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Artificial radionuclides association with bottom sediment components from Mayak Production Association industrial reservoirs.

Authors :
Rozhkova AK
Kuzmenkova NV
Pryakhin EA
Mokrov YG
Kalmykov SN
Source :
Journal of environmental radioactivity [J Environ Radioact] 2021 Jun; Vol. 232, pp. 106569. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Mar 11.
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

About ten years have passed since the last published report in Russian on the speciation and distribution features of radionuclides in the bottom sediment of Production Association (PA) "Mayak" (further mentioned as Mayak) artificial reservoirs. Herein, the desorption parameters of <superscript>137</superscript> Cs, <superscript>90</superscript> Sr, <superscript>241</superscript> Am, and <superscript>238,239+240</superscript> Pu and their association with bottom sediment components were investigated in two Mayak reservoirs (R-17 (decommissioned) and R-4 (still in use) with big differences in size, activity and water regime). It was established that <superscript>137</superscript> Cs and <superscript>90</superscript> Sr desorption from the R-17 bottom sediment reach constant values after 24 h, and the desorption degree is not dependant on pH but on ionic strength. Sequential extraction indicated that the main accumulation mechanism of <superscript>137</superscript> Cs is incorporation into the clay minerals. The maximum plutonium content was detected in the residual fraction of the R-17 bottom sediment, which could be associated with the effects of precipitation aging. In R-4, plutonium is equally distributed between residual and bound to organic matter fractions. The <superscript>241</superscript> Am is associated with carbonates in the R-17 bottom sediment and with organic matter in the R-4 bottom sediment and to lesser extent with iron-manganese oxides. The radionuclides are becoming less environmentally available with time since deposition.<br /> (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1879-1700
Volume :
232
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Journal of environmental radioactivity
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
33714079
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106569