Iodine-129 in the environment of a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant by neutron activation analysis
/sup 129/I has been analyzed in both aqueous and soil samples to characterize the environmental impact of the Savannah River Plant (SRP) reprocessing operations. /sup 129/I was quantified by a neutron activation procedure with ..gamma..-ray spectrometric detection (Ge(Li)). For many samples, natural iodine (/sup 127/I) was also quantified. A wide range of samples can be accommodated by a combustion-based preirradiation isolation technique. /sup 129/I amounts as low as 3.8 fCi can be determined with counting times of less than 30 minutes (s/sub rel/ = 10%). Deposition of /sup 129/I in the environment via aqueous and airborne emissions has been studied. Data from analysis of seepage basin contents, spring water, on-plant streams, and the Savannah River show that /sup 129/I from the seepage basins migrates easily through the soil with the groundwater, eventually reaching the Savannah River. Annual aqueous release rates were estimated to be 16 to 27 mCi/year. Data from analysis of soils from distances up to 159 km from SRP show above background levels of /sup 129/I in both the minimum and maximum airborne transport directions. The soil results are compared with a wind dispersion model. The vertical distribution of /sup 129/I in the soil was determined to a depth of 61 cm.
- Research Organization:
- Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-09-0001
- OSTI ID:
- 6526898
- Report Number(s):
- DP-MS-78-51; CONF-781040-3; TRN: 79-002743
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 22. conference on analytical chemistry in energy technology, Gatlinburg, TN, USA, 10 Oct 1978
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
IODINE 129
ACTIVATION ANALYSIS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
CONTAMINATION
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS
GASEOUS WASTES
LIQUID WASTES
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SOILS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
MONITORING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
053000* - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects
400101 - Activation
Nuclear Reaction
Radiometric & Radiochemical Procedures
510301 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Soil- (-1987)
520301 - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Water- (1987)