Photochemical dissolution of radionuclides from marine sediment

Laboratory experiments were carried out to assess the role of photochemical reactions upon the dissolution of 239 + 240pu and 241Am from marine sediment in sea water. Supplementary information was obtained by comparing their behaviour with that of 54Mn under similar experimental conditions. Irradiation from natural sunlight resulted in more than a ten-fold increase in the extent of 239 + 240Pu desorption relative to that observed in the dark. Remobilisation of 54Mn from sediment was also enhanced by natural sunlight, albeit to a lesser extent than 239 + 240Pu, whilst the behaviour of 241Am was largely unaffected. Data for concentrations of dissolved 239 + 240Pu(IV) and 239 + 240Pu(V) species showed that only the oxidised form was significantly affected by irradiation, indicating remobilisation occurs as a result of photooxidation reactions. Further experiments were carried out using artificial light sources to establish the influence of wavelength. Data from these investigations indicated 239 + 240Pu photooxidation (hence desorption) was a function of both light intensity and wavelength. Remobilisation decreased concomitant with light intensity but increased as the wavelength decreased. Similar trends were observed for photoreduction of 54Mn, although differences were less pronounced than those observed for 239 + 240Pu.