Elution of radionuclides through columns of crushed rock from the Nevada Test Site
Results from the elution of radionuclides through columns of crushed tuff, granite, and argillite are presented. Good agreement between column and batch measurements on washed samples is generally observed for all three rock types. This is encouraging, since the results of batch measurements are often of value to show relative sorption under a variety of conditions, and their relevance to the migration of radionuclides under flowing conditions has been questioned. Column elution behavior depended upon sample mineralogy. For example, {sup 85}Sr gave fairly sharp, symmetric peaks on granite, argillite, and devitrified tuffs; however, on a vitrophyre, the peak was 10 to 100 times broader. For {sup 137}Cs, the most unusual behavior was found on granites, where for columns run at {similar_to}20 m/year, most of the cesium was retained at the load point. For all the radionuclides studied, except /sup 95m/Tc, zeolite-containing tuffs had to be run at flow rates of 10{sup 3} to 10{sup 4} m/year to obtain elutions, while samples composed primarily of alkali feldspar and SiO{sub 2} gave elutions of {sup 85}Sr, {sup 137}Cs, and {sup 133}Ba at flow rates of 10 to 100 m/year. Knowledge of the mineralogic compositions of tuffs and their ability to retard the migration of radionuclides is important - not only to identify the optimum horizon for a nuclear waste repository in Yucca Mountain, but also to estimate how well the repository will perform.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 59142
- Report Number(s):
- LA--9329-MS; ON: DE83003891
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ARGILLITE
BARIUM 133
CESIUM 137
DIFFUSION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GRANITES
GROUND WATER
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
ISOMERIC NUCLEI
NEVADA TEST SITE
PERMEABILITY
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
STRONTIUM 90
TECHNETIUM 95
TUFF
Yucca Mountain Project