Geochemistry of trench leachates at low-level radioactive waste burial sites
Trench leachates from the low-level radioactive waste burial sites at Maxey Flats, Kentucky and Barnwell, South Carolina were sampled and analyzed for dissolved inorganic, organic, and radionuclide constituents. Relative to local groundwaters, the trench leachates exhibit significant modifications in major ion and radionuclide compositions. The formation and composition of the leachates can be attributed to site-specific hydrological and geochemical factors. Leaching and microbial degradation of waste materials are considered to be the important geochemical processes controlling the leachate compositions. Elevated concentrations of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, dissolved organic and inorganic carbon, and various anthropogenic radionuclides reflect leaching of waste materials. Anoxic conditions as characterized by depletion of dissolved oxygen and sulphate, and high contents of alkalinity and ammonia reflect microbial decomposition of organic waste materials. Because of relatively stagnant water accumulations, the extent of modification is much greater in the Maxey Flats leachates as compared with those from Barnwell. 8 references, 2 figures, 2 tables.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH00016
- OSTI ID:
- 6928842
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-NUREG-34596; CONF-8405144-1; ON: DE84010800
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: International groundwater symposium, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 21 May 1984; Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Evaluation of isotope migration - land burial. Water chemistry at commercially operated low-level radioactive waste disposal sites. Status report, October 1979-September 1980. [Maxey Flats, KY and Barnwell, SC]
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Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
GROUND WATER
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
LEACHATES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
LEACHING
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
GEOCHEMISTRY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
KENTUCKY
SOUTH CAROLINA
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
CHEMISTRY
DATA
DISPERSIONS
DISSOLUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION IV
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
MIXTURES
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUTIONS
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
053000 - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects
520301 - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Water- (1987)
510301 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Soil- (-1987)