Chemical contaminants on DOE lands and selection of contaminant mixtures for subsurface science research

Technical Report · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5202264· OSTI ID:5202264

Riley, R G; Zachara, J M ^[1]

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1. Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)

This report identifies individual contaminants and contaminant mixtures that have been measured in the ground at 91 waste sites at 18 US Department of Energy (DOE) facilities within the weapons complex. The inventory of chemicals and mixtures was used to identify generic chemical mixtures to be used by DOE's Subsurface Science Program in basic research on the subsurface geochemical and microbiological behavior of mixed contaminants (DOE 1990a and b). The generic mixtures contain specific radionuclides, metals, organic ligands, organic solvents, fuel hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in various binary and ternary combinations. The mixtures are representative of in-ground contaminant associations at DOE facilities that are likely to exhibit complex geochemical behavior as a result of intercontaminant reactions and/or microbiologic activity stimulated by organic substances. Use of the generic mixtures will focus research on important mixed contaminants that are likely to be long-term problems at DOE sites and that will require cleanup or remediation. The report provides information on the frequency of associations among different chemicals and compound classes at DOE waste sites that require remediation.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5202264
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER-0547T; ON: DE92014826
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540210* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
ELEMENTS
EXPLOSIVES
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
ISOTOPES
MATERIALS
METALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTANTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
SEDIMENTS
SOILS
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTES
WATER