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

Transuranics in a stream near a nuclear-fuel chemical separations plant

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6528607· OSTI ID:6528607
The concentrations of plutonium, americium, and curium in a small stream that drains the chemical separations areas on the Savannah River Plant were determined. Typical concentrations for /sup 238/Pu, /sup 239/ /sup 240/Pu, /sup 241/Am, and /sup 244/Cm were 39, 9.5, 5.0, and 7.5 fCi/L, respectively. These concentrations are much lower than the maximum permissible concentrations in water of 30 nCi/L (US Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR-20). Less than half of all transuranic activity was associated with particles that were one micron or greater in diameter. The distribution coefficients for plutonium, americium, and curium were 2.9 x 10/sup 5/, 6.1 x 10/sup 5/, and 8.3 x 10/sup 5/, respectively. The plutonium distribution coefficient is similar to that measured in Lake Michigan.
Research Organization:
Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
DOE Contract Number:
AC09-76SR00001
OSTI ID:
6528607
Report Number(s):
DP-1592
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English