TY - JOUR
T1 - Particulate distribution of plutonium and americium in surface waters from the Spanish Mediterranean coast
AU - Molero, J.
AU - Sanchez-Cabeza, J. A.
AU - Merino, J.
AU - Batlle, J. Vives
AU - Mitchell, P. I.
AU - Vidal-Quadras, A.
PY - 1995/1/1
Y1 - 1995/1/1
N2 - Measurements of the paniculate distribution of plutonium and americium in Spanish Mediterranean coastal waters have been carried out. Plutonium-239, 340 and 241Am concentrations have been measured in suspended particulate matter by filtering (< 0.22 μm) large volume (200-300 litres) sea water samples. Results indicate that paniculate plutonium constitutes on average 11 ± 4% of the total concentration in sea water. In the case of americium, this percentage rises to 45 ± 14%. From the 241Am 239, 240Pu activity ratios it is clear that suspended particulate matter is enriched in 241Am relative to 239,240Pu by a factor 8 ± 4. Plutonium and americium in surface Mediterranean coastal waters appear to be fractionated as they present a different transfer rate to the particles. Our measurements allowed us to estimate sediment-water distribution coefficients (Kd), which are a key parameter to interpret differences observed between the behaviour of plutonium and americium in sea water. Distribution coefficients Kd have been estimated to be (1.4 ± 0.5) × 105 litres kg-1 for plutonium and (0.9 ± 0.5) × 106 litres kg-1 for americium in surface Mediterranean coastal waters. © 1995.
AB - Measurements of the paniculate distribution of plutonium and americium in Spanish Mediterranean coastal waters have been carried out. Plutonium-239, 340 and 241Am concentrations have been measured in suspended particulate matter by filtering (< 0.22 μm) large volume (200-300 litres) sea water samples. Results indicate that paniculate plutonium constitutes on average 11 ± 4% of the total concentration in sea water. In the case of americium, this percentage rises to 45 ± 14%. From the 241Am 239, 240Pu activity ratios it is clear that suspended particulate matter is enriched in 241Am relative to 239,240Pu by a factor 8 ± 4. Plutonium and americium in surface Mediterranean coastal waters appear to be fractionated as they present a different transfer rate to the particles. Our measurements allowed us to estimate sediment-water distribution coefficients (Kd), which are a key parameter to interpret differences observed between the behaviour of plutonium and americium in sea water. Distribution coefficients Kd have been estimated to be (1.4 ± 0.5) × 105 litres kg-1 for plutonium and (0.9 ± 0.5) × 106 litres kg-1 for americium in surface Mediterranean coastal waters. © 1995.
U2 - 10.1016/0265-931X(95)97299-R
DO - 10.1016/0265-931X(95)97299-R
M3 - Article
SN - 0265-931X
VL - 28
SP - 271
EP - 283
JO - Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
JF - Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
IS - 3
ER -