Migration of 99Tc in unsaturated Chinese loess under natural rainfall conditions: An in-situ test

The migration of ⁹⁹Tc in unsaturated Chinese loess was investigated in-situ with a tracer method. Quartz containing ³H (HTO) and ⁹⁹Tc (⁹⁹TcO₄ ^-) was introduced into the bottom of an experimental pit which was then backfilled at the field test site. Then core soil samples were taken and cut vertically into 1 cm long slices. The slice samples were analyzed by liquid scintillation techniques in the laboratory. The results indicate that the migration pattern of ⁹⁹Tc was quite similar to that of ³H and the vertical diffusion coefficients of ⁹⁹Tc and ³H were calculated as (4.7±0.4)^.10^-2 cm²/d and (7.8±0.4)^.10^-2 cm²/d, respectively.     

Migration of134Cs and85Sr in clay materials

Retardation mechanisms of¹³⁴Cs and⁸⁵Sr have been investigated. Batch determination of distribution coefficientK _d have been carried out for various values of factors affecting retardation such as solid-liquid ratio, particle size, composition of solid phase. Various types of bentonites and mixtures of bentonites with sand have been also studied.     

Migration of85Sr and137Cs in vertical soil profiles

The vertical distribution of⁸⁵Sr and¹³⁷Cs in undisturbed single-contaminated agricultural soils have been studied during their irrigation with wet atmospheric precipitation in dependence on time under laboratory conditions for about one year. The soil samples were collected from several localities in the environment of nuclear power plants at Dukovany and Jaslovské Bohunice using a special auger. The samples were placed into polyethylene columns of 9 cm in diameter and 20 cm in height. The activity of radionuclides in soil profiles after their separation into single layers were counted by Ge(Li) semiconductor gamma-spectrometry. Based on the exponential depth distribution of radionuclides, the values of their migration parameters as relaxation depth, migration rate and retardation factor were calculated. The influence of the permanent grass cover and of the applied zeolite on the migration parameters of these radionuclides was also investigated. Presented at the Conference “Nukleonika '98”, Prague, Czech Republic, 9–10 September 1998, dedicated to late Professor František Běhounek in honour of his 100th birthday.     

The retention of85Sr in snails

The retention of⁸⁵Sr in snails Helix Pomatia was studied. It was found that in the first period /approximately up to 20 d/ after the removal of snails from the contaminated diet the⁸⁵Sr, incorporated in the snails, was lost at a rate of about 0.12 per day, e.g., with an effective halflife of 5.8 d. Thereafter, in the second period the⁸⁵Sr decreases more slowly-with the effective half-life of 203 d.     

Studies of 85Sr adsorption on grain fractions of soil

Summary The adsorption of ⁸⁵Sr on grain fractions isolated from four different types of soil was studied. The influence of pH, concentration and presence of calcium ions on the process was investigated. The adsorption process depends mainly on pH, grain size of the solidandthe type of soil. Ca²⁺in the system is lowering the adsorption of ⁸⁵Sr.     

Migration characteristics of radionuclides 85+89Sr2+, 134Cs+, 125I-, 75SeO3 2- and 152+154Eu(III) in Chinese soils

The migration of radionuclides ⁸⁵⁺⁸⁹Sr²⁺, ¹³⁴Cs⁺, ¹²⁵I^- and ⁷⁵SeO₃ ^2- in calcareous soil from Yuzhong county of Gansu Province (China) at pH 7.8±0.2 and ^152+154Eu(III) in red earth from Yingtan county of Jiangxi Province (China) at pH 4.6±0.2, in presence of CaCl₂ was studied using column experiments. Results indicate that the negative anions, iodide and selenide are mobile nuclides while the migration of positive cations is related to the sorption capacity for the element. Iodide can be assumed to be non-reactive in calcareous soil. The breakthrough curves (BTCs) were fitted to the analytical solution or numerical solution of one-dimensional convection-dispersion transport models. Good agreements were obtained between the measured and predicted concentration profiles.     

Migration of 134Cs in unsaturated soils at a site in Egypt

To demonstrate the safety performance assessment for the disposal of ¹³⁴Cs radionuclide in a geological formation, several investigations were required to calculate the possible release of radionuclides into groundwater. This research examined the sorption behavior of radioactive cesium (¹³⁴Cs) in natural groundwater. Cesium chloride (10^-6 to 10^-2 mol^.l^-1) was used as a carrier, traced with ¹³⁴Cs radionuclide. Distribution coefficients of radiocesium for sorption and desorption were measured on natural soil samples of different grain size fractions (400 to 36 mm). Cesium sorption and desorption were found reversible at cesium chloride concentrations between 10^-6 mol^.l^-1 to less than 10^-3 mol^.l^-1. Sequential extraction procedures showed that the cesium sorption on soils were of various types: those easily desorbed, ion-exchanged, bound to carbonate, iron oxides, and organic matter. To demonstrate the safety performance assessment for the disposal of ¹³⁴Cs radionuclide in a geological formation, several investigations were required to calculate the possible release of radionuclides into groundwater. This research examined the sorption behavior of radioactive cesium (¹³⁴Cs) in natural groundwater. Cesium chloride (10^-6 to 10^-2 mol^.l^-1) was used as a carrier, traced with ¹³⁴Cs radionuclide. Distribution coefficients of radiocesium for sorption and desorption were measured on natural soil samples of different grain size fractions (400 to 36 mm). Cesium sorption and desorption were found reversible at cesium chloride concentrations between 10^-6 mol^.l^-1 to less than 10^-3 mol^.l^-1. Sequential extraction procedures showed that the cesium sorption on soils were of various types: those easily desorbed, ion-exchanged, bound to carbonate, iron oxides, and organic matter.     

