Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Mineral Surface Processes Responsible for the Decreased Retardation or Enhanced Mobilization of {sub 137}Cs from HLW Tank Discharges

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/829969· OSTI ID:829969
Experimental research will determine how the sorption chemistry of Cs on Hanford vadose zone sediments changes after contact with solutions characteristic of high-level tank wastes (HLW). Our central hypothesis is that the high ionic-strength of tank wastes (i.e., > 5 mol/L NaNO3) will suppress all surface-exchange reactions of Cs, except those to the highly selective frayed edge sites (FES) of the micaceous fraction. We further speculate that the concentrations, ion selectivity, and structural aspects of the FES will change after contact with the harsh chemical conditions of HLW and these changes will be manifest in the macroscopic sorption behavior of Cs. We believe that migration predictions of Cs can be improved substantially if such changes are understood and quantified.
Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA; University of Georgia (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM) (US)
OSTI ID:
829969
Report Number(s):
EMSP-60355--2000
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English