Sorption and desorption of uranium, selenium, and radium in a basalt geochemical environment
Year: 1987
Type: article
Abstract: The US Department of Energy is studying the feasibility of locating a high-level radioactive waste repository in basalt at the Hanford Site in south-central Washington. This is a saturated site where groundwater transport of radionuclides away from the repository is the mechanism for release to the accessible environment. Sorption is the predominant means by which the movement of radionuclides is retarded in a groundwater flow system. This report presents results to date from laboratory batch testing using an anoxic (low oxygen) experimental approach with basalt flow top core samples. The kinetics of sorption increased in the order U < Se < Ra. The relatively rapid removal and ease of desorption of selenium was typical of an ion-exchange type process. The removal of uranium from solution was slower and more strongly retained on the solid surfaces. Its behavior was more typical of selective chemisorption or coprecipitation processes. Extremely low solubility of radium was responsible for rapid irreversible removal from solution. Proportionate removal increased in the order Se < U < Ra. Freundlich sorption isotherms were linear for uranium and selenium over the concentrations tested. 30 refs., 17 figs., 6 tabs.
Authors: Robert W. Puls, L.L. Ames, J.E. McGarrah
Language: English
Subfield: Inorganic Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W41865850