Modeling of Waste Form Performance and System Release

Kinetic and thermodynamic approaches to the derivation of long-term release rates of species from defense waste glass are reviewed. It is concluded that at high flow rates kinetic factors are predominant, while at low flow rates saturation of the aqueous medium with respect to major matrix elements, particularly with respect to silica present in the glass and in its alteration products, becomes a controlling factor. Quantitative calculations indicate that under likely repository conditions the release rates can be expected, in general, to fall below the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission criterion of 10⁻⁵ yr⁻¹.