Effect of EDTA on plutonium migration

Widely present in the mixed wastes at the Hanford site, ethylenediametetraa cetic acid (EDTA) can solubilize radionuclides such as plutonium and may in crease their mobility in the environment. We have evaluated the sorption of Put (IV) onto Hanford soil in the presence and in the absence of EDTA thro ugh laboratory-based experiments at ambient temperature and atmosphere. The sorption ratio (R%) was determined as a function of FDTA concentration and solid-liquid ratio. The sorption decreased significantly when EDTA concent ration increased. The diffusion of Pu(IV)-EDTA was relatively fast, with an effective diffusion coefficient, D-p = 3.54.10(-6) cm(2)/s at pH 5.25.