Electron probe microanalysis as a versatile tool to probe the chemistry of radioactive wasteforms

Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) is a powerful, nondestructive microscopy tool that finds ubiquitous application in the broader field of materials science. Herein, it was demonstrated that EPMA is a versatile tool for probing the chemistry of nuclear materials, particularly wasteform systems for the immobilization of intermediate and high-level radioactive waste, with constituents such as Cs, Sr, U and Pu. This communication evidences the efficacy of EPMA to further understand the five distinct wasteform systems for both nonradioactive surrogate material particularly relevant to the UK radioactive waste management and disposal program, including alpha-active systems containing 238U.