Leaching of radionuclides in Chernobyl fallout from soil by mineral acids

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Radiochemistry

OSTI ID:135985

Kruglov, S V; Vasil`eva, N A; Kurinov, A D ^[1]

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1. and others

The leaching of {sup 90}Sr, {sup 95}Zr, {sup 106}Ru, {sup 134}Cs, {sup 137}Cs, and {sup 144}Ce by HCl and HNO{sub 3} solutions from variously contaminated homogeneous soils collected in 1986 in several regions of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine is studied. The dissolution of radionuclides in 1 and 6 M HCl from soils contaminated by fallout of fuel particles was several times less than from soils contaminated by condensed aerosol particles. The isotopes {sup 95}Zr and {sup 144}Ce were least soluble. Their extraction depended on [HCl] and the conditions although it did increase at collection sites further from the radioactive-release site, reaching 30-50%. The extraction of {sup 106}Ru from soil varied from 4-7 to 80%. This is consistent with different physicochemical Ru species in fallout. The higher solubility of {sup 90}Sr and the greater {sup 90}Sr/{sup 144}Ce ratio in soils from regions with condensed fallout indicate that it was scattered not only in dispersed fuel particles but also in another physicochemical form.

• OSTI ID: 135985
• Journal Information: Radiochemistry, Journal Name: Radiochemistry Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 36; ISSN RDIOEO; ISSN 1066-3622
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BELARUS
CERIUM 144
CESIUM 134
CESIUM 137
CHERNOBYLSK-4 REACTOR
FALLOUT
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
LEACHING
MELTDOWN
NITRIC ACID
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
RUTHENIUM 106
SOILS
STRONTIUM 90
UKRAINE
ZIRCONIUM 95