Distribution of plutonium among soil phases near a Subsurface Disposal Area in Southeastern Idaho, USA

Ibrahim, Shawki A.; Morris, Randall C.

doi:10.1007/bf02063650

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 15 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Radionuclides and their distribution in soil phases and the physiochemical association in soil near the subsurface are of increased interest. Pu in surface soils seems to be primarily associated with the hydrous oxide coatings of the soil, organic matter, and carbonates [165]. The NIST standard sequential extraction protocol is used for identifying the fractions of radioactive elements in soils and sediments in six operationally defined fractions [166].…”

Section: Determination Of Trace Elements Bound To Soils and Sediment mentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of trace elements bound to soil and sediment fractions (IUPAC Technical Report)

Hlavay¹,

Prohaska²,

Weisz³

et al. 2004

Pure and Applied Chemistry

174

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper presents an overview of methods for chemical speciation analysis of elements in samples of sediments and soils. The sequential leaching procedure is thoroughly discussed, and examples of different applications are shown. Despite some drawbacks, the sequential extraction method can provide a valuable tool to distinguish among trace element fractions of different solubility related to mineralogical phases. The understanding of the speciation of trace elements in solid samples is still rather unsatisfactory because the appropriate techniques are only operationally defined. The essential importance of proper sampling protocols is highlighted, since the sampling error cannot be estimated and corrected by standards. The Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) protocols for sediment and soil give a good basis for most of the solid samples, and the results can be compared among different laboratories.

show abstract

Section: Determination Of Trace Elements Bound To Soils and Sediment mentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of trace elements bound to soil and sediment fractions (IUPAC Technical Report)

Hlavay¹,

Prohaska²,

Weisz³

et al. 2004

Pure and Applied Chemistry

174

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…While the speciation of Pu and Am in real RWMC soil is unknown, Ibrahim and Morris have reported the physicochemical association of Pu with specific RWMC soil fractions using a sequential aqueous extraction technique [1]. They found that very little Pu was associated with water-soluble or ion exchangable fractions of that soil using 0.01 M CaCl 2 extraction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Hypochlorite has been shown to oxidize Pu(IV) to Pu(VI), and is capable of dissolving Pu(OH) 4 [12], and thus some amount of the Pu assigned to the organic phase may be due to Pu(IV) oxidation. Finally, about 20% of the Pu remained as inextractable, "residual" Pu, on the real INEEL soil [1]. Residual Pu is thought to be strongly bound to the refractory silicate minerals of the soil.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…For example, Pu contaminated lathe-cutting oil and chlorinated solvents were among the materials buried. Drums containing as much as 1.3 × 10 6 g of 239/240 Pu, 4.4 × 10 4 g of 241 Am and about 150 g of 238 Pu were buried in shallow pits and trenches at the site [1]. The current integrity of these drums is unknown; however, small amounts (1-2 Bq g −1 , maximum) of Pu contamination has been found in surficial soils adjacent to the disposal area [1][2][3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Drums containing as much as 1.3 × 10 6 g of 239/240 Pu, 4.4 × 10 4 g of 241 Am and about 150 g of 238 Pu were buried in shallow pits and trenches at the site [1]. The current integrity of these drums is unknown; however, small amounts (1-2 Bq g −1 , maximum) of Pu contamination has been found in surficial soils adjacent to the disposal area [1][2][3]. It may therefore be assumed there is co-contamination of RWMC soils with both radioactive *Author for correspondence (E-mail: rf4@inel.gov).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Supercritical fluid extraction of plutonium and americium from soil using thenoyltrifluoroacetone and tributylphosphate complexation

Mincher¹,

Fox²,

Holmes³

et al. 2001

Radiochimica Acta

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Samples of clean soil from the source used to backfill pits at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory's Radioactive Waste Management Complex were spiked with 239 Pu and 241 Am to evaluate ligand-assisted supercritical fluid extraction as a decontamination method. The actual soil in the pits has been subject to approximately three decades of weathering since it was originally contaminated. No surrogate soil can perfectly simulate the real event, but actual contaminated soil was not available for research purposes. However, fractionation of Am and Pu in the surrogate soil was found to be similar to that previously measured in the real soil using a sequential aqueous extraction procedure. This suggests that Pu and Am behavior are similar in the two soils. The surrogate was subjected to supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, in the presence of the fluorinated beta diketone thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA), and tributylphosphate (TBP). As much as 69% of the Pu and 88% of the Am were removed from the soil using 3.2 mol % TTA and 2.7 mol % TBP, in a single 45 minute extraction. Extraction conditions employing a 5 mol % ethanol modifier with 0.33 mol % TTA and 0.27 mol % TBP resulted in 66% Pu and 68% Am extracted. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) for the removal of actinides from soil.

show abstract

Plutonium: Radionuclides

Neu¹,

Goff²,

Runde³

2005

Encyclopedia of Inorganic Chemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Plutonium is the most debated actinide element because of its dual use in devastating nuclear weapons and beneficial generation of nuclear energy. Plutonium metal exists in several allotropic phases and plutonium in solution exhibits a rich and complex chemistry. The ability to exist in up to four oxidation states makes plutonium unique among all elements. Pu(III) and Pu(VI) form only under reducing or oxidizing conditions, respectively; whereas Pu(IV) and Pu(V) have broad stability ranges within the geochemical bounds of environmental systems. When Pu(IV) is above trace concentration and particulate matter is present, then solids or suspended colloids are the predominant chemical forms. In contrast, Pu(V), as PuO $_{2}^{+}$ , has relatively higher solubility as an aquo species or a monomeric complex of natural ligands (hydroxide, chloride, sulfate, etc.). Stronger complexing, polydentate ligands, such as carbonate and organics, tend to increase plutonium solubility by forming very stable Pu(IV) complexes. Minerals, high molecular weight organic matter, and bacteria can either increase or decrease the solubility of plutonium, depending upon their chemical properties, mechanisms of interaction, and the geochemical conditions of the surrounding environment. Plutonium generally has very low solubility, low mobility, and few health consequences from environmental forms, and therefore poses little risk to living systems under nearly all conditions. This article provides a brief overview of the chemistry and behavior of plutonium in aqueous solutions and in the environment.

show abstract

Distribution of plutonium among soil phases near a Subsurface Disposal Area in Southeastern Idaho, USA

Cited by 15 publications

References 15 publications

Determination of trace elements bound to soil and sediment fractions (IUPAC Technical Report)

Determination of trace elements bound to soil and sediment fractions (IUPAC Technical Report)

Supercritical fluid extraction of plutonium and americium from soil using thenoyltrifluoroacetone and tributylphosphate complexation

Plutonium: Radionuclides

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About