Radioactive waste partitioning and transmutation within advanced fuel cycles: Achievements and challenges

If nuclear power becomes a sustainable source of energy, a safe, robust, and acceptable solution must be pursued for existing and projected inventories of high-activity, long-lived radioactive waste. Remarkable progress in the field of geological disposal has been made in the last two decades. Some countries have reached important milestones, and geological disposal (of spent fuel) is expected to start in 2020 in Finland and in 2022 in Sweden. In fact, the licensing of the geological repositories in both countries is now entering into its final phase. In France, disposal of intermediate-level waste (ILW) and vitrified high-level waste (HLW) is expected to start around 2025, according to the roadmap defined by an Act of Parliament in 2006. In this context, transmutation of part of the waste through use of advanced fuel cycles, probably feasible in the coming decades, can reduce the burden on the geological repository. This article presents the physical principle of transmutation and reviews several strategies of partitioning and transmutation (P&T). Many recent studies have demonstrated that the impact of P&T on geological disposal concepts is not overwhelmingly high. However, by reducing waste heat production, a more efficient utilization of repository space is likely. Moreover, even if radionuclide release from the waste to the environment and related calculated doses to the population are only partially reduced by P&T, it is important to point out that a clear reduction of the actinide inventory in the HLW definitely reduces risks arising from less probable evolutions of a repository (i.e., an increase of actinide mobility in certain geochemical situations and radiological impact by human intrusion).     

Stability of model recycled mixed plastic waste compatibilised with a cooperative compatibilisation system

The effect of the degree of degradation of the components of a model municipal plastic waste (a mixture of low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene and high-impact polystyrene) on the toughness and stability of recyclates compatibilised with a cooperative compatibilisation system (a mixture of ethylene-propylene statistical and styrene-butadiene block copolymers with a secondary amine-based stabiliser) was studied. It was shown that good impact strength was achieved for recyclates having components with a low or medium degree of degradation. Mechanical properties of recyclates having the components with a high degree of degradation are deteriorated. The addition of the cooperative compatibilisation system leads to a higher thermo-oxidative stability of recyclates irrespective of the degree of degradation of their components. Photo-oxidative stability of the recyclates is low but it can be improved to a satisfactory level by the addition of carbon black or a commercial photo-stabiliser.     

Determination of Nitrite by a Modified Electrode of Poly(1-Naphthylamine) Film Doped with Dawson-Type Heteropolyanions

 The voltammetric behavior of the electrode modified with poly(1-naphthylamine) film doped with α-P₂W₁₈ heteropolyanions was investigated. The concentration of the modifier, the acidity of the medium and the scan range of potential had obvious effects on the electrochemical characteristics of the electrode. The electrocatalytical characteristics of the film electrode were studied by cyclic voltammetry and other methods. It is suggested that the electrocatalytic reaction of nitrite is controlled by its diffusion. The applicability of the electrode was assessed by the determination of nitrite in waste-water. Determination limit for nitrite was 5 × 10⁻⁷ mol.L⁻¹. Received August 23, 1999. Revision January 2, 2001     

Energetic Evaluation of Biomass Originating from Forest Waste by Bomb Calorimetry

Calorific values and flammability changes during a year for forest waste originating from silviculture task in Galicia (NW Spain) are reported. These waste materials are becoming to be used as alternative fuels. The present study was made on several hardwood forest species. These forest species occupy nowadays approximately 30% of the total forest surface of Galicia. Calorific values were measured by static bomb calorimeter in an oxygen atmosphere. Flammability was determined using a standard epiradiator. Simultaneously, some other parameters such as elementary chemical composition, heavy metal contents, moisture, density, ash percentage after combustion in the bomb, and main bioclimatic characteristics, were also determined. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

MICROBE-METAL-INTERACTIONS FOR THE BIOTECHNOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF METAL-CONTAINING SOLID WASTE

