Gas Production and Liberation from Rock Salt Samples and Potential Consequences on the Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste in Salt Domes

1981 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norbert Jockwer
Keyword(s):  
Radioactive Waste ◽  
Rock Salt ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
High Level Radioactive Waste ◽  
Salt Domes ◽  
High Level

ABSTRACT 

scholarly journals Microscopic and spectroscopic bioassociation study of uranium(VI) with an archaeal Halobacterium isolate

PLoS ONE ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e0262275
Author(s):  
Stephan Hilpmann ◽  
Miriam Bader ◽  
Robin Steudtner ◽  
Katharina Müller ◽  
Thorsten Stumpf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radioactive Waste ◽  
Rock Salt ◽  
Luminescence Spectroscopy ◽  
Spectroscopic Techniques ◽  
High Level Radioactive Waste ◽  
Long Term Storage ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Term Storage

The safe disposal of high-level radioactive waste in a deep geological repository is a huge social and technical challenge. So far, one of the less considered factors needed for a long-term risk assessment, is the impact of microorganisms occurring in the different host rocks. Even under the harsh conditions of salt formations different bacterial and archaeal species were found, e. g. Halobacterium sp. GP5 1–1, which has been isolated from a German rock salt sample. The interactions of this archaeon with uranium(VI), one of the radionuclides of major concern for the long-term storage of high-level radioactive waste, were investigated. Different spectroscopic techniques, as well as microscopy, were used to examine the occurring mechanisms on a molecular level leading to a more profound process understanding. Batch experiments with different uranium(VI) concentrations showed that the interaction is not only a simple, but a more complex combination of different processes. With the help of in situ attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy the association of uranium(VI) onto carboxylate groups was verified. In addition, time-resolved laser-induced luminescence spectroscopy revealed the formation of phosphate and carboxylate species within the cell pellets as a function of the uranium(VI) concentration and incubation time. The association behavior differs from another very closely related halophilic archaeon, especially with regard to uranium(VI) concentrations. This clearly demonstrates the importance of studying the interactions of different, at first sight very similar, microorganisms with uranium(VI). This work provides new insights into the microbe-uranium(VI) interactions at highly saline conditions relevant to the long-term storage of radioactive waste in rock salt.

Laboratory Investigations on Radiolysis Effects on Rock Salt With Regard to the Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Wastes

1983 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norbert Jockwer
Keyword(s):  
Radioactive Waste ◽  
Rock Salt ◽  
Host Rock ◽  
Thermal Cracking ◽  
Radioactive Wastes ◽  
Volatile Components ◽  
High Level Radioactive Waste ◽  
Laboratory Investigations ◽  
High Level

ABSTRACTAs a result of the heat producing high-level radioactive waste, volatile components which are in the host rock will be liberated and further gases will be generated by thermal cracking and radiolysis.

scholarly journals A systematic approach for surface exploration of sites – a database to research and evaluate suitable methods

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 53-55
Author(s):  
Raphael Dlugosch ◽  
Thies Beilecke ◽  
Tilo Kneuker ◽  
Lukas Pollok ◽  
Lisa Richter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radioactive Waste ◽  
Waste Disposal ◽  
Rock Salt ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Crystalline Rock ◽  
Radioactive Waste Disposal ◽  
High Level Radioactive Waste ◽  
Surface Exploration ◽  
High Level

Abstract. The site selection procedure for a high-level radioactive waste repository in Germany is based on the Repository Site Selection Act (StandAG, 2017), which comprises three phases. In phase 2, the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (BGE) will conduct surface exploration. Based on the exploratory findings, the further developed preliminary safety analyses, the common requirements and criteria, and socioeconomic potential analyses will be applied feeding into proposed sites for underground exploration. Commissioned by the BGE, the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) contributes to this procedure with the projects “GeoMePS” and “ZuBeMErk”, which compile and assess geoscientific and geophysical methods and programs for surface exploration. Their common goal is to develop recommendations for surface exploration of siting regions. For this purpose, the BGR has developed a systematic approach that includes (1) deducing 186 exploration targets (Kneuker, 2020) based on the requirements defined by StandAG, (2) compilation of geoscientific and geophysical exploration methods in a database structure, and (3) analysis of case studies of national and international exploration programs for high-level radioactive waste disposal. During step (2) the BGR developed the database “GeM-DB” which utilizes MS SQL Server 2017 and PHP scripts for a browser-based interface (Beilecke, 2021). Both lead to a highly customizable, user-friendly database enabling further adaptations, expansions and analyses of the contents. Merging the knowledge of about 100 BGR experts, the database currently comprises approx. 140 geoscientific and geophysical exploration methods, including basic information and essential metadata to evaluate the general applicability of the methods for surface exploration of the three defined host rocks (crystalline rock, claystone, rock salt). Additionally, the methods are rated according to their suitability for the previously defined exploration targets. An example for a method selection, which is suitable to target fault zones (exclusion criterion 2, StandAG) is given in Fig. 1. In step (3) the BGR screens national and international waste disposal programs exploring for crystalline rock, claystone, and rock salt and feeds the obtained information back into “GeM-DB”. The entire systematic approach of the projects “GeoMePS” and “ZuBeMErk” aims to develop recommendations for a non-destructive and minimally invasive surface exploration program of siting regions in Germany, regarding the lithological, structural, mechanical, and hydrogeological characterization of the different host rock formations.

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