Assessment of distribution coefficients (Кd) of radionuclides of the uranium-thorium chain in the uranium manufacturing tailing dumps

Abstract

One of the problems related to maintaining the ecologically safe state of tailing dumps of uranium manufacturing is the radionuclides migration from the dumps with groundwaters. A convenient way for evaluation of this process is application of the semiquantitative models of sorption interaction, which are based on utilization of distribution coefficient (Кd) describing the radionuclides concentrations in solid phase and soil solution after reaching the equilibrium state in the system. Aim of this study was the experimental assessment of the radionuclides Кd in five tailing dumps of Prydniprovsky Chemical Plant (PCP).