Members of the Tremaine Group attended the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO)’s 5th annual Academic Tour on June 11, 2024. The organization has been charged with constructing a Deep Geological Repository (DGR) for long-term storage of used nuclear fuel in Canada. Representatives from many academic institutions in Canada were in attendance.
The NWMO is a funder of our work, which is relevant since understanding the solubility and complexation chemistry of metal compounds under high temperature and pressure is critical to designing safe storage in DGR conditions underground.
At the NWMO facility in Oakville, the tour included:
- copper container fabrication and testing
- DGR site selection, planning, and construction methods
- public outreach and education
- transportation of material to the DGR
- bentonite clay encasement-block manufacturing
- safety case for 100,000+ years of storage
Dr. Maryanne Stones from our group also gave a presentation summarizing our group’s research and how it relates to NWMO objectives.
Thanks to NWMO for hosting this fascinating day, and for their support of our research!