Investigation of solubilization of plutonium and americium in soil by natural humic compounds

Dispersion of plutonium from contaminated pond sediments

“…These results strongly suggest that the plutonium was present as a discrete radiocolloid or was adsorbed onto dispersed colloidal sediment particles. Since there was little or no increase in the 0.2-µ filtrate, the absence of soluble complexes is indicated, a finding that is consistent with the reported inability of plutonium to form soluble complexes with natural ful vates (13), a likely source of anions in the sediment.…”

“…Received for review January 13,1978. Accepted March Sediment-water distributions of plutonium as a function of pH and contact time are investigated in a holding pond at the Rocky Flats plant of the Department of Energy.…”

Characterization of Plutonium in Maxey Flats Radioactive Trench Leachates

“…Naturally occurring organic substances in ground water appear less likely to mobilize plutonium than organic matter iq the wastes. Results of an earlier study (10) indicate that plutonium is not appreciably solubilized by fulvic compounds in natural waters.…”

Strong association of fallout plutonium with humic and fulvic acid as compared to uranium and137Cs in Nishiyama soils from Nagasaki, Japan

“…21 Actinide elements (Pu, uranium and others) form a complex with the organic matter in natural environments. 3,2,10,26,25,29,32 In contrast, 137Cs shows little interaction with soil organic materials. 31 High concentrations of 239+240pu from atmospheric fallout were found in the humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) extracted from lake sediments; 3,2 whereas, 3% of the fallout Pu remained in water columns.…”