Visualization of Colloid Transport in Hanford Sediments
EMSL Project ID
2005
Abstract
Abstract: There is strong indication that transport of radionuclides can be facilitated via colloids. Such colloid-facilitated transport is likely to occur below the waste tanks at the Hanford site, where there is a great potential for \textit{in situ} formation of colloids as leaking tank waste enters the vadose zone. We propose here to visualize colloidal movement through sediments of the Hanford formation. To make colloids NMR visible, the particles will be tagged with Cu. Different Cu loading levels will be tested for optimal visualization results. A flow-through column system will be filled with Hanford sediments and NMR test will be conducted to verify that the system is magnetically clean. If these initial tests are successful and time is still available, colloid transport will be visualized with NMR at different ionic strength of the background solution. Instrument Needs: 500 MHz NMR system Methods: To achieve colloid visualization via NMR, we will tag colloidal particles with Cu. Initial tests will be necessary to assess the optimal Cu loading on the colloidal particles. We will evaluate the different Cu loadings on the colloids in our laboratory at Washington State University (WSU). The attachement of Cu is pH dependent and we will test the optimal pH range in batch studies. When colloids have been successfully tagged with different amounts of Cu, initial NMR experiments will be carried out to check the optimal Cu loading for visualization. Next, the column system and the sediments have to be checked for their suitability in the NMR experiments.
Project Details
Project type
Capability Research
Start Date
2001-02-28
End Date
2001-12-01
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members