Disposal of wastes from uranium conversion and enrichment processes

Costello, JM

Disposal of wastes from uranium conversion and enrichment processes

Date

1981-11-12

Authors

Costello, JM

Publisher

Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering

Abstract

The majority of Australian uranium exports will be used to generate nuclear power in Light Water Reactors. Crude uranium ore concentrates will be refined and converted into pure natural uranium hexafluoride. This will be enriched in the uranium-235 isotope and used to manufacture enriched uranium dioxide fuel. The production of enriched uranium hexafluoride for export is a topical Australian interest in the nuclear fuel cycle. These upgrading operations give rise to solid, liquid and gaseous wastes for disposal. The wastes include chemical effluents containing small quantities of naturally occurring radioactivity, and non-radiological effluents including used cooling water stream. This paper reviews the general principles and objectives in radioactive waste management, and shows how these are applied in options for management and disposal of wastes from uranium upgrading operations. Some estimates of radiological dose commitments and health effects from LWR nuclear power and its fuel cycle have been made for US conditions. Doses from the upgrading processes of hexafluoride manufacture and enrichment were about O. 007% of the total body dose received by the US population from natural radiation background sources.

Description

Physical copy held by ANSTO Library at 621.48/78

Keywords

Actinide compounds, Actinide nuclei, Alpha decay radioisotopes, Chemical effluents, Dose commitments, Fuel cycle, Gaseous wastes, Nuclear power, Radiation doses, Radioactive waste disposal, Solid wastes, Uranium hexafluoride, Uranium 235, Waste disposal, Waste management, Wastes, Years living radioisotopes

Citation

Cotello, J. M. (1981). Disposal of wastes from uranium conversion and enrichment processes. Presentation to the 3rd AINSE Engineering Conference, 12-13th November 1981, AINSE Theatre, Lucas Heights. In 3rd AINSE Engineering Conference, 12 - 13th November 1981, AINSE Theatre, Lucas Heights handbook: conference handbook(programme, abstracts and general information), (pp. 14). Lucas Heights, Sydney: Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering.