Technical Report NTB 89-06

An Approach to Microbiological Modelling:Application to the Near Field of a Swiss Low Intermediate-level Waste Repository

This report presents a general approach to modelling of microbiological activity in a geological system constrained by the availability of nutrients and energy sources. Application of this model to determine the possible consequences of such microbiological activity in a repository for low-and intermediate-level nuclear waste (L/ILW) is demonstrated both for the repository considered as a whole and for a more realistic sub-section containing a particular waste type (ion-exchange resins immobilised in cement). Possibilities for further development of the model to consider the spatial distribution of components within the near field are also discussed.