Estimation of distribution coefficient of polonium in geological matrices around uranium mining site.

Maity, Sukanta; Mishra, S.; Bhalke, S.; Pandit, G.; Puranik, V.; Kushwaha, H.

In case of ground (groundwater) contamination or contaminants release from the disposal modules (facilities) to the geo-environment, the fate of contaminant transport is mainly governed by the parameter called distribution (partition) coefficient, K. It is a measure of sorption of contaminants to soils. For that the sorption of polonium in soil were carried out using laboratory batch method in different soil samples collected from different places around Turamdih uranium mining site. The kinetics of polonium sorption were also carried out at different time intervals which clearly indicates that sorption equilibrium for polonium achieved at around 72 h. The K for polonium varies from 1,443 to 7,501.3 L/kg in soil samples. Chemical characterization of soil and ground water samples were carried out to know the effect of various chemical parameters with distribution coefficient of polonium.

PARTITION coefficient (Chemistry); POLONIUM; GEOCHEMISTRY; URANIUM; MINES & mineral resources; METAL tailings; ABSORPTION; CHEMICAL equilibrium; CHEMICAL kinetics

Journal of Radioanalytical & Nuclear Chemistry, 2011, Vol 290, Issue 1, p75

0236-5731

Academic Journal

10.1007/s10967-011-1135-6