Environmental behaviour and management of U-containing fuel debris particles

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The proposed research will use U-containing particles found in the environment around the Fukushima Dai-ichi Power Plant as micro-scale representations of fuel debris and corium materials still inside the stricken reactors. By collecting, isolating and studying these particles we can build an improved knowledge base capable of underpinning the decommissioning of these highly degraded nuclear fuels within these damaged reactors (specifically Fukushima Daiichi, but also applicable to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant). There is equally an applicability to UK legacy nuclear sites, for example historic environmental contamination from Windscale or Dounreay. The development of this unique knowledge base will support a reduction in the hazard, cost and timescale of decommissioning, enabling accelerated decommissioning of nuclear sites. This may have a secondary impact of enhancing public acceptance of civil nuclear energy generation and geological disposal of radioactive wastes at an important time prior to the launch of the geological disposal facility siting process. At the same time, this research will build expertise towards the Civil Nuclear and Resilience Directorate's (CNRD) objectives to protect nuclear sites from threats and hazards; ensuring the UK's preparedness for civil nuclear emergencies and ensuring the UK is a leader on non-proliferation.