Studies on speciation of transuranics in the environment

The study of physico-chemical and biotic processes in the environment is essential to understanding the behavior of transuranic nuclides and to assess their environmental impact. Dialysis, ion exchange, and co-precipitation techniques were used to study speciation. The dissolved fraction of 239,240Pu in coastal waters of Bombay harbor bay and in interstitial water from bottom sediments of the bay were found to be associated with organic matter. The desorption of Pu from sediments in coastal waters is influenced by salinity and carbonate. Studies indicate that, even from anoxic sediments, remobilization and the potential for migration is not significant. (author) 5 refs.; 8 tabs