Extractability of /sup 238/Pu and /sup 242/Cm from a contaminated soil as a function of pH and certain soil components: HNO/sub 3/--NaOH system

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1978.03615995004200010012x· OSTI ID:6785097

Nishita, H; Hamilton, M; Steen, A J

Extractability of /sup 238/Pu and /sup 242/Cm from a contaminated soil as a function of pH and certain soil components has been examined. This was done with an equilibrium batch technique using HNO/sub 3/-NaOH extracting system. The influence of various soil components on /sup 238/Pu and /sup 242/Cm extractability was determined indirectly by selectively removing them from the soil. Soil organic matter, free iron oxides, and free silica, alumina, and amorphous alumino-silicates influenced the chemical extractability of /sup 238/Pu and /sup 242/Cm. The influence of these soil components depended on the pH of the soil suspension. Below pH approximately 4.5, /sup 238/Pu appeared to be more strongly sorbed on the mineral fraction of the soil than /sup 242/Cm, but above pH approximately 4.5, both were strongly sorbed on the mineral fraction. With the contaminated virgin soil, the /sup 238/Pu and /sup 242/Cm extractability ranged from 4.82 to 53.05% and 0.15 to 64.58% of dose, respectively, depending on the pH of the extracting solution. The liquid to solid K'/sub d/ values ranged from 4.1 x 10/sup -3/ to 9.1 x 10/sup -2/ and 1.2 x 10/sup -4/ to 1.5 x 10 for /sup 238/Pu and /sup 242/Cm, respectively. The lowest extractability occurred around pH 7.1 for /sup 238/Pu and in the range of pH 4.7 to 5.6 for /sup 242/Cm.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Los Angeles
• OSTI ID: 6785097
• Journal Information: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States) Vol. 42:1; ISSN SSSJD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520300* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CONTAMINATION
CURIUM 242
CURIUM ISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EXTRACTION
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PLUTONIUM 238
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOISOTOPES
REMOVAL
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOILS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES