The Immobilisation of Radioactive Wastes

Abstract

Section 1 of this thesis identifies the principles of radioactive waste management and describes the sources and categories of waste generated in the nuclear fuel cycle. The practices presently used in the UK are described and the rates of production of the different categories of waste are given. The areas where research is needed to satisfy environmental considerations and public concern are identified. Section 2 reviews the choice of cement as the immobilisation system for low and intermediate level wastes. The desire to improve cement based characteristics is discussed and the technique of incorporating polymers is reviewed. The importance of leaching characteristics is highlighted and methods of measurement are compared. Section 3 describes experimental studies concerned with the incorporation of polymers, the polymerisation of monomers and the production and testing of composites. The preferred technique of polymerising monomers within the cement matrix during the wet cure phase of setting to form a composite is described in detail. In Section 4, the results are discussed, conclusions are drawn and areas where further work would be beneficial are identified. Research described in this thesis is the subject of patent applications in the United Kingdom and overseas.