The occurrence of plutonium oxide either from direct deposition or from the precipitation of plutonium-beairng solutions in contaminated soils and sediments has been well described, particularly for the Hanford site in Washington State. However, the large size of these particles suggests that they play little role in the long term migration of plutonium. We present evidence for the formation of plutonium-phosphate nanoparticles in 216-Z9 crib sediments from Hanford using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Fine electron probes were used to obtain electron diffraction patterns and electron energy loss spectra from specific phase regions of the 216-Z9 crib specimens from fine grained plutonium silico-phosphate phases (see ). These unique nano-sized plutonium phosphates in the sediments may control the long term migration of Pu in the soil.

Nature of nanosized plutonium particles in the Hanford 216-Z9 Crib sediments

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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