Isolation and microscopic characterization of nuclear fuel particles from contaminated soil of Chernobyl.

Nuclear fuel particles were separated from Chernobyl contaminated soil samp le by sedimentation in bromoform. Their physicochemical characteristics wer e studied using the scanning electron microscope. One part of the particles contained U and O and the other part contained U: Zr and O. The size of th e particles containing Zr was greater than that of the pure fuel particles. The structure and the surface morphology of the studied particles were var iable and characterized the conditions of their formation. Thus, the source term is heterogeneous. This heterogeneity has direct consequences on the d issolution of the fuel particles. (C) 2000 Acadimie des sciences / Editions scientifiques er medicales Elsevier SAS.