Radium behaviour during ferric oxi-hydroxides ageing

Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), BP. 17, 92262 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France

Abstract

In uranium mill tailings, oxides and oxi-hydroxides are responsible of about 70% of the radium immobilization, half being associated to amorphous forms (mainly iron and manganese oxides/oxi-hydroxides). With time, crystallization of these amorphous forms can occur, inducing a redistribution of radium between solids and solution. If the amount of mobile radium increases, the impact of these tailings on the environment may become significant. The aim of this study is to determine the amount of ²²⁶Ra released in solution during the crystallization process of hydrous ferric oxi-hydroxide (HFO) containing ²²⁶Ra. A reproducible co-precipitation procedure is developed. The transformation of Ra-HFO co-precipitate in crystallized forms (goethite, hematite, ...) is studied by ageing amorphous solids at 40C in different solutions. After co-precipitation, about 20% of the initial ²²⁶Ra present in solution is associated to amorphous HFO. At 40C, whatever the solution composition (MES or NaClO₄), the solid evolution is very slow and, after 3-5 months, no significant amount of crystalline form is noticeable. Simultaneously, the amount of ²²⁶Ra present in solution is constant in MES and NaClO₄ medium. In comparison, ²²⁶Ra sorption shows off inclusion of ²²⁶Ra in Ra-HFO precipitate.