Spent nuclear fuel contains both uranium (U) and high yield fission products, including strontium-90 (Sr), a key radioactive contaminant at nuclear facilities. Both U and Sr will be present where spent nuclear fuel has been processed, including in storage ponds and tanks. However, the interactions between Sr and U phases under ambient conditions are not well understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUranium is typically the most abundant radionuclide by mass in radioactive wastes and is a significant component of effluent streams at nuclear facilities. Actinide(IV) (An(IV)) colloids formed via various pathways, including corrosion of spent nuclear fuel, have the potential to greatly enhance the mobility of poorly soluble An(IV) forms, including uranium. This is particularly important in conditions relevant to decommissioning of nuclear facilities and the geological disposal of radioactive waste.
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