The partitioning of uranium and neptunium onto hydrothermally altered concrete

• Published in: Radiochimica acta Vol. 88; no. 9; pp. 729 - 738
• Main Authors: Zhao, P., Allen, P.G., Sylwester, E.R., Viani, B.E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: De Gruyter Oldenbourg 01.09.2000
• ISSN: 0033-8230; 2193-3405
• DOI: 10.1524/ract.2000.88.9-11.729

Partition coefficients (K ) of U(VI) and Np(V) on untreated and hydrothermally altered concrete were measured in 0.01 M NaCl and 0.01 M NaHCO solutions as functions of concentration of the radionuclides, pH, and time. The partition coefficients for both U(VI) and Np(V) on hydrothermally altered concrete are significantly lower than those on untreated concrete. The partition of both U(VI) and Np(V) are pH dependent, although the pH dependence does not appear to reflect precipitation of U and Np-bearing phases. Both sorption and precipitation are likely processes controlling partitioning of U to concrete; sorption is the most likely process controlling the partitioning of Np to concrete. The presence of 0.01 M carbonate species in solution decreases K of U(VI) for both hydrothermally altered and untreated concrete from ≥ 10 mL/g to ~400 to 1000 mL/g indicating a significant impact on U(VI) sorption. In contrast, the presence of carbonate only reduced the K of Np(V) by one order of magnitude or less. X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis of U/concrete mixtures at different pHs and times indicate that uranyl ions are partitioned as monomeric species on untreated concrete, but oligomeric species on hydrothermally altered concrete. Similar analysis of Np/concrete mixtures shows that about half of the partitioned Np(V) is reduced to Np(IV) over a period of 6 months.