N10: Processing, Storage and Disposal of Nuclear Wastes
This unit aims to:
Reviews basic approaches of nuclear waste management and gives an introduction to the scientific fundamentals of nuclear waste processing and disposal.
Brief description of the unit
A range of topics will be addressed including:
- Introduction to radioactive waste, waste encapsulation and immobilisation, and the multi-barrier concept for radioactive waste disposal
- Radioactive decay and the interactions between radiation and matter
- Sources of radioactive waste, waste classification and characterisation
- Basic approaches and principles of radioactive waste management
- Basics of nuclear waste regulation, legal framework, and responsible bodies
- Uranium occurrence, exploitation and mining
- Uranium mining waste geochemistry and environmental impacts
- Application of cements and cementation technologies for waste immobilisation
- Application of glasses and vitrification technology for waste immobilisation
- Application of ceramics and ceramification techniques for waste immobilisation
- Introduction to nuclear waste disposal concepts
- Geological repositories for radioactive waste isolation
Intended Learning Outcomes
| Recall and interpret information on radioactivity, radionuclides and the different types of radioactive waste. |
| Explain the general approaches to nuclear waste management. |
| Define the techniques commonly employed in nuclear waste processing and evaluate the most appropriate storage or disposal route for a particular waste. |
| Develop an evidence based strategy for dealing with a defined nuclear waste management problem. |
| Perform a group investigation and disseminate information in a group presentation to a peer group, on an aspect of global nuclear waste management practices. |
