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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Predictions of radionuclide migration rates for a subseabed repository

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5826767
Geochemical research carried out by the US Subseabed Disposal Program is described. Data from studies of high temperature interactions between sediments and porewater (seawater), and of sorption and diffusion of radionuclides in oxidized, deep-sea sediments are used, along with results from heat transfer studies, to predict migration rates of radionuclides in a subseabed repository. Preliminary results for most radionuclides in oxidized sediments are very encouraging: fission products with moderate values of K/sub D/ (generally 10 to 10 ml/g), and actinides with high values of K/sub D/ (generally 10/sup 3/ to 10/sup 6/ ml/g) would not migrate significant distances before decaying to innocous concentrations. /sup 137/Cs, /sup 90/Sr, and /sup 239/Pu are among this group. The results for anionic species are less encouraging, but preliminary work with reduced sediments indicates that Tc can be effectively isolated. Planning for a field verification of these laboratory and modeling studies is also described.
Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
5826767
Report Number(s):
SAND-81-1380C; CONF-811122-37; ON: DE82004763
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English