Several tests should be performed to estimate the structural and chemical stability of the radioactive waste. Among the tests in Gyeongju LILW repository, the leaching test which follows ANS 16.1 standard test method should be conducted for Cs, Sr, and Co radionuclides and must satisfy leachability index larger than 6 which applies deionized water as a leachant. However, the expected leachant inside the silo is groundwater that contains various ions and a high pH condition is predicted due to the concrete structures inside the silo. According to the chemical environment of the leachant, the chemical form of the radionuclides varies from precipitate to ion. Cobalt precipitates when the leachant has high pH environment which is similar condition to the cement-saturated leachant. Unlike the cobalt, cesium is preferred to exist as ion in the high pH condition. Therefore, the significant effect of the chemical environment of the leachant on the leachability of the radionuclides should be considered for the waste acceptance criteria of the radioactive waste repository. From the ‘NRC, Technical position on the waste form, rev1’, the leaching test method should follow the ANS 16.1 methods by using deionized water as leachant, however, a new leachant showing more aggressive leachability can be applied instead of deionized water. In the other hand, ASTM C1308 leaching test method recommends applying actual groundwater of the repository as a leachant. FT-04-020, the leaching test method of France, suggests the ion composition of the groundwater including the pH value. Therefore, the adequacy of using deionized water as leachant for the leaching test method of Cs, Sr, and Co should be re-examined. In this study, the leaching behavior of Cs, Sr, and Co under the several leachant types is estimated. The cement solidified specimen containing single Cs, Sr, and Co were manufactured. The leaching test following ANS 16.1 was performed by applying deionized water, simulated groundater, and cement-saturated groundwater. As a result, a leachability index difference according to the leachant type was discussed. The result of this study is expected to be a background data that helps understanding the actual leaching behavior of the Cs, Sr, and Co in the Gyeongju LILW repository.

• Hyeongjin Byeon(Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST))
• Younghwan Jeon(Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST))
• Yeojin Kim(Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST))
• Jaeyeong Park(Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)) Corresponding author