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The Importance of Organic Compounds on the Modbilization and Bioassimilation of Thorium in the Morro do Ferro Environment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

N. Miekeley ,
R. M. Dotto ,
I. L. Kuchler  and
P. Linsalata
N. Miekeley
Affiliation:
Cathol ic University (PUC), Dept. of Chemistry, Rua Marques de Sao Vicente 225, 22453 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
R. M. Dotto
Affiliation:
Cathol ic University (PUC), Dept. of Chemistry, Rua Marques de Sao Vicente 225, 22453 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
I. L. Kuchler
Affiliation:
Cathol ic University (PUC), Dept. of Chemistry, Rua Marques de Sao Vicente 225, 22453 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
P. Linsalata
Affiliation:
New York University Medical Center, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Tuxedo, New York 10987, USA
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Abstract

Data are presented on the role of naturally occurring and synthetic organic compounds in the mobilization and bicassimilation of Th-232. The study is taking place in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in and around an exposod and deeply weathered are body (the Morro do Ferro) estimated to contain 30,000 tonnes of Th and > 100,000 tonnes of the light rare earth elements. Indigenous plants collected from the are body surface are shown to contain high concentrations in the range of 20–1,000 μg/g ash of Th-232. Prcliminary estimates of Th-232 concentration factors range between 10−5 and 10−3 and are comparable with those reported for plutonium. Leaching studies using different chelating agents indicate that the release of Th-232 from. weathered soil and are as well as plant uptake are directly related to complex stability. Preliminary results of speciation studies using ultrafiltration techniques indicate that for water which has percolated through the are body, most of the dissolved Th-232 is associated with colloidal humic acids of molecular weight > 300,000.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 44: Symposium N – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management VIII , 1984 , 591
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1985

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