Evaluation of the effect of microbial subsurface ecosystems on spent nuclear fuel repositories

摘要

Suitable subsurface repositories for spent nuclear fuel are presently under investigation at several national underground research laboratories that have been excavated for this purpose. However,, since spent fuel storage canisters can be expected to break down after a period of time, engineered barriers have been proposed to prevent radionuclides, leached from the canisters by groundwater, from escaping into the environment. Serious investigation of the effect of microbial activity on these barriers and the surrounding geosphere has only been undertaken fairly recently.