The nature of Pu-bearing particles from the Maralinga nuclear testing site, Australia

Abstract The high-energy release of plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U) during the Maralinga nuclear trials (1955–1963) in Australia, designed to simulate high temperature, non-critical nuclear accidents, resulted in wide dispersion µm-sized, radioactive, Pu–U-bearing ‘hot’ particles that persist in soil...

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Autores principales:	Megan Cook, Barbara Etschmann, Rahul Ram, Konstantin Ignatyev, Gediminas Gervinskas, Steven D. Conradson, Susan Cumberland, Vanessa N. L. Wong, Joёl Brugger
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/dfe3c1f85f764b8f8b9ad13fc0c36cfc
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:dfe3c1f85f764b8f8b9ad13fc0c36cfc2021-12-02T15:45:20ZThe nature of Pu-bearing particles from the Maralinga nuclear testing site, Australia10.1038/s41598-021-89757-52045-2322https://doaj.org/article/dfe3c1f85f764b8f8b9ad13fc0c36cfc2021-05-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89757-5https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract The high-energy release of plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U) during the Maralinga nuclear trials (1955–1963) in Australia, designed to simulate high temperature, non-critical nuclear accidents, resulted in wide dispersion µm-sized, radioactive, Pu–U-bearing ‘hot’ particles that persist in soils. By combining non-destructive, multi-technique synchrotron-based micro-characterization with the first nano-scale imagining of the composition and textures of six Maralinga particles, we find that all particles display intricate physical and chemical make-ups consistent with formation via condensation and cooling of polymetallic melts (immiscible Fe–Al–Pu–U; and Pb ± Pu–U) within the detonation plumes. Plutonium and U are present predominantly in micro- to nano-particulate forms, and most hot particles contain low valence Pu–U–C compounds; these chemically reactive phases are protected by their inclusion in metallic alloys. Plutonium reworking was observed within an oxidised rim in a Pb-rich particle; however overall Pu remained immobile in the studied particles, while small-scale oxidation and mobility of U is widespread. It is notoriously difficult to predict the long-term environmental behaviour of hot particles. Nano-scale characterization of the hot particles suggests that long-term, slow release of Pu from the hot particles may take place via a range of chemical and physical processes, likely contributing to on-going Pu uptake by wildlife at Maralinga.Megan CookBarbara EtschmannRahul RamKonstantin IgnatyevGediminas GervinskasSteven D. ConradsonSusan CumberlandVanessa N. L. WongJoёl BruggerNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-12 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Megan Cook Barbara Etschmann Rahul Ram Konstantin Ignatyev Gediminas Gervinskas Steven D. Conradson Susan Cumberland Vanessa N. L. Wong Joёl Brugger The nature of Pu-bearing particles from the Maralinga nuclear testing site, Australia
description	Abstract The high-energy release of plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U) during the Maralinga nuclear trials (1955–1963) in Australia, designed to simulate high temperature, non-critical nuclear accidents, resulted in wide dispersion µm-sized, radioactive, Pu–U-bearing ‘hot’ particles that persist in soils. By combining non-destructive, multi-technique synchrotron-based micro-characterization with the first nano-scale imagining of the composition and textures of six Maralinga particles, we find that all particles display intricate physical and chemical make-ups consistent with formation via condensation and cooling of polymetallic melts (immiscible Fe–Al–Pu–U; and Pb ± Pu–U) within the detonation plumes. Plutonium and U are present predominantly in micro- to nano-particulate forms, and most hot particles contain low valence Pu–U–C compounds; these chemically reactive phases are protected by their inclusion in metallic alloys. Plutonium reworking was observed within an oxidised rim in a Pb-rich particle; however overall Pu remained immobile in the studied particles, while small-scale oxidation and mobility of U is widespread. It is notoriously difficult to predict the long-term environmental behaviour of hot particles. Nano-scale characterization of the hot particles suggests that long-term, slow release of Pu from the hot particles may take place via a range of chemical and physical processes, likely contributing to on-going Pu uptake by wildlife at Maralinga.
format	article
author	Megan Cook Barbara Etschmann Rahul Ram Konstantin Ignatyev Gediminas Gervinskas Steven D. Conradson Susan Cumberland Vanessa N. L. Wong Joёl Brugger
author_facet	Megan Cook Barbara Etschmann Rahul Ram Konstantin Ignatyev Gediminas Gervinskas Steven D. Conradson Susan Cumberland Vanessa N. L. Wong Joёl Brugger
author_sort	Megan Cook
title	The nature of Pu-bearing particles from the Maralinga nuclear testing site, Australia
title_short	The nature of Pu-bearing particles from the Maralinga nuclear testing site, Australia
title_full	The nature of Pu-bearing particles from the Maralinga nuclear testing site, Australia
title_fullStr	The nature of Pu-bearing particles from the Maralinga nuclear testing site, Australia
title_full_unstemmed	The nature of Pu-bearing particles from the Maralinga nuclear testing site, Australia
title_sort	nature of pu-bearing particles from the maralinga nuclear testing site, australia
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/dfe3c1f85f764b8f8b9ad13fc0c36cfc
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The nature of Pu-bearing particles from the Maralinga nuclear testing site, Australia

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