Fate Of Tritium Research Articles

Cellulose, proteins, starch and simple carbohydrates molecules control the hydrogen exchange capacity of bio-indicators and foodstuffs

Over the past several years, it has become increasingly acknowledged that Organically Bound Tritium (OBT) is the most pertinent tritium form for understanding its behavior and distribution within the biosphere. The fate of tritium actually depends on the accessibility and exchangeability of hydrogen atoms for isotopic exchanges in natural organic matter, especially in widespread biomass biomolecules like carbohydrates or proteins. The present work is therefore aimed at providing a means for improving the knowledge of tritium speciation and distribution on environmental matrices by evaluating the impact of molecular structure of various carbohydrate molecules on OBT behavior. We are thus proposing to assess the exchange capacities of hydrogen from a gas-solid isotopic exchange methodology in wheat grains, water-milfoil and apple environmental matrices using starch, cellulose/proteins and simple carbohydrates as their respective main constituents. For wheat grains, a good agreement was obtained between experimental and theoretical values as a result of the predominantly simple molecular structure of starch. For both water-milfoil and apple, the disparities between experimental and theoretical values showed the occurrence of the buried form of tritium, correlated with the 3D molecular complexity of their main constituents. The key role played by these determinant constituents on hydrogen exchange capacity could thus be experimentally demonstrated on several environmental matrices. These distinct hydrogen exchange capacities were then proven to exert an influence on the NE-OBT distribution on environmental matrix constituents, in yielding critical information to better the understanding of tritium distribution and behavior in the environment.

Organically Bound Tritium (OBT) in Soil at Different Depths Around Chalk River Laboratories (CRL), Canada

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) Chalk River Laboratories (CRL) is a large nuclear research and test establishment with nuclear and non-nuclear facilities located in Chalk River, Ontario. The CRL Environmental Monitoring Program is designed to demonstrate that radiological exposure resulting from releases from the CRL site remain below the public dose limit specified in the regulations (1 mSv/year). This study was conducted to consolidate environmental effects following a continuous atmospheric tritium release observed at CRL. Soil samples were collected at depths of up to 20 cm using soil probes at the CRL site and surrounding areas. The samples were sectioned at 5 cm intervals, and HTO and OBT concentrations were measured in the samples. Prevailing winds at CRL are from NW and SE, which was suggested to be in close relationship with tritium distribution in environmental samples such as soils and plant leaves. The HTO concentration was the highest in surface soil water and plant leaves at a given sampling point. This result suggests that the concentration of tritium in surface soil water and in plants tissue free water essentially reflects the surrounding atmospheric tritium concentration. OBT concentrations in soil were measured at the historical HT release site, Plant Road, Mattawa Road and three background sites near CRL. The top layer of soil generally had the highest OBT concentration among collected soil samples. This result suggests that OBT concentrations are different from HTO concentrations at the same site and can be representative of previously released environmental tritium at the sampling point. The relationship between the OBT concentration in soil and the amount of tritium released into the environment will be useful for the evaluation of environmental tritium effects and the fate of tritium in the terrestrial ecosystem. The study points out that HTO shows shorter-term dynamic conditions, whereas OBT shows longer-term steady-state conditions.

On the fate of tritium in thermally treated stainless steel type 316L

Several type 316L stainless steel specimens of 6mm thickness were charged with tritium at 473K at Joint European Torus (JET) using five sets of conditions. Isothermal tritium release rates were investigated at Hydrogen Isotope Research Centre (HRC) over extended periods of time at 473, 573, or 673K constant temperature. The HTO/HT ratio of the liberated tritium was generally high, but decreased with decreasing release temperature. Nearly complete release of tritium required additional prolonged heating at 1073K. Chemical etching and beta-ray-induced X-ray spectrometry measurements carried out at HRC provided complementary information on the tritium distribution in surface and bulk of thermally treated specimens. Whereas the thickness of the material and initial distribution of tritium in its bulk were found to play an important role for expedient thermal decontamination, the influence of the type of purge gas was only minor. Experimental evidence for tritium grain boundary diffusion is provided. Implications of the results for waste conditioning are discussed.

On the Fate of Tritium in Nickel

Uptake, distribution, and release behavior of tritium in Ni was investigated by chemical etching and thermal release rate measurements. Liberated tritium was found to consist almost exclusively of tritiated water. The chronic release rate of tritium from Ni was significantly larger than that from type 316 stainless steel. Depth profiles in specimens that partially lost tritium due to its chronic release into vacuum, air or a stream of argon could be reproduced by a one-dimensional diffusion model using best fit diffusion coefficients. Values of the best-fit diffusion coefficients at 298 K were found to be independent from the ambient into which tritium was released. The average diffusion coefficient from all measurements at 298 K, i.e. (2.7 ± 1.3) × 10-10 [cm2/s] was in line with diffusion coefficients calculated from literature data at the same temperature. Hence, the diffusion model constitutes a useful tool for the prediction of tritium bulk depth profiles in Ni during chronic release (CR).

