Sorption Behavior and Morphology of Plutonium in the Presence of Goethite at 25 and 80°C

Technical Report · Fri Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1046119· OSTI ID:1046119

Zavarin, Mavrik ^[1]; Zhao, Pihong ^[1]; Dai, Zurong ^[1]; Carroll, Susan A. ^[1]; Kersting, Annie B. ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

In this study, we examined the sorption behavior of Pu at elevated temperatures in the presence of one relevant mineral, goethite (α-FeOOH), over a range of concentrations that span solubility-controlled to adsorption-controlled concentrations. We focused on the sorptive behavior of two common forms of Pu: aqueous Pu(IV) and intrinsic Pu(IV) nano-colloids at 25 and 80°C in a dilute pH 8 NaCl/NaHCO₃ solution. The morphology of Pu sorbed to goethite was characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We examined the relative stability of PuO₂ precipitates, PuO₂ nano-colloids, Pu₄O₇ surface precipitates, and monomeric sorbed Pu as a function of temperature and over a time scale of months.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Office of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48; AC52-07NA27344
• OSTI ID: 1046119
• Report Number(s): LLNL-TR--561456
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
GOETHITE
MORPHOLOGY
PLUTONIUM
SORPTION
STABILITY
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY