Anthropogenic plutonium-244 in the environment: Insights into plutonium's longest-lived isotope.

Owing to the rich history of heavy element production in the unique high flux reactors that operated at the Savannah River Site, USA (SRS) decades ago, trace quantities of plutonium with highly unique isotopic characteristics still persist today in the SRS terrestrial environment. Development of an effective sampling, processing, and analysis strategy enables detailed monitoring of the SRS environment, revealing plutonium isotopic compositions, e.g.

Plutonium isotopes in the terrestrial environment at the Savannah River Site, USA: a long-term study.

This work presents the findings of a long-term plutonium (Pu) study at Savannah River Site (SRS) conducted between 2003 and 2013. Terrestrial environmental samples were obtained at the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) in the A-Area. Plutonium content and isotopic abundances were measured over this time period by α particle and thermal ionization mass spectrometry (3STIMS).

Effect of fulvic acid on neodymium uptake by goethite.

Experimental studies of the interaction of aqueous neodymium (Nd), Suwannee River fulvic acid (FA), and solid phase goethite were conducted. Results from blank systems (individual Nd and FA), binary systems (Nd-goethite, FA-goethite, and Nd-FA), and ternary systems (Nd-FA-goethite) at 0.1 mol/kg and 25°C are reported.

Uranyl peroxide enhanced nuclear fuel corrosion in seawater.

The Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear accident brought together compromised irradiated fuel and large amounts of seawater in a high radiation field. Based on newly acquired thermochemical data for a series of uranyl peroxide compounds containing charge-balancing alkali cations, here we show that nanoscale cage clusters containing as many as 60 uranyl ions, bonded through peroxide and hydroxide bridges, are likely to form in solution or as precipitates under such conditions. These species will enhance the corrosion of the damaged fuel and, being thermodynamically stable and kinetically persistent in the absence of peroxide, they can potentially transport uranium over long distances.

Energetics of Al₁₃ Keggin cluster compounds.

The ε-Al(13) Keggin aluminum hydroxide clusters are essential models in establishing molecular pathways for geochemical reactions. Enthalpies of formation are reported for two salts of aluminum centered ε-Keggin clusters, Al(13) selenate, (Na(AlO(4))Al(12)(OH)(24)(SeO(4))(4)•12H(2)O) and Al(13) sulfate, (NaAlO(4)Al(12)(OH)(24)(SO(4))(4)•12H(2)O). The measured enthalpies of solution, ΔH(sol), at 28 °C in 5 N HCl for the ε-Al(13) selenate and sulfate are -924.