The disposal of radioactive wastes underground

Nuclear power is strategically and quantitatively an important contributor to global electricity generation capacity and produces a small amount of potentially highly hazardous wastes that require careful management. The accepted solution for disposing of higher activity and longer-lived radioactive wastes from the nuclear power industry and other sources is engineered emplacement in deep geological disposal facilities (GDFs), situated many hundreds of metres underground. The first purpose-built GDFs for the most active of these wastes (used nuclear fuel and high-level wastes) will be operational in about ten years time in a few countries, with most other countries (including the UK) developing such facilities during coming decades. This article reviews the conceptual basis for geological disposal, examines how long-term safety is provided, considers the geological challenges to developing GDFs and the uncertainties that have to be managed, and looks in more detail at some of the most advanced design concepts. Because the issue of forecasting GDF evolution and behaviour over very long time periods lies at the core of geological disposal, particular emphasis is placed on matching containment requirements with diminishing hazard potential over many thousands of years. The article concludes with a commentary on current developments in the UK geological disposal programme.     

区域地壳稳定性评价和核电站选址核废料处置的工程地质及环境地质问题

本文较全面地讨论了重大工程选址的区域地壳稳定性评价研究在我国的发展动态，简述了核电站选址和核废料处置的工程地质及环境地质问题，对工程建设后地质环境的稳定性或敏感性给予了关注。     

大气条件下高庙子钠基膨润土化学缓冲特性研究

深地质处置目前被国际上公认为是处置高放废物的最有效可行的方法。我国采用多重工程屏障系统和适宜的地质体共同作用来确保与生物圈的安全隔离。缓冲材料是高放废物重要的工程屏障材料之一,我国选用高庙子钠基膨润土作为缓冲材料的基础材料。膨润土作为缓冲材料的一个重要性能表现为缓冲孔隙水的化学变化。介绍了GMZ-1钠基膨润土大气条件下与蒸馏水的反应试验,并对试验结果进行了讨论。批式试验反应溶液中钠离子来源于钠基膨润土层间阳离子和矿物溶解,镁离子来源于钠基膨润土层间阳离子,钾离子和钙离子来源于矿物溶解,相关研究认识对于高放废物处置库近场核素迁移研究和评价工程屏障的长期稳定性具有重要意义。     

极低放射性废物地质处置中的几个问题

极低放废物是国际上近年来新提出的一种放射性废物,目前尚未形成公认的定义和处置方案。针对地质填埋中几个关键科学问题进行了初步探讨,涉及到的内容主要包括区域地壳的稳定性、基础地质条件、水文地质条件、地球化学条件、地质灾害、安全评价等方面,最后提出了今后几个重要的研究方向。     

高放废物深地质处置及国内研究进展

核能在产生电力造福社会的同时 ,也留下了放射性废物。我们有责任对这些废物实施安全和正确的管理。本文阐述了高放废物深地质处置的一般概念及处置库选址研究中的若干问题 ,同时介绍了国内高放废物深地质处置研究的进展.     

中国高放废物深地质处置的缓冲材料选择及其基本性能

人类的许多生产、生活活动均可能产生不同活度的放射性废物,其中高放废物的安全处置倍受全球科学家和广大公众所重视。目前深地质处置被国际上公认为处置高放废物的最有效可行的方法。借鉴国外成熟的技术和经验,我国采用多重工程屏障系统(包括废物固化体、废物容器及其外包装和缓冲/回填材料)和适宜的围岩地质体共同作用,来确保高放废物与生物圈的安全隔离。膨润土由于具有极低的渗透性和优良的核素吸附等性能而被国际上选作缓冲材料的基础材料。经过全国膨润土矿床筛选,我国高放废物深地质处置库缓冲材料的研究以产自高庙子膨润土矿床深部的钠基膨润土作为基本组成材料。本文介绍了高庙子膨润土矿床的地质特征以及高庙子钠基膨润土的基本特征。该膨润土与国外同类型材料相比具有蒙脱石含量高(75%左右)、杂质矿物相对较少的特点,该材料的系统和深入研究对于开发我国缓冲回填材料技术、确保高放废物的安全有效处置有重要意义。     

高放废物地质处置中的工程材料

凡人类从事于与核材料有关的许多生产、生活活动均可能产生不同活度的放射性废物。高放废物由于具有放射性水平高、发热量大、核素寿命长等特点,其安全处置倍受全球科学家和广大公众所重视。目前深地质处置被国际上公认为处置高放废物的最有效可行的方法。借鉴已有研究成果,我国采用多重工程屏障系统(包括废物固化体、废物罐及其外包装和缓冲/回填材料)和适宜的地质围岩地质体共同作用来确保高放废物与生物圈的安全隔离。参照国际上该领域的研究成果,结合我国处置概念,本文就高放废物地质处置中的工程材料(废物固化体、废物罐、外包装、缓冲材料、回填材料),以及其材料选择、设计要求和研究重点等进行了总结。     

