Fuel particles in the Chernobyl cooling pond: current state and prediction for remediation options

Title: Fuel particles in the Chernobyl cooling pond: current state and prediction for remediation options

Author: A. Bulgakov, A. Konoplev, J. Smith, G. Laptev, O. Voitsekhovich

Reference: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 100, Issue 4, April 2009, Pages 329-332

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.12.012

Keywords: Chernobyl; Cooling pond; Fuel particles; ⁹⁰Sr; Dissolution; Remediation

Abstract: During the coming years, a management and remediation strategy for the Chernobyl cooling pond (CP) will be implemented. Remediation options include a controlled reduction in surface water level of the cooling pond and stabilisation of exposed sediments. In terrestrial soils, fuel particles deposited during the Chernobyl accident have now almost completely disintegrated. However, in the CP sediments the majority of ⁹⁰Sr activity is still in the form of fuel particles. Due to the low dissolved oxygen concentration and high pH, dissolution of fuel particles in the CP sediments is significantly slower than in soils. After the planned cessation of water pumping from the Pripyat River to the Pond, significant areas of sediments will be drained and exposed to the air. This will significantly enhance the dissolution rate and, correspondingly, the mobility and bioavailability of radionuclides will increase with time. The rate of acidification of exposed bottom sediments was predicted on the basis of acidification of similar soils after liming. Using empirical equations relating the fuel particle dissolution rate to soil and sediment pH allowed prediction of fuel particle dissolution and ⁹⁰Sr mobilisation for different remediation scenarios. It is shown that in exposed sediments, fuel particles will be almost completely dissolved in 15–25 years, while in parts of the cooling pond which remain flooded, fuel particle dissolution will take about a century.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0265931X08002324

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH DECOMMISSIONING THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT COOLING POND

• Title: ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH DECOMMISSIONING THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT COOLING POND

Author: Farfan, E. / Jannik, T. / Marra, J. / Oskolkov, B. / Bondarkov, M. / Gaschak, S. / Maksymenko, A.

Reference: HEALTH PHYSICS JOURNAL 2009 Nov 09

doi:

Keywords: Decommissioning, contamination, cooling pond, Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

Abstract: Decommissioning of nuclear power plants and other nuclear fuel cycle facilities has been an imperative issue lately. There exist significant experience and generally accepted recommendations on remediation of lands with residual radioactive contamination; however, there are hardly any such recommendations on remediation of cooling ponds that, in most cases, are fairly large water reservoirs.

URL: http://sti.srs.gov/fulltext/SRNL-MS-2009-00204.pdf