BURIAL INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL AND LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE
It is very difficult to substantiate the long-term reliability of geological structures for radioactive waste disposal. In addition, such sites for the final isolation of radioactive waste are very expensive, especially deep burials. At the same time, the insulating properties of glass and bentonite clay have been well studied, which for millennia will prevent the migration of hazardous radionuclides into the environment. Glass does not degrade for millennia, and bentonite has already completely degraded and, therefore, will not change its sorbing and insulating properties. If containers with a radioactive cement compound are placed in repositories in accordance with the hazard level, then the containers with low-level radioactive waste themselves will become an engineering barrier that prevents the migration of radionuclides. This is also facilitated by the fact that the volume of radioactive waste increases sharply with a decrease in their specific activity, therefore the most hazardous waste should be disposed of in the center of the massif, and the least hazardous waste - at the periphery.
The versatility of the container design will simplify the transport technology for handling them, since in this case the use of industrial robots will become possible. The materials of the container (steel sheet and glass) will ensure their low cost, and the rectangular shape of the containers will ensure the optimal use of the space of the RW repositories. Such a repository can be universal, since it can be created in almost any area, regardless of geological structures. Bentonite and glass will ensure the safety of the barriers against the migration of radionuclides even during earthquakes.
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