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The Effect of Radiolysis on Leachability of Plutonium and Americium from 76–101 Glass*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

K. L. Nash ,
S. Fried ,
A. M. Friedman ,
N. Susak ,
P. Rickert ,
J. C. Sullivan ,
D. P. Karim  and
D. J. Lam
K. L. Nash
Affiliation:
Chemistry and Materials Science Divisions, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439USA
S. Fried
Affiliation:
Chemistry and Materials Science Divisions, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439USA
A. M. Friedman
Affiliation:
Chemistry and Materials Science Divisions, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439USA
N. Susak
Affiliation:
Chemistry and Materials Science Divisions, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439USA
P. Rickert
Affiliation:
Chemistry and Materials Science Divisions, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439USA
J. C. Sullivan
Affiliation:
Chemistry and Materials Science Divisions, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439USA
D. P. Karim
Affiliation:
Chemistry and Materials Science Divisions, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439USA
D. J. Lam
Affiliation:
Chemistry and Materials Science Divisions, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439USA
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Abstract

One aspect of the leachability of actinide bearing glass which has not been adequately addressed is the effect of radiolysis of the system (glass-water) on the amount of actinides liberated from the glass. In the present study, we have investigated the leaching of plutonium and americium from 76–101 glass samples (containing 2 mole % plutonium) in the presence of a one megaRad/hour gamma radiation field. The presence of the radiation field was found to increase the leaching rate of both plutonium and americium by a factor of five. Speciation studies of the plutonium in the leachate indicate that the plutonium is present predominantly in the higher oxidation states, Pu(V) and Pu(VI) and that it is significantly associated with colloidal particles. Examination of the glass surfaces with X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, XPS, both before and after leaching was carried out; these studies showed lower surface concentrations of plutonium in the samples of glass leached in the radiation field.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 6: Symposium D – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management IV , 1981 , 661
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1982

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Footnotes

*

Work performed under the auspices of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences, U. S. Department of Energy Sciences, Division of Engineering, Mathematical and Geo-science, U. S. Department of Energy.

References

REFERENCES

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