December 26, 2024
Journal Article

Review of Iodine Behavior from Nuclear Fuel Dissolution to Environmental Release

Abstract

During nuclear fuel reprocessing, radioiodine, can be released. The partitioning and speciation of iodine will drive the volatility and partitioning is highly variable depending on facility operating conditions. This review article describes the current understanding of iodine partitioning and speciation during aqueous fuel reprocessing starting from iodine in the fuel to iodine behavior in the environment. This review outlines knowledge gaps and describes the impact of state-of-the-art reprocessing techniques on iodine speciation and volatility. While many review articles have described iodine behavior from specific steps during reprocessing, this review is meant as a holistic overview of radioiodine, from the form of iodine in different types of irradiated fuel all the way to its release into the environment and the consequent behavior of radioiodine compared to stable iodine in the environment.

Published: December 26, 2024

Citation

Beck C.L., J.S. Cervantes, S. Chiswell, A.T. Greaney, K. Johnson, T.G. Levitskaia, and L. Martin, et al. 2024. Review of Iodine Behavior from Nuclear Fuel Dissolution to Environmental Release. RSC Advances 14, no. 48:35255 - 35274. PNNL-SA-203176. doi:10.1039/D4RA06494A

Research topics