KfK, Institute for Radiochemistry. Report on the results of research and development performances 1989

In 1989 the Institute for Radiochemistry became involved with research and development tasks in the context of the following projects: 'Reprocessing and Waste Treatment' (PWA), 'Fast Breeder' (PSB), 'Nuclear Fusion' (PKF) and 'Terminal Storage' (ELA). Environmental analysis and water technology within the Institute were amongst the programmes collected together in the project 'Environment and Safety'. Problems to do with surface chemistry and analysis were dealt with under 'Microtechnology'. Within the 'Reprocessing and Waste Treatment Project', the studies carried out in the Institute concentrated chiefly on investigating ways of simplifying the reprocessing process, especially in the reprocessing of fast-breeder fuels and waste reduction and treatment. In the 'Fast Breeder' project, further investigations were carried out on oxide fuel rods. In the 'Nuclear Fusion' project, the subject of investigation was chemical problems in the field of tritium technology as they arise during the recovery of tritium from tritium compounds in the internal or external fuel cycle of a fusion reactor. To this end, studies were carried out on the physical-chemical analysis of ceramic breeder materials. Research were carried out on the analysis and description of surfaces and on the reactions occurring on these surfaces and on the reactions occurring on these surfaces with regard to the application of knowledge gained from this programme to problems within environmental research, nuclear technology and microtechnology. The Water Chemistry Department working mainly on 'Environment and Safety' carried out chemical research and method development in the following subject areas: New technologies for the removal of problem constituents from water, the production of useable water and sewage recycling and the analysis and description of water pollutants. (orig./HK)