The Post-Disposal Behaviour of C-14 and Irradiated Graphite

Completed

Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fission, Nuclear supporting technologies)
Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fission, Fuel cycle)

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials)

Not Cross-cutting

Dr PN Humphreys
Sch of Applied Sciences
University of Huddersfield

Standard

EPSRC

01 November 2011

31 October 2015

48 months

£728,414

Energy

Yorkshire & Humberside

Energy : Energy

Dr PN Humphreys, Sch of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield

Dr G Bond, Forensic and Investigative Science, University of Central Lancashire
Professor H Eccles, Sci and Tech Faculty Office, University of Central Lancashire
Dr PJ Heard, Interface Analysis Centre, University of Bristol
Dr TB Scott, Interface Analysis Centre, University of Bristol

Graphite is a key waste form arising from the decommissioning of nuclear reactors such as the UK's Magnox and AGR nuclear power stations. This graphite contains a range of radioactive contaminants generated during its time in the reactor core. The safe disposal of this graphite is dependent on an understanding of how these contaminants behave in a disposal site. One of the most important contaminant associated with reactor graphite is carbon-14, a radioactive variant of the carbon naturally found in the environment. Carbon-14 is important from a risk point of view since it persists in the environment and can become incorporated into food through interaction with plants of microorganisms. Graphite arising from the decommissioning of nuclear reactors is currently destined for deep geological disposal, which involves burying deep underground which is very expensive. The aim of this project is to get a better understanding of how carbon-14 is incorporated into graphite, how it will be released from graphite under deep geological conditions and how the chemistry and microbiology of carbon-14 influence its transport out of a disposal site and its ultimate contact with people. It is hoped that this improved understanding may result in some graphite being disposed of safely to near-surface facilities and that more realistic estimates of the risks associated with graphite disposal can be made

06/12/11