Sequential extraction as a tool for mobility studies of radionuclides and metals in soils and sediments
-
Lindis Skipperud
and
Brit Salbu
Abstract
To assess the long term environmental impact of radioactive contamination of ecosystems, information on source terms including radionuclide speciation, mobility and biological uptake is of high importance. The speciation of radionuclides deposited or occurring naturally depends on source term and release scenario characteristics, transport and dispersion mechanisms and ecosystem properties. If mobile species are present, ecosystem transfer is relatively fast, whereas the ecosystem transfer is delayed if radionuclides are present as particles or incorporated in mineral lattices.
This paper discusses cases showing important factors influencing the mobility of different radionuclides and metals. As examples can be given:
the difference between 137Cs and 90Sr from Chernobyl fallout and stable Cs and Sr in the soil showing that the fallout has not reached a steady state and therefore shows different mobility properties, thus the time since contamination is important.
the presence of organic matter affect the mobility of plutonium in soils and sediments even though the source term is the same.
physical properties (i.e. pH, OM, clay content, grain sice etc.) is important to interpret mobility data between similar sites.
the influence of industrial activity on radionuclides and metals shows that any man-made activity might change the mobility.
Acknowledgement
This research was conducted at the Center of Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD CoE) at Norwegian University of Life Sciences, and therefore partly supported by the Research Council of Norway through its Centres of Excellence funding scheme, project number 223268/F50.
©2015 Walter de Gruyter Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Preface
- Radiochemistry in Northern Europe
- Fuel fabrication and reprocessing for nuclear fuel cycle with inherent safety demands
- Partitioning and speciation of Pu in the sedimentary rocks aquifer from the deep liquid nuclear waste disposal
- Sequential extraction as a tool for mobility studies of radionuclides and metals in soils and sediments
- Technetium sulfide – formation kinetics, structure and particle speciation
- Sorption of actinides onto nanodiamonds
- Sorption processes of radiocesium in soil and bedrock
- Post-target produced [18F]F2 in the production of PET radiopharmaceuticals
- Towards automated solid phase radiofluorination for dose-on-demand PET: retention of activity by solid support
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Preface
- Radiochemistry in Northern Europe
- Fuel fabrication and reprocessing for nuclear fuel cycle with inherent safety demands
- Partitioning and speciation of Pu in the sedimentary rocks aquifer from the deep liquid nuclear waste disposal
- Sequential extraction as a tool for mobility studies of radionuclides and metals in soils and sediments
- Technetium sulfide – formation kinetics, structure and particle speciation
- Sorption of actinides onto nanodiamonds
- Sorption processes of radiocesium in soil and bedrock
- Post-target produced [18F]F2 in the production of PET radiopharmaceuticals
- Towards automated solid phase radiofluorination for dose-on-demand PET: retention of activity by solid support
