Interactions of /sup 57/Co, /sup 85/Sr and /sup 137/Cs with peat under acidic precipitation conditions
Following the burial of low-level wastes in nuclear waste repositories, the interactions of radionuclides with surrounding soil infiltrated by acid precipitation could cause radionuclide migration and transport into nearby wells. To evaluate this migration through organically rich soil in the unsaturated zone, we measured sorption and desorption distribution ratios (Rd) of /sup 57/Co, /sup 85/Sr and /sup 137/Cs onto peat at pH 4. Peat samples rich in organic C showed relatively higher sorption Rd values for /sup 57/Co and /sup 85/Sr compared to soil samples with less organic C. The sorption and desorption Rd values for these radionuclides are similar, indicating the reversibility of the sorption process. The measurements suggest the importance of organic complexes for the retention of these radionuclides at the pH range (pH 4), where hydrolysis of the metals is not important and sorption is expected to be low. Cesium-137, on the other hand, appears to be associated more strongly with inorganic components of the soil samples, with its Rd value significantly higher in the peat material containing less organic C. The /sup 137/Cs desorption Rd on the same peat sample is also comparable to the sorption Rd indicating equilibrium. Both the organic and inorganic components of peat are thus able to retard the migration of radionuclides which may be found in nuclear waste repositories. The design of such a repository may be improved using a peat barrier to restrict radionuclide migration.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5229598
- Journal Information:
- Health Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Health Phys.; (United States) Vol. 54:3; ISSN HLTPA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
510300 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
COBALT 57
COBALT ISOTOPES
CONTAMINATION
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GROUND DISPOSAL
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC MATTER
PEAT
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RAIN
SOILS
STRONTIUM 85
STRONTIUM ISOTOPES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES