The effect of solid state inclusions on the reactivity of UO2 : A kinetic and mechanistic study

The release of radionuclides is a key process in the safety assessment of a deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel. A large fraction of the release is assumed to be a consequence of dissolution of the fuel matrix, UO2. In this doctoral thesis, the kinetics and the mechanisms behind oxidative U(IV) dissolution were studied. The eects of solid phase inclusions mimicking the presence of fission products, and solutes mimicking expected groundwater components were also evaluated. Palladium, as a model substance for noble metal particle (fission products) inclusions, was shown to catalyze surface oxidation of U(IV), as well as reduction of U(VI). The second order rate constant for the surface reduction of U(VI) by H2was found to be on the order of 10-6 m s-1 (diusion controlled). Under 40 bar H2, 1 wt.% Pd was sufficient to suppress oxidative U(IV) dissolution in 2mM H2O2 aqueous solution. During g γirradiation under 1 bar H2, 0.1 wt.% Pd were sufficient to completely suppress oxidative dissolution. Under inert conditions, where H2 is only produced radiolytically, complete inhibition is observed for 3 wt.% Pd. The presence of Y2O3 as a model substance for trivalent fission products was found to decrease U(VI) dissolution significantly under inert, as well as reducing conditions. Based on kinetic data, it was shown that pure competition kinetics cannot explain the observed decrease. From experiments using pure oxidants it was shown that Y2O3 doping of UO2 decreases the redox reactivity. In addition, from experiments where hydroxyl radical formation from the catalytic decomposition of H2O2 was monitored, it could be concluded that doping has a minor influence on this process. On the basis of numerical simulations, the H2 concentration necessary to suppressradiolytic H2O2 production was found to increase with an increase in dose rate or HCO-3 concentration. Furthermore, the steady state concentration of H2O2 was found to be inversely proportional to the H2 pressure, and proportional to the square root of the dose rate. Fe2 diers strongly from the total reaction volume, the actual dose rate should not be converted into a homogeneous dose rate in numerical simulations.QC 2011051