Use of poly(methyl methacrylate) in radioactive waste management: II. Monte Carlo simulations

Radioactive waste is generated from the nuclear applications and it should properly be managed in a radioactive waste management system. Different methods are available for treatment and conditioning of radioactive waste. Polymers can be used in the radioactive waste management as an embedding matrix. Poly(methyl methacrylate (PMMA) is a possible candidate material that can be used in the low level radioactive waste management. In this study, based on total resistible dose for PMMA, maximum waste activity that can be embedded into a waste drum was found via Monte Carlo simulations. In addition, Monte Carlo simulations for radioactive waste embedded into above mentioned polymer was performed and the dose rate distribution in the polymer matrix was determined for the initial and different periods of 15.1, 30.2 and 302 years after embedding of waste. Changes of mechanical properties in the polymer embedded waste drum was simulated for PMMA embedded waste matrices based on experimental data.