Leaching of spent nuclear fuels in aerated conditions: Influences of sample preparation on radionuclide release patterns

摘要

The release of radionuclides from spent nuclear fuel upon contact with water is a central issue for the assessment of the safety of geological disposal concepts. Several studies have been conducted aiming at understanding matrix dissolution as well as the rapid/instant release of radionuclides separated from the UO2 matrix; there are however questions remaining regarding how higher burn-up affects the amount of fission products segregated to the fuel-cladding gap and grain boundaries.