Ageing of Eurobitum bituminised radioactive waste under gamma irradiation

Fabian Rorif, Elie Valcke, Patrick Boven, Hans Ooms, Jef Peeters, Steven Smets

    Research outputpeer-review

    Abstract

    The extent of the physico-chemical processes of concern in the study on the acceptability of the Belgian Eurobitum bituminised waste for underground disposal, will depend on the degree of ageing of the bituminous matrix. Therefore, the ageing of non-radioactive simulates of Eurobitum under gamma irradiation was studied both in the presence and absence of oxygen. Chemical changes in the bitumen structure were measured in the mid-infrared region with the attenuated total reflectance infrared technique (ATR/FTIR) and evaluation of the peaks at 1700 cm‑1 (C=O) and 1600 cm‑1 (C=C). Even for the highest total absorbed doses (~800 kGy at ~150 Gy/h), effects of the irradiation in Eurobitum were found to be small to moderate and were, in any case, smaller than for samples heated for three hours at 130°C in air.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationSymposium Proceedings. Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXIX
    Place of PublicationWarrendale, United States
    Pages689-696
    StatePublished - Jun 2006
    EventMRS 2005. 29th International Symposium on the Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management - SCK•CEN, Gent
    Duration: 12 Sep 200516 Sep 2005

    Conference

    ConferenceMRS 2005. 29th International Symposium on the Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management
    Country/TerritoryBelgium
    CityGent
    Period2005-09-122005-09-16

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