Colloid Migration in Groundwaters: Geochemical Interactions of Radionuclides with Natural Colloids

Project Information

Grant agreement ID: FI2W0084

Project closed

Start date 1 May 1991

End date 30 April 1994

Funded under

• Specific research and technical development programme (Euratom) in the field of management and storage of radioactive waste, 1990-1994

Total cost

€ 1 000 000,00

EU contribution

€ 650 000,00

Coordinated by

TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF MUNICH
Germany

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Publications

Other (1)

Colloid migration in groundwaters: geochemical interactions of radionuclides with natural colloids

Author(s): KIM J I ET AL (Technische Universität München (DE)), IVANOVICH M ET AL (AEA Technology, Harwell Laboratory, Didcot, Oxon (GB)), FRITZ P ET AL (Forschungszentrum für Umwelt und Gesundheit GmbH, München (DE)), ALEXANDER J L ET AL (W S Atkins Engineering Sciences, London (GB))
Published in: EUR 16754 EN (1996) 316pp., FS, ECU 36.50 (euroabstract 34/641), 1996, Page(s) 316, ISBN 92-827-5919-9

Exploitable results

Groundwater colloids and far field radionuclide migration

Groundwater samples and sediments have been collected from 4 boreholes of Gorleben aquifer systems. The groundwater, ultrafiltrates and sediments were characterised for their chemical and isotopical composition and physico-chemical properties. Trace elements of higher oxidation state (greater than +2) in groundwaters were found to be strongly adsorbed on humic colloids. The groundwaters were spiked with actinide ions (Np(V), Th(IV), Am(III) and Cm(III)). The trivalent and tetravalent ions were found to be adsorbed quantitatively on the humic colloids. The adsorption and desorption behaviour was dependent on pH. The colloid facilitated radionuclide transport was studied in a sediment-groundwater system by column experiments. As a result non-retarded transport was observed for Eu(III), Am(III), Pu(IV) and Pa(V), which are predominantly bound to humic colloids. The recovery of the radionuclides was not complete, however, depending on the metal ion and experimental conditions. A considerable quantity of radionuclides remained adsorbed on the column for the experimental period. For interpretation of the results, models have been developed for the radionuclide transport.