An Analysis of Diffusional Ion Transport in Ocean Sediments: Subseafloor Disposal of Radioactive Waste

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Abstract
Diffusion-controlled transport of radioactive ions through seabed sediments is analyzed to determine the rates of transport between a buried canister releasing radioactive waste and the ocean floor. The general solution of the unsteady-state diffusion problem is obtained for an arbitrary release rate from the canister, and analytical solutions are obtained for two special cases: instantaneous release of the ionic speciesa constant discharge rate.The former case for a material with an infinite half-life represents the worst case condition. The analytical expressions for the ion concentration distributions, ionic flux to the ocean floor, total release rate to the ocean floor, and bio-loading show that the sediment thickness, canister depth, effective diffusivity, and ion half-life affect the transport rates, but the rates are insensitive to sediment porosity and bulk density over the narrow ranges in which they might, be expected to vary.

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