September 27, 2024
Journal Article
Subsurface transport of plutonium in organic and aqueous acidic processing wastes at the Hanford Site, USA
Abstract
Over 4 million liters of mixed acidic (~pH 2.5), high ionic strength (~5 M nitrate) plutonium (Pu) processing waste were released into the 216-Z-9 (Z-9) trench at the Hanford Site, USA and trace Pu has migrated 37 m below the trench. In this study, we used flowthrough columns to investigate Pu transport in simplified processing waste through uncontaminated Hanford sediments to determine the conditions that led to Pu migration. In low pH aqueous fluids, some Pu breakthrough is observed at pHPublished: September 27, 2024