, geological disposal: a safer alternative for high-level radioactive waste?, WASTE MAN, 19(3), 1999, pp. 207-211
Safe disposal of radioactive waste, especially spent fuel, ex-military fiss
ile materials and other forms of high-level waste (HLW), is one of the majo
r challenges facing contemporary science. Currently, the internationally pr
eferred solution is for geological disposal by interment in a mined and eng
ineered, multi-barrier repository. Although this is often referred to as "d
eep" disposal, the depths involved are usually quite shallow in geological
terms. A new scheme, currently under development, for the high-temperature
disposal of concentrated HLW in very deep boreholes is outlined. Recent adv
ances in the knowledge of continental crustal rocks and fluids at depths of
several kilometres suggest that much deeper disposal might offer a safer a
nd environmentally more acceptable solution to the HLW problem. The new sch
eme seeks to capitalise on this potential while turning the problematical h
eat output of the waste to advantage. It appears to offer significant benef
its over both mined repositories and earlier borehole scenarios, particular
ly in terms of safety. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.