Radioactive Waste Disposal Site

Summary of uses

Treatment and disposal of radioactive waste play an important role in the nuclear fuel cycle, and are required in demolishing aged nuclear power plants.
Radioactive waste is disposed of in a multi-barrier system, and classified by radioactivity level into high-level radioactive waste, which is disposed of by geological disposal, and low-level radioactive waste, which is disposed of by subsurface disposal, pit disposal, or trench disposal.

Classification and disposal of radioactive waste
Source : Website of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy

Shallow-ground pit disposal
Source : Website of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy

Designated waste intermediate disposal Website
Source : Website of the Ministry of the Environment

Full-scale cushioning block
(70% bentonite and 30% silica sand)）

Fiscal year 2010
Report of Expenses for Commissioned
Nuclear Fuel Cycle-Related Promotion and Coordination
March 2010
Radioactive Waste Management
Funding and Research Center

Bentonite is a candidate material for a filler or cushioning in these disposal methods.
This is because bentonite is expected to have various useful functions. For example, the clay prevents radioactive materials from leaking from waste due to its seepage control performance and its self-sealing property allows it to fill cracks.

Our strengths

We have provided test materials and conducted contracted tests and studies in this field for over 30 years.
It is thought that natural sodium-type bentonite has the most suitable properties for use in disposal of radioactive waste, and our KUNIGEL V1 is used as a standard material in this field by research institutes inside and outside Japan for many tests or studies.
We are also working on application of high-purity calcium-type bentonite to mitigate the effect of calcium ions eluted from concrete under disposal conditions.