Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T14:44:08.053Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Behavior of Natural Uranium, Thorium and Radium Isotopes in The Wolfcamp Brine Aquifers, Palo Duro Basin, Texas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

J. C. Laul ,
M. R. Smith  and
N. Hubbard
J. C. Laul
Affiliation:
Pacific Northwest Laboratory, P. O. Box 999, Richland, WA 99352
M. R. Smith
Affiliation:
Pacific Northwest Laboratory, P. O. Box 999, Richland, WA 99352
N. Hubbard
Affiliation:
Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH 43201
Get access

Abstract

Previously reported results for Palo Duro deep brines show that Ra is highly soluble and not retarded. Relative to Ra, U and Th are highly sorbed. Uranium, like thorium, is in the +4 valence state, indicating a reducing environment. Additional data reported here support these results. However, one Wolfcamp brine sample gives somewhat different results. Radium appears to be somewhat sorbed. Uranium is largely in the +6 valence state, indicating a less reducing condition. In all brines, kinetics for sorption (228Th) and desorption (224Ra) are rapid. This Wolfcamp brine was tested for the effects of colloids for Ra, U, and Th concentrations. No effects were found.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 44: Symposium N – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management VIII , 1984 , 475
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1985

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

[1] Hubbard, N., Laul, J.C., and Perkins, R.W., “The Use of Natural Radionuclides to Predict the Behavior of Radwaste Radionuclides in Far-Field Aquifers”, Scientific Basis for Radioactive Waste Management VII, Mat. Res. Soc. Smp. Proc., Vol.26, 891–897, (1984).Google Scholar
[2] Silker, W.B., “Collection and Analysis of Radionuclides in Seawater” in Advances in Chemistry Series, American Chemical Society, No. 147, 1633–1675, (1982).Google Scholar
[3] Hyde, E. K., (1960), “The Radiochemistry of Thorium”, Nuclear Science Series, NAS-NS, 3004.Google Scholar
[4] Grindler, J. E., “The Radiochemistry of Uranium”, Nuclear Science Series, NAS-NS, 3050.Google Scholar
[5] Serne, R. J. and Relyea, J. F., “The Status of Radionuclide Sorption-Desorption Studies Performed by the WRIT Program”, Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Report PNL-3997, (1982).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[6] Krishnaswami, S., Graustein, W.C., Turekian, K.K. and Dowd, J.F., “Ra, Th and Radioactive Pb Isotopes in Groundwaters: Application to the In-situ Determination of Adsorption-Desorption Rate Constants and Retardation Factors”, Water Resources Research, 18, No. 6, 1663–1675, (1982).Google Scholar
[7] Zaikowski, A., Kosanke, B.J. and Hubbard, N. “Progress on Radiometric Dating of Wolfcamp Brines Using 4He and 40Ar”, Scientific Basis for Radioactive Waste Management VII, Mat. Res. Soc. Smp. Proc., Vol.26, 943–950, (1984).Google Scholar