Isolation and microscopic characterization of nuclear fuel particles from contaminated soil of Chernobyl

Nuclear fuel particles were separated from Chernobyl contaminated soil sample by sedimentation in bromoform. Their physico-chemical characteristics were studied using the scanning electron microscope. One part of the particles contained U and O and the other part contained U, Zr and O. The size of the particles containing Zr was greater than that of the pure fuel particles. The structure and the surface morphology of the studied particles were variable and characterized the conditions of their formation. Thus, the source term is heterogeneous. This heterogeneity has direct consequences on the dissolution of the fuel particles. (authors)