Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Several DOE sites have been contaminated by transuranic radionuclide (TRU) discharges including neptunium and plutonium. Their interaction with the surrounding geological media can affect the transport and remediation of these radionuclides in the environment. Manganese based minerals, present as minor phases in the vadose zone, can preferentially sequester TRU over other minerals present in larger quantities. The objective of this project is to understand the interactions between plutonium and neptunium and manganese oxyhydroxide minerals to predict potential hazards they represent to the environment, as well as to provide important scientific information for the design of effective remediation strategies for contaminated DOE sites.