Sorption behavior of 85Sr onto manganese oxides with tunnel structure

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Sorption behavior of strontium ions on manganese oxides obtained by sol–gel technique reduction of KMnO4 by different reagents (H2O2, MnCl2...     

Migration of 99Tc in a Weak Loess Aquifer: A Field Column Experiment

The migration of ⁹⁹Tc in a weak loess aquifer was investigated in-situ with undisturbed aquifer medium columns. The columns were obtained horizontally at a depth of 3236 m in an Underground Research Facility (URF). Quartz containing ³H (HTO) and ⁹⁹Tc (in the form of ⁹⁹TcO₄ ^-) was introduced into one end of the columns and the columns were covered tightly. Aquifer water was introduced into the columns directly from an experimental shaft in the UFR. Effluents from the columns were collected and the activity of ³H and ⁹⁹Tc were determined with a liquid scintillation analyzer. The breakthrough curves of ³H and ⁹⁹Tc indicate that ⁹⁹Tc migrates a little faster than that ³H does in the aquifer.     

Sorption and diffusion processes with134Cs and85Sr in natural sorbents

Sorption and diffusion processes with¹³⁴Cs and⁸⁵Sr in natural bentonites have been investigated. The distribution coefficients (K _d ) have been determined by a batch method. Various factors affecting theK _d value as water-to-bentonite ratio, concentration of the competitive cations in the aqueous phase or bentonite-to-sand ratio in the mixed sorbents have been evaluated. A comparison of the sorption and diffusion data has been made.     

An alternative synthesis of unsaturated aldehydopheromones

The pheromone 7(Z)-tetradecenal and its isomer 7 (E)-tetradecenal were synthesized in four steps from commercially available starting materials.     

Extraction separation of 86Rb from 85Sr in trace level with 18-crown-6 in nitrobenzene

A liquid-liquid extraction separation procedure has been developed for the separation of trace amounts of neutron activated rubidium and strontium from their mixture in 0.1M perchloric acid medium using 0.04M 18-crown-6 in nitrobenzene as the extractant. Separation factor for Rb/Sr was found approximately 3^.10³. Gamma-radiation stability of the extractant (up to 1.5^.10⁴ Gy) as well as that of the metal-extractant complex were examined. Complete stripping of rubidium has been achieved by 8M HCl with 3–4 fold volume increase of the aqueous phase.     

Distribution coefficients of137Cs and85Sr by mixtures of clay and humic material

Distribution coefficients K_d for the sorption of Cs and Sr on mixtures of a clay mineral (Ca-saturated bentonite) and humic material (Ca-humate) have been measured and were compared with calculated values obtained from the K_d-values observed for the pure components. The concentration of Sr and Cs in the solution was varied between 1·10^–6 and 0.01N and the distribution of the elements determined by using radioactive tracers. All experiments were carried out in pure water as well as in the presence of a supporting electrolyte (0.01N CaCl₂). It was found that the differences between the observed and calculated K_d-values were, if present, always negative if Cs was sorbed, and positive if Sr was sorbed.     

Vertical migration of 85Sr, 137Cs and 131I in various arable and undisturbed soils

The vertical migration of ⁸⁵Sr, ¹³⁷Cs and ¹³¹I in some arable and undisturbed single-contaminated soils was studied by gamma-spectrometry measurements under lysimetric laboratory conditions during irrigation of the soil profiles with wet atmospheric precipitation for about one year, except ¹³¹I. A new simple exponential compartment (box) model was derived, which makes it possible to calculate the migration rate constants and migration rates in the individual soil layers (vertical sections) as well as the total vertical migration rate constants and total vertical migration rates of radionuclides in the bulk soil horizon. The relaxation times of radionuclides in respective soil horizons can also be evaluated.     

Photoreductive cyclization of unsaturated aldehydes : An easy access to spiranic molecules

The photoreductive cyclization of ω-unsaturated aldehydes is an efficient process which leads to substituted cycloalkanols. This process is used as a convenient approach to spiranic molecules.     

Biosorptive behavior of some dead biomasses in the removal of Sr(85+89) from aqueous solutions

The knowledge of radioactive and stable elements partitioning to natural sediment systems is essential for modelling their environmental fate. A sequential extraction method consisting of six operationally-defined fractions has been developed for determining the geochemical partitioning of natural (U, Th, ⁴⁰K) and antropogenic (Pu, ²⁴¹Am, ¹³⁷Cs) radionuclides in a 10 cm deep sediment sample collected in the Tyrrhenian sea (Gaeta Gulf, Italy) in front of the Garigliano Nuclear Power Plant. ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K were measured by gamma-spectrometry. Extraction chromatography with Microthene-TOPO (U, Th), Microthene-TNOA (Pu) and Microthene-HDEHP (Am) was used for the chemical separation of the alpha-emitters: after electrodeposition alpha-spectrometry was carried out. Some stable elements (Fe, Mn, Al, Ca, Pb, Ba, Ti, Sr, Cu, Ni) were also determined in the different fractions to get more information about the chemical association of the radionuclides.     

Retention of85Sr and147Pm on insoluble hydroxides and phosphates prepared by the sol-gel procedure

Retention of strontium and promethium on hydroxides (hydrated oxides) and phosphates of iron and chromium prepared by the sol-gel method was studied. The sorption was determined under static conditions depending on the pH of the solution. The sorption isotherms and retention were investigated under dynamic conditions.     

An efficient process for the bromolactamization of unsaturated acids

Bromolactamization of the N-Boc derivatives of unsaturated amides using N-bromosuccinimide and lithium t-butoxide in tetrahydrofuran occurs smoothly to give excellent yields of bromo N-Boc α-lactams, which are valuable as synthetic intermediates.