Natural, Thermal and Radiolytical Gas Liberation in Rock Salt as a Result of Disposed High-Level Radioactive Waste

Abstract

AbstractRock salt contains crystal water of the hydrated minerals, water in the form of brine inclusions or adsorbed to the crystal boundaries, as well as primary gases. Further gases are produced or liberated due to the disposed high-level, heat producing wastes resulting from the thermal and radiolytic decomposition of the main and secondary constituents.All volatile components which are present in a final repository have an influence on the disposal horizon, promote the spreading of possibly liberated radionuclides, increase corrosion of the containment and may lead to a pressure increase in a disposal borehole. Therefore a qualita-tive and quantitative determination of the components which could be lib-erated from the rock salt as a result of the disposal of high-level wastes is of significance for a final repository.