Dissolution, Reactor, and Environmental Behavior of ZrO2-MgO Inert Fuel Matrix

This project will examine inert fuels containing ZrO2 and MgO as the inert matrix, with the relative amount of MgO varied from 30 % to 70 % in ZrO2. Reactor physics calculations will be used to examine suitable quantities of burnable poisons from the candidate elements Gd, Er, or Hf with reactor grade Pu providing the fissile component, with up to 10 % of Pu. Ceramics will be synthesized and characterized based on the reactor physics results. The solubility the fuel ceramics, in reactor conditions, reprocessing conditions, and repository conditions, will be investigated in a manner to provide thermodynamic data necessary for modeling. 1. Background and Rational .........................................................................................................1 1.1. Inert Fuel ..........................................................................................................................1 1.2. Evaluation of Chemical Thermodynamic and Kinetic Data ............................................1 2. Research Objectives and Goals ................................................................................................4 3. Technical Impact ......................................................................................................................4 4. Research Approach ..................................................................................................................5 6. Project Timeline .......................................................................................................................9 7. References ..............................................................................................................................10