Lifetimes of Used Nuclear Fuel Containers Affected by Sulphate-Reducing Bacteria Reactions inside the Canadian Deep Geological Repository

The present work aims at approximating the reduction of sulphate to sulphide caused by sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) inside Canadian deep geological repository in order calculate expected lifetime used nuclear fuel containers (UFCs). Previous studies have assumed a conservative constant concentration host rock interface. novelty this study resides use first-order kinetics explicitly account for SRB-induced production. This reaction term is developed following an empirical approach using published results on actual SRB and included coupled reaction-diffusion system. Lifetimes UFCs are subsequently calculated conditions two scenarios: having active only region closest throughout bentonite clay. shows that mean lifetimes both cases above one million years. However, more accurate would require characterization groundwater prospective emplacement, as well additional experiments growth production microbial communities from site.