Modelling the release of Mo, Tc, Ru and Rh from high burnup spent nuclear fuel at alkaline and hyperalkaline pH

The present work shows experimental data on the release of some radionuclides that are forming the so-called ε particles in the spent nuclear fuel (SNF): Mo, Tc, Ru and Rh. The leaching experiments were carried out with a 60 GWd·t −1 burnup SNF at two different pH values, 8.4 and 13.2, and under oxidizing conditions. The modelling of the data showed that the higher release of Mo, Tc, Ru and Rh at pH 13.2 could be due to the higher dissolution rate of the ε -particles. Graphical abstract