Sorption studies at Hanford for the control of radioactive wastes

Since 1944, the Hanford Site has been a location for the storage and disposal of radioactive wastes, nuclear reactor operations, and the chemical separations of nuclear materials. These activities resulted in the storage and disposal of fission products and low-level transuranic (TRU) radioactive wastes in the near future sediments above the water table. With the scale-down of Hanford reactor operations and fuel separation activities after 1967, increased emphasis was placed on waste management activities. Assessment of future impact of past Hanford operations required the development and verification of transport sorption models to make such assessments. Present Hanford sorption models and current studies for the sorption of strontium, cesium, and cobalt on the sediments of the Hanford Separation Areas based on a waste property/areal site-specific measurement concept are discussed.