EFFECT OF FULVIC AND HUMIC ACIDS AND INORGANIC PHASE OF SOIL ON THE SORPTION AND EXTRACTABILITY OF PU-239(IV)

The effect of organic (fulvic and humic acids) and inorganic fractions of soil on the sorption and exractability of239Pu(IV) as a function of pH was determined by using an equilibrium batch technique. The results indicated that Pu(IV) is strongly sorbed on the inorganic fraction of the soil under soil pH condtionsnormally encountered in natural environments. Plutonium appeared to form stable complexes or chelates with fulvic and humic acids in the pH range studied (1.3 to 11.7). In mixtures of pure fulvic or humic acids with soil inorganic fractions, the extractability of Pu was substantially influenced by organic-inorganic interaction. The influence of the inorganic fractions was more evident in the lower pH ranges, whereas that of the inorganic materials was most evident in the higher pH ranges, generally above pH 6. Some implications of the results on plutonium movements in solids were discussed. © 1979 The Williams & Wilkins Co.