Methods for determining radionuclide retardation factors: status report

Technical Report · Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5233474· OSTI ID:5233474

Relyea, J F; Serne, R J; Rai, D

This report identifies a number of mechanisms that retard radionuclide migration, and describes the static and dynamic methods that are used to study such retardation phenomena. Both static and dynamic methods are needed for reliable safety assessments of underground nuclear-waste repositories. This report also evaluates the extent to which the two methods may be used to diagnose radionuclide migration through various types of geologic media, among them unconsolidated, crushed, intact, and fractured rocks. Adsorption is one mechanism that can control radionuclide concentrations in solution and therefore impede radionuclide migration. Other mechanisms that control a solution's radionuclide concentration and radionuclide migration are precipitation of hydroxides and oxides, oxidation-reduction reactions, and the formation of minerals that might include the radionuclide as a structural element. The retardation mechanisms mentioned above are controlled by such factors as surface area, cation exchange capacity, solution pH, chemical composition of the rock and of the solution, oxidation-reduction potential, and radionuclide concentration. Rocks and ground waters used in determining retardation factors should represent the expected equilibrium conditions in the geologic system under investigation. Static test methods can be used to rapidly screen the effects of the factors mentioned above. Dynamic (or column) testing, is needed to assess the effects of hydrodynamics and the interaction of hydrodynamics with the other important parameters. This paper proposes both a standard method for conducting batch Kd determinations, and a standard format for organizing and reporting data. Dynamic testing methods are not presently developed to the point that a standard methodology can be proposed. Normal procedures are outlined for column experimentation and the data that are needed to analyze a column experiment are identified.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5233474
• Report Number(s): PNL-3349; TRN: 80-014612
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ADSORPTION
MEASURING METHODS
MINERALIZATION
PRECIPITATION
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
CATIONS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ION EXCHANGE
PH VALUE
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
ROCKS
STANDARDIZATION
SURFACE AREA
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
CHARGED PARTICLES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
IONS
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SORPTION
SURFACE PROPERTIES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
510301 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Soil- (-1987)