Solubility of airborne uranium compounds at the Fernald Environmental Management Project
- Flluor Fernald
The in vitro volubility of airborne uranium dusts collected at a former uranium processing facility now undergoing safe shutdown, decontamination and dismantling was evaluated by immersing air filters from high volume samplers in simulated lung fluid and measuring the {sup 238}U in sequential dissolution fractions using specific radiochemical analysis for uranium. X rays and photons from the decay of uranium and thorium remaining on the filter after each dissolution period were also directly measured using a planar germanium detector as a means for rapidly evaluating the volubility of the uranium bearing dusts. Results of these analyses demonstrate that two -distinct types of uranium bearing dusts were collected on the filters depending upon the location of the air samplers. The first material exhibited a dissolution half-time much less than one day and was most likely UO{sub 3}. The dissolution rate of the second material, which was most likely U{sub 3}O{sub 8}, exhibited two components. Approximately one-third of this material dissolved with a halftime much less than one day. The remaining two-thirds of the material dissolved with half times between 230 {+-} 16 d and 1350 {+-} 202 d. The dissolution rates for uranium determined by radiochemical analysis and by gamma spectrometry were similar. However, gamma spectrometry analysis suggested a difference between the half times of {sup 238}U and its daughter {sup 234}Th which may have important implications for in vivo monitoring of uranium.
- Research Organization:
- Fluor Daniel Fernald, Cincinnati, OH (US); Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC24-92OR21972
- OSTI ID:
- 770931
- Report Number(s):
- FEMP/SUB-128; ISSN 0017-9078
- Journal Information:
- Health Physics Journal, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal; ISSN 0017-9078
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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