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Geochemistry of trench leachates at low-level radioactive waste burial sites

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6928842
; ;
Trench leachates from the low-level radioactive waste burial sites at Maxey Flats, Kentucky and Barnwell, South Carolina were sampled and analyzed for dissolved inorganic, organic, and radionuclide constituents. Relative to local groundwaters, the trench leachates exhibit significant modifications in major ion and radionuclide compositions. The formation and composition of the leachates can be attributed to site-specific hydrological and geochemical factors. Leaching and microbial degradation of waste materials are considered to be the important geochemical processes controlling the leachate compositions. Elevated concentrations of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, dissolved organic and inorganic carbon, and various anthropogenic radionuclides reflect leaching of waste materials. Anoxic conditions as characterized by depletion of dissolved oxygen and sulphate, and high contents of alkalinity and ammonia reflect microbial decomposition of organic waste materials. Because of relatively stagnant water accumulations, the extent of modification is much greater in the Maxey Flats leachates as compared with those from Barnwell. 8 references, 2 figures, 2 tables.
Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76CH00016
OSTI ID:
6928842
Report Number(s):
BNL-NUREG-34596; CONF-8405144-1; ON: DE84010800
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
DATA
DISPERSIONS
DISSOLUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION IV
GEOCHEMISTRY
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
KENTUCKY
LEACHATES
LEACHING
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
MIXTURES
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUTIONS
SOUTH CAROLINA
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER