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Chemical durability of high-level waste glass in repository environment: main conclusions and remaining uncertainties from the GLASTAB and GLAMOR projects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2011

P. Van Iseghem
Affiliation:
SCK•CEN, Mol, (Belgium)
K. Lemmens
Affiliation:
SCK•CEN, Mol, (Belgium)
M. Aertsens
Affiliation:
SCK•CEN, Mol, (Belgium)
S. Gin
Affiliation:
CEA-Valrhô, Marcoule, (France)
I. Ribet
Affiliation:
CEA-Valrhô, Marcoule, (France)
B. Grambow
Affiliation:
Subatech, Nantes, (France)
J.L. Crovisier
Affiliation:
EOST Centre de Géochimie de la Surface, Strasbourg, (France)
M. Del Nero
Affiliation:
IreS, Strasbourg, (France)
E. Curti
Affiliation:
PSI, Villigen, (Switzerland)
B. Schwyn
Affiliation:
NAGRA, Wettingen, (Swizerland)
B. Luckscheiter
Affiliation:
FZK, Karlruhe, (Germany)
T. McMenamin
Affiliation:
European Commission, Brussels, (Belgium)
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Abstract

This paper reviews the main conclusions of two European Commission funded projects, GLASTAB and GLAMOR, on the durability of HLW glass in geological disposal, and the remaining uncertainties. The progress in GLASTAB relates to the characterization of the alteration layer, the modeling of glass dissolution, the interaction of glass with near field materials, the behaviour of radionuclides, and the calculation of HLW glass dissolution as part of geological disposal. The GLAMOR programme was focused on the decrease of the glass dissolution rate upon achieving silica saturation in solution. Two conclusions from this programme are the importance of the residual rate measured beyond silica saturation and the need to reduce the uncertainties in model parameters. The overall conclusion from the two projects is that strong progress has been achieved on basic dissolution mechanisms and interaction with disposal environments - HLW glass will act as a good barrier to the release of radionuclides in geologic disposal.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

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References

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