Characteristics of aqueous colloids generated by corrosion of metallic uranium fuel

Metallic uranium fuel from the Hanford N Reactor was corroded in aqueous solutions and the resulting colloidal suspensions were analyzed to determine particle size, morphology, population, and radionuclide association. The experiments used a range of solution chemistry conditions including deionized water, single salt solutions, and modified groundwater from Yucca Mountain. Colloids were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy, photon correlation spectroscopy, and synchrotron small-angle x-ray scattering. The results of these analyses indicate that stable suspensions of small (1-10 nm diameter), spherical uranium oxides are generated and aggregate to approximately 100-200 nm colloids. There is no indication that these colloids continue to aggregate to larger size. In silicate solutions, large acicular uranium silicate colloids are formed in small quantities as are large uranium-bearing smectite clay colloids. Plutonium clearly associates with colloidal particles. Large particles contain the same Pu/U ratio as the uncorroded fuel, possibly indicating that the Pu is incorporated in the particle matrix. Smaller particles are highly enriched in Pu relative to the uncorroded fuel