Association of dissolved radionuclides released by the Chernobyl accident with colloidal materials in surface water

Matsunaga, Takeshi; Nagao, Seiya*; Ueno, Takashi; Takeda, Seiji; Amano, Hikaru; Tkachenko, Y.*

Applied Geochemistry, 19(10), p.1581 - 1599, 2004/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2004.02.002

The association of dissolved Sr, Pu and Am with natural colloids was investigated in surface waters in the Chernobyl nuclear accident area by means of ultrafiltration. Results suggest that Pu and Am isotopes were preferentially associated with dissolved humic substances (HS) of high molecular size. A model calculation of the complexation of Pu and Am with HS also supported the above. This study has expanded our understanding of the general role of natural organic colloids in dictating the chemical form of actinides in the surface aquatic environment.