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Determination of plutonium oxidation states at trace levels pertinent to nuclear waste disposal

  • Radiochemical Separation and Tracer Techniques
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Abstract

A scheme was developed for the determination of oxidation states of plutonium in environmental samples. The method involves a combination of solvent extractions and coprecipitation. It was tested on solutions with both high-level and trace-level concentrations. The scheme was used to determine Pu oxidation states in solutions from solubility experiments in groundwater from a potential nuclear waste disposal site. At steady-state conditions, Pu was found to be soluble predominantly as Pu(V) and Pu(VI).

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Nitsche, H., Lee, S.C. & Gatti, R.C. Determination of plutonium oxidation states at trace levels pertinent to nuclear waste disposal. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 124, 171–185 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02035515

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02035515

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