Organic complexant-enhanced mobility of toxic elements in low-level wastes. Quarterly progress report, January-March 1984

Abstract

The results obtained during the third quarter's activities of a project whose objective is to determine how and to what extent organic complexants affect the mobility of toxic elements in subsurface groundwaters at commercial low-level waste disposal sites are described. This project will study nonradioactive toxic elements as well as elements having radioactive isotopes of importance (e.g. /sup 63/Ni, /sup 239/Pu, /sup 241/Am). Organic complexants used in the nuclear industry are being emphasized, but others are being examined. Generic soil components (e.g. hydrous oxides, silica, clays) are being used so that the results will be broadly applicable. Substantiation of the previously indicated sorption of a Pu(IV)-EDTA complex by hydrous ferric oxide (Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/.xH/sub 2/O) was obtained by comparing the sorption of EDTA in the presence and absence of Pu. Additional data on the sorption of a Ni-EDTA complex by Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/.xH/sub 2/O were also obtained. Preliminary Ni sorption data were obtained with other complexants (picolinic acid and citric acid), and another generic soil component (TiO/sub 2/). Sorption of a Ni-EDTA complex by an anion exchange resin was observed. Complexed species are thus likely to be present in the resin wastes from certain reactor decontamination solution clean-up operations. An experimental problem that caused some erroneous results for uncomplexed Ni was discovered and corrected. The filters being used to assure good separation of solid and liquid phases were removing Ni from solution, which skewed some earlier results. 11 references, 13 figures, 2 tables.