On the Fate of Tritium in Nickel

On the Fate of Tritium in Nickel

Tritium in plants: A review of current knowledge

The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the literature regarding the fate of tritium in plants. At first, some prerequisites about the sources, chemical and physical characteristics, biological effects and potential risks associated to tritium are presented. The general scheme of tritium transport and cycling in the environment, the different tritium fractions in biological organisms and the corresponding techniques for sampling and measurement are discussed. Then, the main processes of uptake, incorporation and conversion of tritium into plants are described, based on experimental data. As tritium incorporated into the organic fraction may be the major contributor to the dose of radiation received following its ingestion by man, the biological mechanisms and kinetics of organically bound tritium (OBT) production are a major focus. Some predictive models of short-term or chronic exposure are described. Finally, the pending questions, concerning the fate of tritium in plants, are tackled.

Detection and profiling of tritium in solids

The threshold reaction T(p,n) can be used to detect and profile tritium in various materials. Of particular interest is the fate of tritium in tokamak limiter tiles. Results of profiling on test samples and on bumper limiter tile from TFTR are displayed. Limitations of the technique are quantified.

A Review of Metabolism of Labeled Glucoses for Use in Measuring Glucose Recycling

The fate of tritium from each carbon of D-glucose and the metabolism of L-glucose and 2-deoxy-D-glucose are known. Differences in metabolism of labeled glucoses can be used to quantify physical and chemical recycling of glucose. Only physical recycling is measured by [1-3H]-L-glucose, whereas [U-14C]-D-glucose measures total recycling. The difference between [1-3H]-L-glucose and [U-14C]-D-glucose, therefore, is chemical recycling. Recycling from extracellular binding sites and hepatic glucose 6-phosphate can be measured by difference between [1,2-3H]-2-deoxy-D-glucose and [1-3H]-L-glucose, and the difference in irreversible loss of the two will measure extrahepatic uptake of D-glucose. Recycling via Cori-alanine cycle plus CO2 is the difference in irreversible loss measured by using [6-3H]-glucose and [U-14C]-D-glucose. Recycling via the hexose monophosphate pathway can be determined by difference in irreversible loss between [1-3H]-D-glucose and [6-3H]-D-glucose. Recycling via CO2 and glycerol must be measured directly with [U-14C]glucose, bicarbonate, and glycerol. Recycling via hepatic glycogen can be estimated by subtracting all other measured chemical recycling from total chemical recycling. This review describes means to quantify glucose recycling in vivo, enabling studies of mechanisms for conservation and utilization of glucose.

Metabolism of [5-3H]Proline by Barley Leaves and Its Use in Measuring the Effects of Water Stress on Proline Oxidation

The objective of these experiments was to determine the fate of tritium from the 5 position of proline and to assess the validity of its loss to H(2)O as a measure of proline oxidation. When [5-(3)H]proline was fed to barley (Hordeum vulgare) leaves, tritium was recovered in H(2)O and metabolites such as glutamate, glutamine, organic acids, aspartate, asparagine, and gamma-aminobutyrate. Collectively these metabolites, which are oxidation products of proline, accounted for 8% of the (3)H recovered after 5 hours. In spite of the amount recovered in metabolites, the rates of proline oxidation estimated by measuring (3)H(2)O recovery from [5-(3)H]proline were only slightly lower than rates estimated by incorporation of (14)C into oxidized products and loss of (14)C from total proline. Therefore, (3)H(2)O recovery from [5-(3)H]proline is useful in assessing the effects of stress on proline metabolism.Water stress inhibited proline oxidation, as reported previously. In addition, a reconversion of proline oxidation products to proline occurred in stressed leaves. This observation probably indicates a breakdown in cellular compartmentation of proline synthesis and proline oxidation.

Fate of tritium in calves subcutaneously implanted with H-diethylstilbestrol.

Fate of tritium in calves subcutaneously implanted with H-diethylstilbestrol.

Protein metabolism in goldfish brain.

Abstract— Protein metabolism of goldfish brain was studied in vivo by means of intraperitoneal or intracranial injections of [3H]leucine and compared with concomitant studies in the mouse. Heterogeneity of turnover values was observed. Long turnover times were seen relative to other organs examined. The free amino acid pools of goldfish brain were determined, and the fate of tritium from labelled leucine was followed at various times after injection.Following ‘chasing’ with large amounts of unlabelled leucine or protein inhibitors shortly after isotope injection, further incorporation was arrested, but examination of the labelled protein over a period of 2 weeks indicated a slow decay, similar to that seen without ‘chasing’.Possible use of ‘pulse‐chase’ experiments in vivo in animals is discussed in relation to behavioural studies.