In nature, microbes are involved in weathering of rocks, in mobilization of metals from minerals, and in metal precipitation and deposition. These microbiological principles and processes can be adapted to treat particulate solid wastes. Especially the microbiological solubilization of metals from solid minerals （termed bioleaching） to obtain metal values is a well-known technique in the mining industry. We focus here on non-mining minerai wastes to demonstrate the applicability of mining-based technologies for the treatment of metal-containing solid wastes. In the case study presented, microbial metal mobilization from particulate fly ash （originating from municipal solid waste incineration） by Acidithiobacilli resulted in cadmium, copper, and zinc mobilization of 〉80%, whereas lead, chromium, and nickel were mobilized by 2, 11 and 32%, respectively. In addition, the potential of HCN-forming bacteria （Chromobacterium violaceum, Pseudornonas fluorescens） was investigated to mobilize metals when grown in the presence of solid materials （e.g.,copper-containing ores, electronic scrap, spent automobile catalytic converters）. C. violaceum was found capable of mobilizina nickel as tetracyanonickelate from fine-grained nickel powder. Gold was microbially solubJlized as dicyanoaurate from electronic waste. Additionally, cyanide-complexed copper was detected during biological treatment of shredded printed circuit-board scraps. Water-soluble copper and platinum cyanide were also detected during the treatment of spent automobile catalytic converters.     

余热驱动的传热强化吸附制冰机实验研究

以活性炭-甲醇为工质对,搭建单床吸附制冰机。采用某种粘结剂与活性炭混合。制作具有良好传热性能的固化活性炭块。吸附床即由此种炭块和带铜肋片的传热管组成。本文针对渔船制冰工况(冷量温度控制在零下7℃)对制冰机进行了模拟试验。系统的性能参数如下:COP为0.07,SCP为11W/kg活性炭。     

Isothermal mass transfer in annular liquid jets with Sievert's solubility law

Summary A study of isothermal gas absorption by underpressurized, axisymmetric, thin, inviscid, incompressible, annular liquid jets which form enclosed volumes, where hazardous wastes may be burned, is presented. The study considers the nonlinear dynamical coupling between the fluid dynamics of, and the gases enclosed by, the annular liquid jet. It assumes equilibrium conditions at the interfaces, and employs Sievert's solubility law to determine the gas concentration at the gas-liquid interfaces. Both steady-state and transient conditions are considered. Under steady-state conditions, the fluid dynamics and mass transfer phenomena are uncoupled, and the rate of generation of combustion gases is equal to the mass absorption rate by the liquid. The transient behaviour of the annular jet is determined from initial conditions corresponding to steady-state operation, once there is no gas generation by the combustion of hazardous wastes. It is shown that, for most of the conditions considered in this paper, there is no leakage of gaseous combustion products through the jet's outer interface, and that the amount of gases dissolved in the liquid at the nozzle exit and the solubility ratio play a paramount role in determining the mass fluxes of hazardous combustion products at the annular jet's interfaces.The research reported in this paper was supported by Project PB91-0767 from the C.I.C.Y.T. of spain.     

MnO2纳米粒子固载纤维素酶用于高效水解农业废弃物制备生物乙醇

纤维素酶是一种有效的纤维质类物质水解催化剂,工业应用时可通过固定化纤维素酶来降低其成本。本文将烟曲霉原变种JCF产生的纤维素酶固定在MnO2纳米颗粒上。 MnO2可提高纤维素酶的活性,并充当一个更好的载体。采用扫描电镜表征了所制MnO2纳米粒子及其负载纤维素酶的表面性质,以傅里叶变换红外光谱分析了固定在MnO2纳米粒子上纤维素酶的官能团性质。纤维素酶在MnO2纳米粒子上最大的固定化效率为75%。考察了固定化纤维素酶的活性、操作pH值、温度、热稳定性和重复使用性等性质。结果表明,所制固定化酶的稳定性比游离酶更高。固定于MnO2纳米粒子上的纤维素酶可用于纤维质类物质的水解反应,且能在较宽的温度和pH值范围内使用。表征结果证实了该催化剂具有非常高的催化纤维素类物质水解的活性。     

放射性废物微波处理装置有效输出功率的测定

以微波为热源处理放射性废物的相关技术和装备的研究,在国外已经达到较高水平,在我国的相关研究较少。微波加热即物料在微波场中吸收消耗微波能量,并转化为热能用于物料温度升高。对于物料的处理效果主要与微波的有效输出功率有关。参考Schillman法测定了包括放射性废物微波处理装置的微波炉的有效输出功率,且经验证测定结果准确。微波有效输出功率的确定将对放射性废物微波处理工艺的研究打下基础。