Topic
Plutonium
About: Plutonium is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 7392 publications have been published within this topic receiving 63769 citations. The topic is also known as: Pu & 94Pu.
Papers published on a yearly basis
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Papers
TL;DR: In the last decade, there has been substantial interest in the use of the isometric pyrochlore structure-type, A2B2O7, for the immobilization of actinides.
Abstract: During the past half-century, the nuclear fuel cycle has generated approximately 1400 metric tons of plutonium and substantial quantities of the “minor” actinides, such as Np, Am, and Cm. The successful disposition of these actinides has an important impact on the strategy for developing advanced nuclear fuel cycles, weapons proliferation, and the geologic disposal of high-level radioactive waste. During the last decade, there has been substantial interest in the use of the isometric pyrochlore structure-type, A2B2O7, for the immobilization of actinides. Most of the interest has focused on titanate-pyrochlore because of its chemical durability; however, these compositions experience a radiation-induced transition from the crystalline-to-aperiodic state due to radiation damage from the alpha-decay of actinides. Depending on the actinide concentration, the titanate pyrochlore will become amorphous in less than 1000 years of storage. Recently, systematic ion beam irradiations of a variety of pyrochlore compo...
1,084 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, it was shown that the radionuclides observed in groundwater samples from aquifers at the Nevada Test Site, where hundreds of underground nuclear tests were conducted, are associated with the colloidal fraction of the ground water.
Abstract: Mobile colloids—suspended particles in the submicrometre size range—are known to occur naturally in ground water1, 2 and have the potential to enhance transport of non-soluble contaminants through sorption3. The possible implications of this transport mechanism are of particular concern in the context of radionuclide transport. Significant quantities of the element plutonium have been introduced into the environment as a result of nuclear weapons testing and production, and nuclear power-plant accidents. Moreover, many countries anticipate storing nuclear waste underground. It has been argued that plutonium introduced into the subsurface environment is relatively immobile owing to its low solubility in ground water4 and strong sorption onto rocks5. Nonetheless, colloid-facilitated transport of radionuclides has been implicated in field observations6, 7, but unequivocal evidence of subsurface transport is lacking3, 8, 9. Moreover, colloid filtration models predict transport over a limited distance resulting in a discrepancy between observed and modelled behaviour3. Here we report that the radionuclides observed in groundwater samples from aquifers at the Nevada Test Site, where hundreds of underground nuclear tests were conducted, are associated with the colloidal fraction of the ground water. The 240 Pu/239 Pu isotope ratio of the samples establishes that an underground nuclear test 1.3 km north of the sample site is the origin of the plutonium. We argue that colloidal groundwater migration must have played an important role in transporting the plutonium. Models that either predict limited transport or do not allow for colloid-facilitated transport may thus significantly underestimate the extent of radionuclide migration.
1,025 citations
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory1, University of Michigan2, Royal Institution3, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory4, Massachusetts Institute of Technology5, Kyushu University6, Institute for Transuranium Elements7, Pennsylvania State University8, Los Alamos National Laboratory9, University of Cambridge10, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation11, Oak Ridge National Laboratory12
TL;DR: A comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art of radiation effects in crystalline ceramics that may be used for the immobilization of high-level nuclear waste and plutonium is provided in this article.
Abstract: This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of the state-of-knowledge of radiation effects in crystalline ceramics that may be used for the immobilization of high-level nuclear waste and plutonium. The current understanding of radiation damage processes, defect generation, microstructure development, theoretical methods, and experimental methods are reviewed. Fundamental scientific and technological issues that offer opportunities for research are identified. The most important issue is the need for an understanding of the radiation-induced structural changes at the atomic, microscopic, and macroscopic levels, and the effect of these changes on the release rates of radionuclides during corrosion.
899 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a comprehensive review of radiation effects due to γ-, β- and α-decay events, as well as from actinide doping experiments and particle irradiations, on nuclear waste form glasses and crystalline ceramics was provided.
649 citations
TL;DR: Transuranium Nuclides in the Environment Symposium as discussed by the authors was a Symposium organized by the US ERDA and the IAEA, San Francisco, 1975. Pp. 724.
Abstract: Transuranium Nuclides in the Environment. (Proceedings of a Symposium organised by the US ERDA and the IAEA, San Francisco, 1975.) Pp. 724. (IAEA: Vienna; HMSO: London, 1976.) £22.88.
570 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 |
| 2025 | 96 |
| 2024 | 142 |
| 2023 | 243 |
| 2022 | 371 |
| 2021 | 84 |