This project aims to reduce the key uncertainties pertaining to zirconolite ceramic/glass-ceramic waste form dissolution. The key objectives are to:
- Understand the effects of relevant geochemical parameters on the kinetics of HIP-ed ceramic/glass-ceramic zirconolite materials, using Ce and U as surrogates for Pu;
- Develop an understanding of the dissolution mechanisms of HIP-ed ceramic/glass-ceramic zirconolite materials;
- Perform selected experiments to understand the dissolution of 239Pu-doped ceramic/glass-ceramics, fabricated by University of Sheffield PhD student Steph Thornber at ANSTO in 2017;
- Establish a series of long-term (1 – 3y) dissolution experiments with 239Pu-doped samples, to be periodically sampled.
Academic Lead: Claire Corkhill
Researcher: Clemence Gausse
Location: University of Sheffield
