Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-gtxcr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T15:15:05.402Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Secondary Uranium Minerals on the Surface of Chernobyl “Lava”

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 September 2012

B. E. Burakov ,
E. E. Strykanova  and
E. B. Anderson
B. E. Burakov
Affiliation:
V.G. Khlopin Radium Institute, 28, 2nd Murinsky ave., 194021, St. Petersburg, Russia
E. E. Strykanova
Affiliation:
V.G. Khlopin Radium Institute, 28, 2nd Murinsky ave., 194021, St. Petersburg, Russia
E. B. Anderson
Affiliation:
V.G. Khlopin Radium Institute, 28, 2nd Murinsky ave., 194021, St. Petersburg, Russia
Get access

Abstract

The formation of uranium minerals is still continuing in Chernobyl Unit No. 4. Yellow products of alteration that stain the surface of Chernobyl “lava” have been examined by SEM and X-ray diffraction methods. Secondary minerals of uranium identified are: UO4·4H2O studtite; UO3·2H2O epiianthinite; UO2·CO3 rutherfordine; also, Na4(UO2)(CO3)3 was identified together with the sodium carbonate phases Na3H(CO3)2·2H2O and Na2CO3·H2O. These minerals formed due to the interaction between fuel-containing masses or “lava”, water and air. The matrices of the “lava” do not contain significant amounts of sodium. The source of sodium may be water that has penetrated into the “Sarcophagus”. All identified secondary minerals of uranium are highly unstable, and their continued formation can seriously endanger the radiological situation of the 4th Unit.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 465: Symposium II – Scienfific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XX , 1996 , 1309
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Information about the accident at the Chernobyl Electric Power Station and its consequences: Prepared for IAEA. At. Energ. 61, 301 (1986) (in Russian).Google Scholar
2. Borovoy, A.A., Galkin, B.Ya., Krinitsyn, A.P., Markushev, V.M., Pazukhin, E.M., Kheruvimov, A.N., Checherov, K.P. New-formed products of the interaction of fuel with structural materials of the 4th Unit of the Chernobyl NPP. Radiochem. 32 (1990). (in Russian).Google Scholar
3. Kiselev, A.N., Nenagliadov, A.Yu., Surin, A.I., Checherov, K.P. A study of fuel-containing masses on the ChNPP 4th unit, (by results of investigations of 1986–1991). Preprint IAE-5533/3, Moscow (1992). (in Russian).Google Scholar
4. Anderson, E.B., Burakov, B.E., Pazukhin, E.M. High uranium zircon (Zr,U)SiO4 from Chernobyl lavas. Radiochimica Acta 60, 149 (1993).Google Scholar
5. Burakov, B.E., Anderson, E.B., Galkin, B.Ya., Pazukhin, E.M., Shabalev, S.I. Study of Chernobyl “hot” particles and fuel containing masses: implication for reconstructing the initial phase of the accident. Radiochimica Acta 65, 199–202 (1994).Google Scholar
6. Inside, Borovoy A.A. and outside the “Sarcofagus”. Preprint KE IAE, Chernobyl (1990). (in Russian).Google Scholar