高放废物地质处置黏土岩处置库围岩研究现状

世界上很多国家都对处置库的可能围岩进行了详细研究。通过对比,认为花岗岩、黏土岩、岩盐比较适合作为处置库围岩,而黏土岩由于具有自封闭性、渗透率低等其他岩石类型不可比拟的优点,因而将黏土岩作为高放废物地质处置库围岩越来越受到各国的关注。文章同时介绍了瑞士、法国、比利时等国家在黏土岩中所进行的大量研究,均认为在黏土岩中处置高放废物和乏燃料是安全的。文章还对黏土岩处置库概念设计、黏土岩处置库围岩地下实验室研究,以及我国开展黏土岩处置库研究的意义等进行了综述。     

Selection and Basic Properties of the Buffer Material for High-Level Radioactive Waste Repository in China

Radioactive wastes arising from a wide range of human activities are in many different physical and chemical forms, contaminated with varying radioactivity. Their common features are the potential hazard associated with their radioactivity and the need to manage them in such a way as to protect the human environment. The geological disposal is regarded as the most reasonable and effective way to safely disposing high-level radioactive wastes in the world. The conceptual model of geological disposal in China is based on a multi-barrier system that combines an isolating geological environment with an engineered barrier system. The buffer is one of the main engineered barriers for HLW repository. It is expected to maintain its low water permeability, self-sealing property, radio nuclides adsorption and retardation properties, thermal conductivity, chemical buffering property, canister supporting property, and stress buffering property over a long period of time. Bentonite is selected as the main content of buffer material that can satisfy the above requirements. The Gaomiaozi deposit is selected as the candidate supplier for China＇s buffer material of high level radioactive waste repository. This paper presents the geological features of the GMZ deposit and basic properties of the GMZ Na-bentonite. It is a super-large deposit with a high content of montmorillonite （about 75 %）, and GMZ-1, which is Na-bentonite produced from GMZ deposit is selected as the reference material for China＇s buffer material study.     

中国高放废物处置库缓冲材料选择与基本性能

人类的许多生产、生活活动均可能产生不同活度的放射性废物。其中高放废物由于具有放射性水平高,发热量大,并含有对生物极有害的α放射性的长寿命核素等特点,其安全处置倍受全球科学家和广大公众所重视。目前深地质处置被国际上公认为处置高放废物的最有效可行的方法。借鉴国外成熟的技术和经验,我国采用多重工程屏障系统（包括废物固化体、废物容器及其外包装和缓冲/回填材料）和适宜的地质围岩地质体共同作用来确保高放废物与生物圈的安全隔离。膨润土由于具有极低的渗透性和优良的核素吸附等性能而被国际上选作缓冲材料的基础材料。经过全国膨润土矿床筛选,高庙子膨润土矿床被选作我国缓冲材料供应基地,我国高放废物深地质处置库缓冲材料的研究以产自该矿床的深部钠基膨润土作为基本组成材料。本文介绍了高庙子膨润土矿床的地质特征以及高庙子钠基膨润土的基本特征。该膨润土与国外同类型材料相比具有蒙脱石含量高（75%左右）,杂质矿物相对较少的特点,这对系统和深入研究该材料以开发我国缓冲回填材料技术,确保高放废物的安全有效处置具有重要意义。     

黏土岩水力耦合特性试验研究

对于高放废物地质处置工程,地质屏障系统是放射性有害物质进入环境的最后一道屏障,也是一条重要防线。黏土岩由于其低渗透性、渗透损伤自修复以及较强的吸附能力等特性,被认为是一种合理的高放废物处置地质屏障。结合比利时正开展的黏土岩高放废物地质处置相关研究课题,通过一系列室内试验研究黏土岩的水力耦合机制及长期蠕变特性。三轴压缩试验表明,黏土岩压缩强度、超孔隙水压力与围压正相关。渗透试验表明,黏土岩渗透性呈现显著的各向异性特征,围压增大使黏土岩渗透性显著降低。蠕变试验表明,黏土岩蠕变变形、蠕变变形速率与载荷密切相关,即：载荷越大,黏土岩蠕变变形越显著,蠕变变形速率达到稳定所需的时间越长,且相应的稳态蠕变速率越大;根据应力阈值和等时曲线法初步确定该黏土岩长期强度在1.0～1.2 MPa。研究结果将为我国未来黏土岩高放废物处置库的选址和安全性评估提供重要科学依据。     

高放废物地质处置研究中的矿物学问题

在高放废物地质处置研究中的一些矿物学问题应引起矿物学家的注意 。高放废物地 质处置库的缓冲/回填材料是选择以钠质蒙脱石为主要成分的钠基膨润土,还是以钙质蒙脱 石为主的钙基膨润土?怎样选择对99Tc、129I有较好吸附能力的硒汞矿、脆 硫锑铅矿和辉锑矿的替代物来作缓冲/回填材料中的添加剂,以能阻滞99Tc和129 I的迁移?沸石对某些放射性核素的吸附特征也需进一步研究。     

Unsaturated permeability of Gaomiaozi bentonite under partially free-swelling conditions

Acta Geotechnica - In the deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive wastes (HLW), Na-bentonite produced from Gaomiaozi (GMZ) deposit has been selected as a possible buffer and backfill...     

