New research may help address radionuclide contamination at DOE sites
Five years from now, Lab scientists will be able to better determine how, when and why plutonium moves in soil and groundwater.
The way to predict how plutonium is transported in groundwater away from a site is by looking at the dominant geochemical processes that control plutonium's (Pu) behavior in the subsurface at environmental levels. But that isn't always so easy.
A $6 million five-year proposal funded by the Department of Energy's Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research (BER), will allow about a dozen LLNL scientists to study Pu transport at concentration levels at the picomolar to attomolar scale (equivalent to dissolving one grain of salt in 100 Olympic-size swimming pools).
Plutonium can move on small particulates, called colloids, which are often found in groundwater, but the conditions that control whether Pu migrates or remains immobile are not well understood.
That's where the Lab's team comes in. Annie Kersting, director of the Lab's Glenn T. Seaborg Institute and manager of the study, said previous experiments of plutonium movement in the subsurface were performed at Pu concentrations orders of magnitude higher than those observed in the field. Now they will do experiments at much lower, environmental conditions.
Ultimately the research will help in the development of conceptual models for Pu transport across the Department of Energy complex. The model will provide DOE with the scientific basis to support decisions for the remediation and long-term stewardship of legacy sites, Kersting said.
"We can provide DOE an understanding of when and how Pu is transported in groundwater," she said. "What process did it go through to get there, could it affect people downstream of DOE sites, and how can we predict and monitor Pu contamination?"
Taking advantage of the unique facilities housed at Livermore's institutes, the team will be able to measure minute amounts of Pu, similar to the concentrations found in soil and groundwater, with the Lab's secondary ion mass spectrometer (NanoSIMS), the Transmission Electron Microscope (Titan SuperSTEM) and CAMS (an accelerator mass spectrometer). "With these tools, we'll be able to identify where the Pu is sited on a colloid, study the behavior of Pu at extremely low concentrations and identify the geochemical processes controlling its mobility," Kersting said.
Mavrik Zavarin, the lead scientist, said it's likely the team will discover that Pu behavior is very much dependent on concentration. "At very low concentrations, Pu will interact with groundwater, minerals and microbes in ways we could not have predicted based on past experiments," he said. "Our team at LLNL has a unique opportunity to study Pu chemistry under environmentally relevant conditions."
Laboratory results will be compared to field samples taken from three DOE sites: Nevada Test Site, Rocky Flats and the Hanford Site. Pu-containing colloids will be collected and characterized in terms of their inorganic surfaces, associated organic compounds/coatings and possible microbial associations.
Other news from the department science
![[Fe]-hydrogenase catalysis visualized using para-hydrogen-enhanced nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy](https://img.chemie.de/Portal/News/675fd46b9b54f_sBuG8s4sS.png?tr=w-712,h-534,cm-extract,x-0,y-16:n-xl)
These products might interest you
isoprime precisION by Elementar Analysensysteme
isoprime precisION stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer
The most flexible, yet powerful isotope ratio mass spectrometer ever created
HPR-20 OEMS, Online Electrochemical Mass Spectrometer by Hiden Analytical
Online monitoring and quantification of evolved gases and vapours from electrochemical processes
A complete gas analysis solution, designed to integrate seamlessly with electrochemical applications
IonTamer ToF MS by Spacetek Technology
IonTamer instruments are time-of-flight residual gas analysers (TOF-RGA) for the analysis of gases
Compact Time-of-flight residual gas analyzer (TOF-RGA) for process analysis
PlasmaQuant MS Elite by Analytik Jena
LC-ICP-MS Is the Key to the World of Elemental Species
Highest Sensitivity and Lowest Detection Limits with PlasmaQuant MS Series and PQ LC
BIOS ANALYTIQUE - Soluciones de Renting y Leasing para laboratorios by Bios Analytique
Specialists in the rental and leasing of scientific equipment for laboratories throughout Europe
Whether you have an unexpected requirement or limited budget, we have the perfect solution for you
NexION® 5000 by PerkinElmer
NexION 5000 Multi-Quadrupole ICP Mass Spectrometer
NexION 5000 Multi-Quadrupole ICP Mass Spectrometer
HPR-20 R&D by Hiden Analytical
A specialist benchtop triple filter mass spectrometer for the monitoring of evolved gases & vapours
Providing improved resolution & abundance sensitivity with an ultimate detection limit of 5 ppb sub
CATLAB Catalysis and Thermal Analysis by Hiden Analytical
A system for catalyst characterisation, kinetic and thermodynamic measurements
Integrated Microreactor-Mass Spectrometer for Reaction Testing, TPD/R/O and Pulse Chemisorption.
Xevo TQ Absolute by Waters
A new Tandem Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer for Quantification with Absolute power
Absolute performance, efficiency, productivity, and confidence for your most challenging compounds
iCAP RQ single Quadrupole ICP-MS by Thermo Fisher Scientific
Robust ICP-MS with ease of use and high productivity for routine analysis
A complete multi-element analysis solution for your high-throughput routine laboratory
iCAP TQ Triple Quadrupole ICP-MS by Thermo Fisher Scientific
Overcome unexpected interferences, reduce detection limits and improve data quality
Ultralow limits of detection with simplicity - even for the most challenging analytical applications
expression® Compact Mass Spectrometer by Advion Interchim Scientific
Mass Spectrometry for Chemists: Fast, Easy, Prep-Free Reaction Monitoring at the Bench
Featuring a variety of sample introduction techniques that also allow TLC/MS & direct probe analysis
JEOL JMS-T2000GC AccuTOF GC-Alpha Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer by JEOL
A new era of mass spectrometry for your fast forward daily lab routine:
Welcome JEOL AccuTOF GC-Alpha
Stop wrong hypotheses and uneconomic loops! Precise data without compromise is now.
Orbitrap Exploris GC Mass Spectrometer by Thermo Fisher Scientific
Orbitrap Exploris GC-MS simplifies operations and offers new opportunities for analytical testing
Keep pace with changing demands, maximize system uptime, and expand laboratory capability.
Thermo Scientific TSQ Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry Systems by Thermo Fisher Scientific
Confident quantitation with triple quadrupole LC-MS systems
Mass Spectrometry Systems
TSQ 9610 GC-MS/MS by Thermo Fisher Scientific
TSQ 9610 GC-MS/MS for superb sensitivity and selectivity with outstanding reliable productivity
Eliminate unnecessary, unplanned instrument downtime, save helium and maximize productivity
Get the chemical industry in your inbox
From now on, don't miss a thing: Our newsletter for the chemical industry, analytics, lab technology and process engineering brings you up to date every Tuesday and Thursday. The latest industry news, product highlights and innovations - compact and easy to understand in your inbox. Researched by us so you don't have to.
Most read news
More news from our other portals
See the theme worlds for related content
Topic World Spectroscopy
Investigation with spectroscopy gives us unique insights into the composition and structure of materials. From UV-Vis spectroscopy to infrared and Raman spectroscopy to fluorescence and atomic absorption spectroscopy, spectroscopy offers us a wide range of analytical techniques to precisely characterize substances. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of spectroscopy!
Topic World Spectroscopy
Investigation with spectroscopy gives us unique insights into the composition and structure of materials. From UV-Vis spectroscopy to infrared and Raman spectroscopy to fluorescence and atomic absorption spectroscopy, spectroscopy offers us a wide range of analytical techniques to precisely characterize substances. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of spectroscopy!
