Kliuiev E., Voziianov V., Sapunova I., Mirzaeva E. Containerization of radiation-hazardous waste for protection against gamma radiation: possibilities assessment and research prospects
- Details
- Parent Category: Geo-Technical Mechanics, 2025
- Category: Geo-Technical Mechanics, 2025, Issue 175
Geotech. meh. 2025, 175, 14-24
https://doi.org/10.15407/geotm2025.175.014
CONTAINERIZATION OF radiation-HAZARDOUS WASTE FOR PROTECTION AGAINST GAMMA RADIATION:
POSSIBILITIES ASSESSMENT AND RESEARCH PROSPECTS
1M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
2 JSC “Almalyk mining and metallurgical combine”
UDC [622.831.325:532.528].003.1
Language: English
Abstract. The article provides a comprehensive analysis of modern approaches to the storage of low-level radioactive waste using protective containers that ensure reliability, durability and environmental safety. The basic principles of containerization are considered, in particular the concept of multi-barrier protection, according to which the isolation of radioactive materials should be guaranteed by a combination of natural and man-made barriers, including the physical and chemical form of waste, a hermetic casing and protective coatings. The modern classification of materials used for the manufacture of containers, their advantages, disadvantages and factors limiting the efficiency of operation under long-term storage conditions are analyzed.
A new approach to the creation of structural materials based on compositions with the introduction of rare-earth elements is proposed, which allows significantly improving their physical, mechanical and radiation-protective properties. It is shown that the use of ultrafine particles of a metal filler in the matrix structure provides effective attenuation of gamma radiation due to a combination of the processes of multiple reflection, scattering and absorption of quanta in the metal, as well as ohmic losses caused by the excited electromagnetic field. The dependence of the lead equivalent on the thickness of the sample with different contents of rare-earth components was experimentally confirmed, which indicates an increase in the effective thickness of the protective layer without an increase in the mass of the product.
Based on the results obtained, a new design of a container for the storage and transportation of radiation-hazardous waste was developed, which is characterized by the unification of constituent elements, the use of a material with increased protective properties, low cost and high manufacturability. The proposed container is environmentally friendly, has an increased service life, and after the end of its service life it can be recycled or reused as a secondary raw material for the production of new composite materials.
Keywords: container, radiation-hazardous waste, storage, gamma radiation, rare-earth elements.
References
1. Nosovskyy, A.V., Alekseyeva, Z.M., Borozenets, G.P., Vasylenko, T.M., Vasylʹchenko, V.M. and Pavlenko, A.O. (2007) Povodzhennyazradioaktyvnymyvidkhodamy [Management of Radioactive Waste], Kyiv, Tehnika, Ukraine.
2. Kochkin, B.T. (2018), “The safety assessment of geological repositories of high-level activity and nuclear fuel wastes: the international experience in the application to the Yenisey project”, Radioactive Waste, vol. (2)3, pp. 18–29
3. Bulat, A., Ivanov V., Golov, K., Tkachenko, V. and Stepanenkov, Ye.(2015), “Phenomenological substantiation of the influence of hydration of phosphogypsum matrix with rare-earth filler on its radiation-protective properties”, Visnyk Natsionalʹnoho tekhnichnoho universytetu «KhPI», vol. 49 (1158), pp. 6–11.
4. Sayenko, S.Yu., Kholomeev, G.A., Azhazha, Zh.S., Ledovskaya, L.N. and Pylypenko, A.V. (2015), “Evaluation of the effectiveness of isolation of radioactive waste in containers made of various materials”, Nuclear and Radiation Safety, vol. 3(67), pp. 36–42.
5. Bulat, A., Ivanov, V., Zvyagilskyi, Ye., Golov, K. and Bolshakov, V. (2015), “Comparative studies of radiation-protective fillers of composite materials based on phosphogypsum binder”, Eastern European Journal of Advanced Technologies, vol. 6/11(78), pp. 25–29. https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2015.54902
6. Ivanov, V., Kliuiev, E. and Stepanenkov, Ye. (2019), “Synthesis of unique high-functional properties of composite radiation-protective materials”, in Problems of Materials Science and Surface Engineering (MSSE 2019): Proceedings of the Scientific and Technical Conference of Young Scientists, 25–27 September 2019, G.V. Karpenko Institute of Physics and Mechanics of the NAS of Ukraine, Lviv, Ukraine, pp. 21–25.
7. Andriyevskiy, V.Z., Vasilʹchenko, V.N., Zhigalov, Ya.A. and Sandul, G.A. (2014), “Some features of system operation “container + radioactive waste” for storage and disposal of long-life radioactive wastes”, Nuclear Power Engineering and the Environment, vol. 1(3), pp. 28–33.
8. Kliuiev, E. and Slashchova, O. (2022), “Innovative approaches to the creation of protective containers for storage of low-energy radiation-hazardous waste”, in Modern Innovations and Promising Ways of Development of Culture and Science: Proceedings of the XXXI International Scientific and Practical Conference, 9–12 August 2022, Boston, USA, pp. 237–241. https://doi.org/10.46299/ISG.2022.1.31
9. Popov, V. and Vlasko, A. (2013), “Protective containers for solid radioactive substances”, Modern Technologies, Materials and Structures in Construction, vol. 1(14), pp. 6–11.
10. Kimura, H., Takahashi, T., Shima, S. and Matsuzuru, H. (1995), “Methodology of safety assessment and sensitivity analysis for geologic disposal of high-level radioactive waste”, Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, vol. 32(3), pp. 206–217. https://doi.org/10.1080/18811248.1995.9731697
11. Bulat, A., Voziіanov, V., Ivanov, V., Kliuiev, E., Stepanenkov, Ye. and Zybailo, S. (2022), Konteyner dlya zberihannya ta transportuvannya nyzʹko- i serednʹoenerhetychnykh radioaktyvnykh vidkhodiv [Container for storage and transportation of low- and medium-energy radioactive waste], State Register of Patents of Ukraine, UA, Pat. No. 151254.
About the authors
Kliuiev Eduard, Candidate of Technical Sciences (Ph.D.), Senior Researcher, Senior Researcher in Department of Problems of Underground Mining at Great Depths, M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IGTM of the NAS of Ukraine), Dnipro, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Corresponding author), ORCID 0000-0002-3056-7150
Voziianov Viktor, Chief Designer in Department of Problems of Underground Mining at Great Depths, M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IGTM of the NAS of Ukraine), Dnipro, Ukraine, ORCID 0000-0002-9255-9789
Sapunova Iryna, Candidate of Technical Sciences (Ph.D), Senior Researcher, Senior Researcher in Department of Problems of Underground Mining at Great Depths, M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IGTM of the NAS of Ukraine), Dnipro, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID 0009-0006-3615-5970
Mirzaeva Elena, Candidate of Technical Sciences (Ph.D.), Associate Professor, “Almalyk mining and metallurgical combine” JSC, Almalyk, Republic of Uzbekistan, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ORCID 0009-0003-4198-2274