Foliar retention and leachability of submicron plutonium and americium particles

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1981.00472425001000010006x· OSTI ID:6568655

Cataldo, D A; Garland, T R; Wildung, R E

Submicron particles of Pu and Am were aerosolized, deposited onto foliage of bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), and their subsequent retention and behavior determined. Particles having mass median diameters of <1 ..mu..m are not readily dislodged from leaf surfaces at wind speeds of approx. 400 m min/sup -1/. Under conditions of simulated rainfall, weathering half-times range from 164 to 1000 days, and are dependent on both particle size and initial solubility. The residence time of contaminants on foliar surfaces prior to leaching influences subsequent foliar retention and leachate characteristics. Foliar retention of particles ranges from 20 to 92% and is dependent on particle size of Pu- and Am-oxides, chemical form of Pu, and environmental conditions such as humidity, simulated rainfall, and acidity of the simulated rain.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6568655
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 10:1; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560173* -- Radiation Effects-- Nuclide Kinetics &amp; Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDES
AEROSOLS
AMERICIUM
AMERICIUM COMPOUNDS
AMERICIUM OXIDES
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BEANS
BIOLOGICAL LOCALIZATION
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL STATE
CITRATES
COLLOIDS
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
DISPERSIONS
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FOLIAR UPTAKE
FOOD
HUMIDITY
INFORMATION
LEACHATES
LEACHING
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
MIXTURES
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE SIZE
PH VALUE
PLUTONIUM
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM NITRATES
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RAIN
RETENTION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIZE
SOLS
SOLUBILITY
SOLUTIONS
SURFACES
TRANSPLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSPLUTONIUM ELEMENTS
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
UPTAKE
VEGETABLES