Abstract
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations 10 CFR Part 61, “Licensing Requirements for Land Disposal of Radioactive Waste”, regulate the disposal of radioactive waste and provide, among other stipulations, that class B and C low-level radioactive waste (LLW) must be stabilised. This is intended to ensure that solidified waste does not structurally degrade and cause subsidence in the disposal unit’s cover system. It is reasoned that deterioration of the waste form could adversely affect the stability of the burial site and lead to the release of radionuclides to the environment. Because of its apparent structural integrity, cement has been widely used as a binder to solidify LLW. However, the resulting preparations called pozzolanic cements are susceptible to failure due to the actions of stress and environment.
This paper presents data from the literature that documents the significance of biologically mediated chemical attack on concrete, in general. Concrete is susceptible to aggressive reaction with acids (both mineral and organic) of natural and anthropogenic origin. If persistent, such reactions ultimately lead to structural failure. Groups of microorganisms have been identified that are capable of metabolically converting organic and inorganic substrates into organic and mineral acids.
The literature supports the conclusions that acid-producing bacteria of one type or another could be prevalent in all soils, even at depths expected for burial of LLW. Given the appropriate conditions of micro-environment and suitable substrate for growth, these bacteria will create conditions conducive to concrete deterioration. Growth substrates used by acid-producing bacteria (i.e., ammonia compounds, other reduced nitrogen compounds, sulfur and reduced sulfur compounds, reduced iron compounds, as well as organic carbon) could be naturally present in the disposal environment or be provided by the contents of the waste form.
Sufficient evidence is presented which demonstrates the potential for microbially-influenced deterioration of cement-solidified LLW. These data are the basis for the NRC initiating the development of appropriate tests to determine the resistance of cement-solidified LLW to microbiologically induced degradation.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
Work supported by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, under DOE Idaho Field Office Contract DE-AC07–761D01570.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Alexander, M. 1977. Introduction lo Soil Microbiology. John Wiley and Sons Inc. pp. 476.
ASTM, American Society for Testing Materials, “Standard Practice for Determining Resistance of Synthetic Polymeric Materials to Fungi”, ASTM G21–70,1981a Annual Book of Standards, Part 35.
ASTM, American Society for Testing Materials, “Standard Practice for Determining Resistance of Plastic to Bacteria”, ASTM G22–76,1981b Annual Book of Standards, Part 35.
Bock, E. 1987. Biologically induced corrosion of natural stone — Strong attack by nitrifiers. Bautenschutz Bausanierung 10 (l):24–27.
Bock, E., M. Sand, B. Meincke, B. Wolters, B. Ahlers, C. Meyer, F. Sameluck. 1988. Biologically inducted corrosion of natural stones — Strong contamination of monument with nitrifying organisms. in Biodeterior (Pap. Int Bodeterior. Symp.). D.R. Houghton, R.N. Smith, H.O.W. Eggins (eds.).
Clifton, J.R., L.I. Knab. 1989. Service life of concrete. NRC publication NUREG/CR-5466
Diercks, M., W. Wand, E. Bock. 1991. Microbial corrosion of concrete. Experientia: 47:514–516.
Dunk, M. 1991. Influences of microbiology on nuclear waste disposal. HMIP Department of the Environment. DOE/HMIP/PP/91/033.
Hall, G.R. 1989. Control of microbiologically induced corrosion of concrete in waste-water collection and treatment systems. Material Perf. 28(10):45–49.
Islander, R.L., J.S. Devinny, R. Mansfeld, A. Postyn, H. Shih. 1991. Microbial ecology of crown corrosion in sewers. Jour. Environ. Engin. 117; 751–770.
Karavaiko, G.I., T.V. Zherebyateva. 1989. Bacterial corrosion of concrete. Dokl. Acad. Nauk SSSR 306 (2); 477–481.
Kuenen, J.G., O.H. Tuovinen. 1981. The Genera Thiobacillus and Thiomicrospira. In: The Prokaryotes: A Handbook on Habitats, Isolation, and Identification of Bac-Verlag, New York.
Mori, T., T. Nonada, K. Tazake, M. Koga, Y. Hikosaka, S. Hoda. 1992. Interactions of nutrients, moisture and pH on microbial corrosion of concrete sewer pipes.Wat. Res.26;29–37
Neville, A.M. 1981. Properties of Concrete. Longmand Scientific and Technical Publishers. NRC, Technical Position on Waste Form, Rev. 1, January, 1991.
Proceedings of the Workshop on Cement Stabilization of Low-Level Radioactive Waste”, NUREG/CR-0103. 1989.
Rogers, R.D., J.W. McConnell. 1988. Biodegradation testing of TMI-2 EPICOR-II waste forms. NRC puplication NUREG/CR-5137.
Sand, W., E. Bock. 1982. Der Einfluß von C- und N-Quellen auf die Induktion des Nitrit oxidierenden Systems und auf den PHB-Gehalt von Nitrobacter agilis KI. Mitt. Inst. Allg. Bot. Hamburg 18; 61–70.
Sand, W., E. Bock. 1988. Biogenic sulfuric acid attack in sewage systems. In: 7th International Biodeterioration Symposium: Cambridge England. D.R. Houghton, R.N. Smith, H.O.W. Eggins (eds.). pp 113–117
Sand, W., E. Bock. 1984. Concrete corrosion in the Hamburg sewer system. Environ. Techn. Let. 5;517–528.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1997 Kluwer Academic Publishers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Rogers, R.D., Hamilton, M.A., McConnell, J.W. (1997). The Possibility for Microbially-Influenced Degradation of Cement Solidified Low-Level Radioactive Waste Forms. In: Ronneau, C., Bitchaeva, O. (eds) Biotechnology for Waste Management and Site Restoration. NATO ASI Series, vol 34. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1467-4_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1467-4_9
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7156-7
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-1467-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive