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How does the spent fuel get aerosolized and into the atmosphere? Some of the more recent comments link to a site that detected iodine-131 in Norway. Vented hydr
by sradman 6y ago
How does the spent fuel get aerosolized and into the atmosphere? Some of the more recent comments link to a site that detected iodine-131 in Norway. Vented hydrogen/steam from partially uncovered fuel rods (e.g. Three Mile Island, Fukushima) in an active boiling water reactor is historically the most likely source (I think) but iodine-131 should be abundant. The same principle should apply to any nuclear powered submarine or ship. Other commenters point out that Russia has nuclear powered missiles and torpedoes that emit radiation. I expect the CTBTO to be able to categorize the nature of each radiation source but maybe that type of analysis takes time.
- cowboysauce 6y ago>How does the spent fuel get aerosolized and into the atmosphere? I'm not an expert, but fuel reprocessing is generally done is an aqueous state. The widely used PUREX process, for example, starts with dissolving the spent fuel in nitric acid. Splashing or boiling the liquids involved will cause the formation of aerosols. In particular, concentrated nitric acid tends to react with things quite vigorously, generating a lot of heat. The process also uses flammable liquids like kerosene and hydrazine. Some radioisotopes also have compounds that are volatile. Ruthenium, in particular can form Ruthenium Tetroxide which boils at only 40C.