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Title: Technetium behavior in sulfide and ferrous iron solutions

Journal Article · · Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5876796

Pertechnetate oxyanion (/sup 99/TcO/sub 4//sup -/), a potentially mobile species in leachate from a breached radioactive waste repository, was removed from a brine solution by precipitation with sulfide, iron, and ferrous sulfide at environmental pH's. Maghemite (..gamma..-Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/) and goethite (..cap alpha..-FeOOH) were the dominant minerals in the precipitate obtained from the TcO/sub 4//sup -/-ferrous iron reaction. The observation of small particle size and poor crystallinity of the minerals formed in the presence of Tc suggested that the Tc was incorporated into the mineral structure after reduction to a lower valence state. Amorphous ferrous sulfide, an initial phase precipitating in the TcO/sub 4//sup -/-ferrous iron-sulfide reaction, was transformed to goethite and hematite (..cap alpha..-Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/) on aging. The black precipitate obtained from the TcO/sub 4//sup -/-sulfide reaction was poorly crystallized technetium sulfide (Tc/sub 2/S/sub 7/) which was insoluble in both acid and alkaline solution in the absence of strong oxidants. The results suggested that ferrous- and/or sulfide-bearing groundwaters and minerals in host rocks or backfill barriers could reduce the mobility of Tc through the formation of less-soluble Tc-bearing iron and/or sulfide minerals. 12 references, 2 figures, 2 tables.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
5876796
Journal Information:
Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc.; (United States), Vol. 15
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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