Transport of radionuclides by bentonite and silica colloids in a GR-3 synthetic groundwater-interim report

Technical Report · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:5201360

Ames, L L; McGarrah, J E; Walker, B A ^[1]

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1. Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)

Radionuclide distributions in groundwater-colloid-basalt systems were measured using GR-3 groundwater and crushed Umtanum basalt at 60{degree}C. The objective was to estimate the potential for radionuclide transport from a nuclear waste repository in basalt by colloids suspended in groundwater. Three colloids were studied -- a bentonite colloid representing a potential component of packing or backfill materials in the repository, and two hydrated silica colloids which might represent those generated from a glass waste form. The radioelements studied included isotopes of neptunium, uranium, selenium, technetium, and radium. Measurements of radionuclide distributions in experiments with the bentonite colloid showed that uranium was sorbed strongly on the colloid (under both oxidizing and reducing conditions) but was readily transferred to basalt when it was added to the system. Sorption of neptunium, technetium, and selenium on the colloid was greatly enhanced by using reducing conditions. Only small amounts of neptunium and technetium were transferred to the basalt under reducing conditions, but most of the selenium was readily transferred under these conditions.

• Research Organization: Rockwell International Corp., Richland, WA (USA). Rockwell Hanford Operations; Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/RW
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5201360
• Report Number(s): RHO-BWI-TI-182; ON: TI90005842
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
053000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Environmental Aspects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ACTINIDES
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
BASALT
COLLOIDS
COMPILED DATA
DATA
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
GROUND WATER
HANFORD RESERVATION
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
METALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NEPTUNIUM
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RADIUM
ROCKS
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
SOLUBILITY
TECHNETIUM
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
URANIUM
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VOLCANIC ROCKS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER