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Title: Chemical speciation of radionuclides migrating in groundwaters

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10167166· OSTI ID:10167166
; ; ; ; ;  [1]; ; ;  [2]
  1. Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
  2. Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River, ON (Canada). Chalk River Nuclear Labs.

In order to more accurately predict the rates and mechanisms of radionuclide migration from low-level waste disposal facilities via groundwater transport, ongoing studies are being conducted at field sites at Chalk River Laboratories to identify and characterize the chemical speciation of mobile, long-lived radionuclides migrating in groundwaters. Large-volume water sampling techniques are being utilized to separate and concentrate radionuclides into particular, cationic, anionic, and nonionic chemical forms. Most radionuclides are migrating as soluble, anionic species that appear to be predominantly organoradionuclide complexes. Laboratory studies utilizing anion exchange chromatography have separated several anionically complexed radionuclides, e.g., {sup 60}Co and {sup 106}Ru, into a number of specific compounds or groups of compounds. Further identification of the anionic organoradionuclide complexes is planned utilizing high resolution mass spectrometry. Large-volume ultra-filtration experiments are characterizing the particulate forms of radionuclides being transported in these groundwaters.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
10167166
Report Number(s):
PNL-SA-23148; CONF-940401-16; ON: DE94015210; TRN: 94:014655
Resource Relation:
Conference: International conference on methods and applications of radioanalytical chemistry,Kona, HI (United States),10-16 Apr 1994; Other Information: PBD: Apr 1994
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English