FEAST focus #21 (05/2006, p.10)
The European research program for the partitioning and reprocessing of minor actinides and some long-lived fission products from high active nuclear fuels wastes (EUROPART) is an EU Integrated Project in which ANSTO is a partner, leading the selection and evaluation of ceramics that can assimilate waste expected to remain after reprocessing spent nuclear fuel.
In 2002, ANSTO was approached by Dr. Ing. Roberto Nannicini from ENEA to see if the synroc waste forms group would be interested in a joint collaboration to evaluate the possible application of synroc (Synthetic rock) type material to immobilise a waste composed of I129, Cs137, Tc99, Am & Cm. The original objective was to develop Synroc type ceramics for use as targets in subcritical a reactor to transmute these isotopes which are fission fragments and minor actinides.
Subsequently after a series of discussions and presentations at ENEA in Italy, the late Dr. Marucci in 2003 suggested that in view of ANSTO’s extensive expertise in the field, it would be of mutual interest if ENEA sponsors ANSTO’s entry into EUROPART as a third country partner to help with the problem of the waste coming directly from the pyrometallurgical reprocessing of spent fuel. Following discussions with Dr. Lou Vance and Dr. George Collins (now ANSTO’s Chief of Research) Michael La Robina conveyed to the ENEA EUROPART coordinator and the Director of Nuclear Physics at ENEA that ANSTO would be interested in entering EUROPART. The first negotiations with the EUROPART Governing Council began, to have ANSTO accepted in the project. A presentation was done on behalf of ANSTO at the EUROPART meeting in Nov. 2004 held in Manchester. But the number of votes was insufficient for ANSTO’s entry. Because there were several abstentions and also because the presentation was not done by ANSTO, tthe Consortium Council invited ANSTO again to the 2005 EUROPART meeting in Prague to directly advocate for their participation which was successful.
Michael and his team have now formally joined the Consortium and have been asked by the consortium to participate in the upcoming FP7. Michael also represents ANSTO in the COST action D32 (Chemistry in High-Energy Microenvironments). From the start, a lasting relationship with the European partner and its commitment to involve ANSTO was a clear advantage to participate in this IP.
Acknowledgment Michael La Robina
