Retardation of [sup 238]U and [sup 232]Th decay chain radionuclides in Long Island and Connecticut aquifers

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(93)90370-C· OSTI ID:6659713

Copenhaver, S A; Krishnaswami, S; Turekian, K K ^[1]; Epler, N; Cochran, J K ^[2]

---

1. Yale Univ., New Haven, CT (United States)
2. State Univ. of New York, Stony Brook (United States)

Knowledge of the ability of an aquifer to retard the groundwater transport of toxic or radioactive ions can be inferred from the analysis of groundwater for the radionuclides of the [sup 238]U- and [sup 232]Th-decay chains. Groundwaters of varying chemical composition were analyzed from wells in Long Island, New York, and Connecticut. Aquifer lithologies are arkose, quartz sandstone, granite, and glacial drift. Adsorption (k[sub 1]) and desorption (k[sub 2]) coefficients for Ra and Pb were calculated using [sup 222]Rn activity as a measure of the supply of other [alpha]-recoil nuclides. Laboratory tests of the validity of this assumption were made by measuring the flux of [sup 224]Ra and [sup 222]Rn from aquifer solids. The ratio k[sub 1]/k[sub 2] is the distribution coefficient, K, which is effective equal to R[sub f], the retardation factor. The average value of K for Ra is 6 [times] 10[sup 2] in Long Island aquifers and 5 [times] 10[sup 4] in Connecticut. The distribution coefficient for Pb is 10[sup 4] in Long Island and 10[sup 5] in Connecticut. Results from this and other studies reveal a strong dependence of retardation on pH, f[sub o[sub 2]], and ionic strength that tends to overwhelm any dependence of retardation on lithology. 21 refs., 2 figs., 7 tabs.

• DOE Contract Number: FG02-87ER60576
• OSTI ID: 6659713
• Journal Information: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States), Journal Name: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States) Vol. 57:3; ISSN GCACAK; ISSN 0016-7037
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540330* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ADSORPTION
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
AQUIFERS
CHAINS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CONNECTICUT
DECAY
DESORPTION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISTRIBUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
GEOLOGY
GROUND WATER
HEAVY NUCLEI
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IONS
ISOTOPES
LITHOLOGY
MASS TRANSFER
MINERALS
NEW YORK
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
OXIDE MINERALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLOGY
QUARTZ
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SOLIDS
SORPTION
SPONTANEOUS FISSION RADIOISOTOPES
THORIUM 232
THORIUM ISOTOPES
TRANSPORT
URANIUM 238
URANIUM ISOTOPES
USA
WATER
WELLS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES