Peat: a natural repository for low-level radioactive waste

Technical Report · Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:6193587

Thomas, E D

A study has been initiated to evaluate the possibility of using peat as a natural repository for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste. One aspect of this study was to determine the retentive properties of the peat through measurements of the distribution coefficients (K/sub d/) for Am-241, Ru-106, Cs-137, Co-57, and Sr-85 in two layers of mountain top peat bogs from Lefgren's, NY, and Spruce Flats, PA. These K/sub d/ values were then compared to literature values of various sediment/water systems at similar environmental conditions. Am-241, Ru-106, Co-57, and Sr-85 attained distribution coefficients in the organic rich layers of the bogs two orders of magnitude greater than those obtained previously at pH 4.0. Although, the Cs-137 sorbed strongly to the inorganic rich layer of the Spruce Flats, PA, bog, the K/sub d/ values obtained for this isotope were, again, comparable or higher than those reported previously at pH 4.0, indicating the greater retentive properties of the peat. A chromatographic ''theoretical plate'' model was used to describe the field migration of Cs-137. The advection and diffusion coefficients were higher in the Lefgren's Bog, NY, than those obtained for the Spruce Flats Bog, PA. These field data were substantiated by the lower Cs-137 K/sub d/ values determined in the laboratory for the Lefgren's Bog, NY, compared to the Spruce Flats Bog. Although this model gave a good indication of the field migration, it neglected the process of sorption as defined by the sorption isotherm. Based on the time series data on distribution ratio measurements, a Cameron-Klute type of sorption isotherm was indicated, with rapid equilibrium initially superimposed onto a slower first order linear reversible equilibrium. This sorption isotherm can then be used in the final form of a model to describe the migration of radionuclides in a peat bog. 19 refs., 15 figs., 10 tabs.

• Research Organization: Pittsburgh Univ., PA (USA). Graduate School of Public Health
• DOE Contract Number: FG07-84ID12509
• OSTI ID: 6193587
• Report Number(s): DOE/ID/12509-T1; ON: DE86005496
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products. Thesis
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AMERICIUM 241
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
SORPTION
CESIUM 137
COBALT 57
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
PEAT
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
RUTHENIUM 106
STRONTIUM 85
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
DIFFUSION
DISPERSIONS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
AMERICIUM ISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM ISOTOPES
COBALT ISOTOPES
DATA
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
FUNCTIONS
HEAVY NUCLEI
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INFORMATION
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC MATTER
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
RUTHENIUM ISOTOPES
STRONTIUM ISOTOPES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
510301 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Soil- (-1987)