Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
Leaching experiments with deionised water at 70°C have been carried out to ascertain the effect of oxidising and anaerobic conditions and the presence of Boom clay on Np release from Synroc.
The normalised solution leach rates of Np measured in these experiments are about a factor of 10 lower under reducing conditions than oxidising conditions and the presence of Boom clay was found not to enhance the leaching of Np from Synroc. Neptunium was found to be predominantly in the mobile fraction and was not removed from the leaching solutions significantly by filtration or ultrafiltration.