Impact of co-contaminant chelating agents on the speciation, sorption and migration of actinides

Abstract

Actinide elements are a major long term hazard in wastes arising from nuclear industries. Anthropogenic chelating agents used in nuclear site clean-up operations {e.g. EDTA and NTA) and cellulose degradation products {e.g. ISA) are found in mixed wastes, and the impact of these ligands on actinide sorption and migration is relatively poorly understood. Knowledge of actinide speciation is fundamental for elucidating sorption processes affecting the migration of actinides in the terrestrial environment. This project has used Th(IV) and U02^* as model actinides in key oxidation states to investigate the impact of EDTA, NTA and ISA on actinide speciation, sorption and migration

Date of Award	2009
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Plymouth