Radionuclide sorption studies on abyssal red clays

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5536666

Erickson, K L

The radionuclide sorption properties of a widely distributed abyssal red clay are being experimentally investigated using batch equilibration techniques. This paper summarizes sorption equilibrium data obtained when 0.68 N NaCl solutions containing either Tc, U, Pu, Am or Cm were contacted with samples of the red clay and also summarizes some initial results from experiments designed to determine the relative selectivity of the clay for various nuclides. Under mildly oxidizing conditions, the sorption equilibrium distribution coefficients for technetium were essentially zero. At solution-phase nuclide concentrations on the order of 10/sup -6/ M and less and at solution pH values of about 6.9, the distribution coefficients for plutonium were about 3 x 10/sup 3/ m1/gm and for uranium, americium, and curium were about 10/sup 5/ ml/gm or greater. However, at solution pH values of about 2.7, the distribution coefficients for each of the nuclides were greatly diminished. Initial experiments conducted in order to determine the relative selectivity of the clay for cesium, barium, and cerium, indicated that the silicate phases in the clay were selective for cesium over barium and cerium. These experiments also indicated that the hydrous oxide phases were selective for cerium over barium and for barium over cesium.

• Research Organization: Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-0789
• OSTI ID: 5536666
• Report Number(s): SAND-79-0988C; CONF-791112-48
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ACTINIDES
ADSORPTION
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
AMERICIUM
CHALCOGENIDES
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CLAYS
CURIUM
ELEMENTS
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MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PLUTONIUM
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
REFRACTORY METALS
SODIUM CHLORIDES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SORPTION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TECHNETIUM
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TRANSPLUTONIUM ELEMENTS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
URANIUM
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT