Architecture and management of a geological repository - Andra

3 – High Level Long-Lived WasteFigure 3.2.10500-litre stainless steel containerIn this subset, the waste consists of various materials, especially metals, organic matter and glassware,mixed in the same package. The average weight of the finished packages is 925 kilograms for thoseimmobilised by a cementitious material and 850 kilograms for a cement-bitumen matrix. Given thechemical content of the packages, potential production of hydrogen by radiolysis of the organic matterand conditioning matrix water also needs to be considered. The equivalent ß-γ dose rate in pseudocontact(5 cm) with the packages is roughly 0.2 Sv/h.The ninth and last subset of technological waste packages, manufactured by the CEA, contains solidwaste contaminated mainly by α emitters. Depending on its dimensions, the waste is conditioned, incompacted or non-compacted form, in 870-litre non-alloy steel containers (see Figure 3.2.11).As with the 500-litre steel containers above, two waste conditioning matrices – initially a cementbitumenmatrix, then from 1990 a cementitious material – have been used in succession since thepackages were first produced. It should be noted that this package subset also includes some packagesof cemented concentrates initially conditioned in 700-litre steel drums, then reconditioned in 870-litrecontainers.Figure 3.2.11870-litre non-alloy steel containerDOSSIER 2005 ARGILE -ARCHITECTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF A GEOLOGICAL DISPOSAL SYSTEM84/495