J. Clara Wren

Long-term γ-radiolysis kinetics of NO3(-) and NO2(-) solutions.

Radiolysis kinetics in NO(3)(-) and NO(2)(-) solutions during γ-irradiation were studied at an absorbed dose rate of 2.1 Gy·s(-1) at room temperature. Air- or argon-saturated nitrate or nitrite solutions at pH 6.0 and 10.6 were irradiated, and the aqueous concentrations of molecular water decomposition products, H(2) and H(2)O(2), and the variation in the concentrations of NO(3)(-) and NO(2)(-) were measured as a function of irradiation time. The experimental data were compared with computer simulations using a comprehensive radiolysis kinetic model to aid in interpretation of the experimental results. The effect of nitrate and nitrite, present at concentrations below 10(-3) M, on water radiolysis processes occurs through reactions with the radical species generated by water radiolysis, (•)e(aq)(-), (•)O(2)(-), and (•)OH. The changes in H(2) and H(2)O(2) concentrations observed in the presence of nitrate and nitrite under a variety of conditions can be explained by a reduction in the radical concentrations. The kinetic analysis shows that the main loss pathway for H(2) is the reaction with (•)OH and the main loss pathways for H(2)O(2) are reactions with (•)e(aq)(-) and (•)OH. Nitrate and nitrite compete for the radicals leading to an increase in the concentrations of H(2) and H(2)O(2). Post-irradiation measurements of H(2), H(2)O(2), NO(2)(-) and NO(3)(-) concentrations can be used to calculate the radical concentrations and provide information on the redox conditions of the irradiated aqueous solutions.

Effect of gamma irradiation on gas-ionic liquid and water-ionic liquid interfacial stability

The effect of γ-radiation on gas-ionic liquid (IL) and water-IL interfacial stability was investigated. Three phosphonium-based ILs, which vary considerably in their viscosity, conductivity and miscibility with water, were examined. The gas phase above the IL samples (headspace gas) was analyzed using gas chromatography with a mass spectrometer detector while the changes in the IL and aqueous phases were followed by conductivity measurements and Raman spectroscopy. For the gas-IL systems, the headspace samples showed trace amounts of the radiolytic decomposition products of the ILs that were small and volatile enough to become airborne. The type of cover gas, air or Ar, had no effect on the gas speciation. Negligible changes in the conductivity and the Raman spectra of the IL phase due to irradiation indicate that γ-irradiation induces negligible chemical changes in the IL phase when it is in contact with a gas phase. For the water-IL systems, the initially immiscible layers slowly developed an interfacial emulsion layer, even in the absence of radiation. This layer started at the water-IL interface and then grew downwards, eventually converting the entire IL phase to an emulsion. Gamma-irradiation accelerated the conversion of the IL phase to an emulsion. The development of the emulsion layer was accompanied by changes in the conductivity and the Raman spectra of both the IL and water phases. Based on these results, a mechanism involving the formation of micelles at, or near, the water-IL interface has been proposed to explain the development of an emulsion layer. We also suggest that radiolytic decomposition of ILs produces surfactants that can accumulate at the interface and, even at low concentrations, accelerate the emulsification process.

The chemical stability of phosphonium-based ionic liquids under gamma irradiation

The effects of γ-radiation on the physicochemical and ion transport properties of phosphonium-based ionic liquids (ILs) were investigated. Five ILs that have different physical properties of hydrophobicity, viscosity and conductivity were studied. Gaseous radiolysis products were analyzed using GC-MS, and the IL phase was analyzed using UV-vis, NMR, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, and conductivity measurement. The results show that the ILs are relatively resistant to radiolytic degradation, but measurable quantities of small organic species are formed. These arise from the radiolytic dissociation of the P–C bond in the cation moiety. These small organic molecules induce agglomeration within the IL and this results in substantial changes to some of the IL properties.

Modelling of radiolytic production of HNO3 relevant to corrosion of a used fuel container in deep geologic repository environments

ABSTRACT Copper-coated steel containers are part of the engineered barrier system to permanently store Canadian nuclear fuel waste in a deep geological repository. This work models the dose rates (DRs) at the container surfaces as a function of fuel age. It also utilises a humid-air radiolysis model to study the effects of DR and humidity on radiolytic oxidant production for conditions where unexpected early water intrusion reaches clay seal materials. Radiolysis of humid air produces HNO3. The HNO3 production rate in a condensed water droplet formed on a container surface was conservatively estimated by assuming that every •OH produced by primary radiolytic processes was immediately converted to HNO3 in the gas phase and that all of the HNO3 was absorbed in the water droplet. Also assuming that all of the nitric acid absorbed in the water droplet is consumed in corroding copper and using a hemispherical water droplet geometry, the corrosion depth of the copper coating induced by humid-air radiolysis is conservatively estimated to be 9.4 μm over the permanent storage time. This paper is part of a supplement on the 6th International Workshop on Long-Term Prediction of Corrosion Damage in Nuclear Waste Systems.