世界高放废物地质处置库选址研究概况及国内进展

高放废物是核能事业发展的必然产物。它的安全处置是核能事业持续发展的前提 ,已受到世界各国的高度重视。文中阐述了高放废物深地质处置的一般概念。同时重点介绍了世界上一些国家处置库选址研究的主要内容和研究进展 ,例如 ,美国把处置库建造过程分为场地推荐、场地的特征评价、处置库场地的选择和批准、领取场地执照和处置库建造设计的审批、处置库的建造 5个阶段 ;德国的选址研究工作包括地电和地热研究 ,重力、地震、地球化学、水文地质、同位素地球化学及微生物研究等 ;瑞典在花岗岩中建成了地下实验室 ,并制定了实验室的总体研究目标等等。另外也介绍了中国在甘肃省北山进行的高放废物地质处置库选址工作的情况 ,研究表明北山地区为一地壳稳定区 ,也是地下水贫水区且地下水流速缓慢 ,有利于处置库的建造 ,进一步的地面地质、水文地质勘察工作及钻探工程工作正在进行中。伴随着这些工作的完成 ,中国将大大缩短在高放废物地质处置研究方面与发达国家的距离。     

Geotechnical Shallow-Burial Disposal of Low-level Radioactive Wastes in USA

In this paper the current state of disposal of low-level radioactive wastes in U.S.A. is briefly introduced, the existing problems and influence are presented, some geotechnical designs for shallow-burial disposal are suggested so as to improve the prevention of contamination.     

美国低能级核废料处置中的岩土工程浅埋技术

本文简要地介绍了美国低能级核废料处置现状,分析了存在的问题及危害,提出了几种有关浅埋技术的设计方法以改善对污染的预防。     

Minimal alteration of montmorillonite following long-term interaction with natural alkaline groundwater: Implications for geological disposal of radioactive waste

Bentonite is one of the more safety-critical components of the engineered barrier system in the disposal concepts developed for many types of radioactive waste. Bentonite is utilised because of its favourable properties which include plasticity, swelling capacity, colloid filtration, low hydraulic conductivity, high retardation of key radionuclides and stability in geological environments of relevance to waste disposal. However, bentonite is unstable under the highly alkaline conditions induced by Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC: initial porewater pH > 13) and this has driven interest in using low alkali cements (initial porewater pH9-11) as an alternative to OPC. To build a robust safety case for a repository for radioactive wastes, it is important to have supporting natural analogue data to confirm understanding of the likely long-term performance of bentonite in these lower alkali conditions. In Cyprus, the presence of natural bentonite in association with natural alkaline groundwater permits the zones of potential bentonite/alkaline water reaction to be studied as an analogy of the potential reaction between low alkali cement leachates and the bentonite buffer in the repository. Here, the results indicate that a cation diffusion front has moved some metres into the bentonite whereas the bentonite reaction front is restricted to a few millimetres into the clay. This reaction front shows minimal reaction of the bentonite (volumetrically, less than 1% of the bentonite), with production of a palygorskite secondary phase following reaction of the primary smectites over time periods of 10⁵–10⁶ years.     

高放射性核废物深地质处置的环境问题

基于“多重屏障原理”的深地质处置是国内外公认的处置高放射性核废物的合适方法。本文从处置库建造与运行对环境的影响及环境对处置库反作用两方面探讨高放废物深地质处置中涉及的有关环境问题,并指出为确保处置库的长期安全性,必须特别注重选址及多因素耦合作用研究。     

Advances in geochemical research for the underground disposal of high-level, long-lived radioactive waste in a clay formation

One of the options for the long-term confinement of high-level, long-lived radioactive waste is the disposal in deep geological formations. In France, this option is particularly studied in a 155-Ma-old Jurassic clay formation located in the eastern part of the Paris Basin. Fifteen years of research and the construction of an underground research laboratory have provided a large set of data that allows the feasibility of the geological disposal to be evaluated from a scientific standpoint. Geochemical aspects of this research are of major importance because they provide essential information on both the characteristics of the geological medium and the long-term behaviour of the waste and the engineered system.     

核废物处置试验场环境地质研究综述

介绍了国外核废物处理试验场有关环境地质研究现状与进展。据核废物的放射性不同，目前或未来处置的方式不一样：中－低放射性废物（ＩＬＷ－ＬＬＷ）一般采用浅层处置，多置于粘土层或沉积岩层中；高放射性废物（ＨＬＷ）一般通过竖井或平巷处置于深部的花岗岩或岩盐中。根据母岩的类别不同，本文分花岗岩、岩盐、粘土及其它四部分，对不同的试验场的研究计划、内容、方法、进展等进行了评述。