Foliar retention and leachability of submicron plutonium and americium particles

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981 · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1981.00472425001000010006x· OSTI ID:6568655

Cataldo, D A; Garland, T R; Wildung, R E

Submicron particles of Pu and Am were aerosolized, deposited onto foliage of bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), and their subsequent retention and behavior determined. Particles having mass median diameters of <1 ..mu..m are not readily dislodged from leaf surfaces at wind speeds of approx. 400 m min/sup -1/. Under conditions of simulated rainfall, weathering half-times range from 164 to 1000 days, and are dependent on both particle size and initial solubility. The residence time of contaminants on foliar surfaces prior to leaching influences subsequent foliar retention and leachate characteristics. Foliar retention of particles ranges from 20 to 92% and is dependent on particle size of Pu- and Am-oxides, chemical form of Pu, and environmental conditions such as humidity, simulated rainfall, and acidity of the simulated rain.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6568655
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Vol. 10:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AMERICIUM
FOLIAR UPTAKE
LEACHING
BEANS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
PLUTONIUM
AMERICIUM OXIDES
BIOLOGICAL LOCALIZATION
CHEMICAL STATE
CITRATES
DATA COMPILATION
HUMIDITY
LEACHATES
PARTICLE SIZE
PH VALUE
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM NITRATES
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
RAIN
RETENTION
SOLUBILITY
SURFACES
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDES
AEROSOLS
AMERICIUM COMPOUNDS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CHALCOGENIDES
COLLOIDS
DATA
DISPERSIONS
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FOOD
INFORMATION
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
MIXTURES
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIZE
SOLS
SOLUTIONS
TRANSPLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSPLUTONIUM ELEMENTS
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
UPTAKE
VEGETABLES
560173* - Radiation Effects- Nuclide Kinetics &amp; Toxicology- Plants- (-1987)