Distribution of plutonium in soil particle size fractions of liquid effluent-receiving areas at Los Alamos
The alluvial soils of three liquid effluent-receiving areas at Los Alamos, New Mexico were sampled to determine the distribution of /sup 238/Pu and /sup 239/ /sup 240/Pu in soil size fractions as a function of soil depth, distance from the waste outfall, and soil physical-chemical properties. Although the plutonium concentrations in the less than 53 ..mu..m soil size fraction were 10 times higher than plutonium levels in the 2-23 mm fraction, the largest portion of the plutonium inventory in the average soil sample was found in size fractions greater than 105 ..mu..m. Plutonium concentrations decreased curvilinearly with distance from the waste outfall and with soil depth in the soils of discharge areas currently receiving treated liquid wastes. The less than 53 ..mu..m size fractions contained 7-fold larger surface areas and 3-fold larger cation exchange capacities than the 2-23 mm size fractions; plutonium concentrations in the size fractions were correlated with surface area in all three discharge areas. Significant differences in the distribution of /sup 238/Pu and /sup 239/ /sup 240/Pu were found in the soil size fractions from Mortandad canyon. Most soil separates from this canyon exhibited an approximate doubling of the /sup 239/ /sup 240/Pu//sup 238/Pu ratio with increased soil depth and within 40 m from the waste outfall. The less than 53 ..mu..m soil size fraction had a 2-fold higher average /sup 239/ /sup 240/Pu//sup 238/Pu ratio for each sampling station than the 2-23 mm size fraction. The distribution of plutonium in the soil size fractions is discussed as a function of changing isotopic composition of the liquid wastes added to the canyons, movement of soil and plutonium in these intermittent streams, and potential isotopic differences in the behavior of /sup 238/Pu and /sup 239/ /sup 240/Pu.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM
- OSTI ID:
- 7355042
- Journal Information:
- J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 5:1; ISSN JEVQA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
510301* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Soil-- (-1987)
520301 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Water-- (1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
DISTRIBUTION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LAND POLLUTION
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MONITORING
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
PARTICLE SIZE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLUTONIUM 238
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM 240
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
POLLUTION
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SEDIMENTS
SIZE
SOILS
SOUTHWEST REGION
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER POLLUTION
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES