Waste disposal for partitioning-transmutation cycle

Full text of publication follows. Partitioning-transmutation (PT) technology will produce radioactive wastes of different physical and chemical properties and in different amounts from those generated in the current nuclear fuel cycle. To assess quantitatively the effects of PT on waste disposal and safety, we estimated the repository area and potential exposure dose from disposal of the PT waste, based on the projected amounts of the PT wastes and assumed conditioning for each type of the waste. The properties of the ''hot'' Sr-Cs waste form are controlling factors in determining the size of the waste replacement area in the repository. The design of the replacement area can be optimised by the waste form property and storage period of the Sr-Cs waste. The exposure dose from the PT waste disposal was also assessed for the groundwater migration scenario. (authors)