Trench water-soil chemistry and interactions at the Maxey Flats Site

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5235480

Weiss, A. J.; Czyscinski, K. S.

This report is part of an overall program designed to provide an understanding of and to monitor the behavior of existing low-level sites. This investigation will provide source term data for radionuclides and other solutes in trench waters and will describe the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the geochemical system that controls radionuclide movement. General conclusions can be made from the data in terms of source term information to be used in modeling efforts, as well as processes which may affect radionuclide migration. Trench waters are complex anoxic chemical systems which require more extensive investigation to assess their role in radionuclide retention and mobilization. No overall systematic changes in the disposal site trenches were observed during the brief sampling interval. However, changes in some radionuclide and cation concentrations were observed in several trenches. Numerous organic compounds were identified in trench waters at Maxey Flats, some of which have the potential for chelation with radionuclides. The presence of radionuclides and organic compounds in wells UB1 and UB1-A and in nearby trenches indicates communication between the wells and trench water leachates by subsurface migration. Radionuclides were also measured in the new experimental trench dug parallel to trench 27. Aerobic, anaerobic, sulfate reducing, denitrifying, and methanogenic bacteria are present in the leachate samples, and are able to grow anaerobically in trench leachates. Experimental results indicate that the observed sorption K/sub d/ is a function of both solid and liquid phase compositional variations as well as contact time. The observation that e lowest K/sub d/ results are observed with anoxic trench waters and ultrasonicated soils points to the need to use site specific materials and experimental conditions which simulate in situ conditions as closely as possible.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 5235480
• Report Number(s): BNL-NUREG--27939; CONF-800676--1; ON: TI86000127
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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