The Effects of Doping Level, Carbonate, Fe and H2 on the Corrosion Potential and Dissolution Rate of 238Pu-Doped UO2

Abstract

The effects of doping level, carbonate, Fe and H₂ on the corrosion potentials (E_corr) of ²³⁸Pu-doped UO₂ electrodes were examined. Results show that E_corr values increase with increasing doping level whereas the presence of 0.1M carbonate, 0.1 g Fe or 3% H₂ reduce E_corr. Dissolution rates derived from batch dissolution experiments with the same ²³⁸Pu-doped materials increase only slightly with doping level but increase more significantly in the presence of 0.1M carbonate. Fractional dissolution rates derived from these dissolution experiments are several orders of magnitude higher than those quoted in recent literature, as a result of the strong α-fields from these materials and the absence of H₂ and Fe in the dissolution experiments.