An Introduction to nuclear waste immobilisation Front Cover An Introduction to Nuclear Waste Immobilisation Copyright Page Contents Preface to the Third Edition 1 Introduction to Immobilisation 1.1 Introduction 1.2 The Importance of Waste 1.3 Radioactive Waste 1.4 Recycling 1.5 Waste Minimisation 1.6 Processing and Immobilisation 1.7 Time Frames Reference Further Reading 2 Nuclear Decay 2.1 Nuclear Matter 2.2 Radioactive Decay 2.3 Decay Law 2.4 Radioactive Equilibrium 2.5 Activity 2.6 Alpha Decay 2.7 Beta Decay 2.8 Gamma Decay 2.9 Spontaneous Fission 2.10 Radionuclide Characteristics References 3 Contaminants and Hazards 3.1 Elemental Abundance 3.2 Migration and Redistribution 3.3 Potential Hazard of Nuclear Waste 3.4 Relative Hazards 3.5 Importance of Wasteform and Real Hazard Concept 3.6 Wasteform Durability and Real Hazard Diminishing References 4 Naturally Occurring Radionuclides 4.1 Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials and Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials 4.2 Primordial Radionuclides 4.3 Use of Primordial Radionuclides for Dating 4.4 Natural Nuclear Reactors 4.5 Cosmogenic Radionuclides 4.6 Natural Radionuclides in Igneous Rocks 4.7 Natural Radionuclides in Sedimentary Rocks and Soils 4.8 Natural Radionuclides in Sea Water 4.9 Radon Emissions 4.10 Natural Radionuclides in the Human Body References 5 Background Radiation 5.1 Radiation is Natural 5.2 Dose Units 5.3 Biological Consequences of Irradiation 5.4 Background Radiation References Further Reading 6 Power Utilisation of Nuclear Energy 6.1 Nuclear Energy Sources 6.2 Geothermal Energy 6.3 Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators 6.4 Power Nuclear Reactors 6.5 Nuclear Fuel Cycle References.