Plutonium and clay reaction observed

Posted by Ben Evens

Scientists have made an interesting discovery about the interaction between clay and plutonium, which could have implications for the way the nuclear waste is stored.

A team of scientists at Argonne National Lab (ANL) explained that the steel barrels containing nuclear waste will eventually corrode, and as plutonium has a half-life of 24 thousand years and has high levels of radioactivity and toxicity, investigations must be done to ensure nuclear waste repositories will stay safe.

"We want to be sure that nuclides (like plutonium) stay where we put them," explained Moritz Schmidt, an ANL post-doctoral researcher.

The team examined the interactions between plutonium ions dissolved in water and a mineral called muscovite, which is structurally similar to clay, and found that the plutonium becomes trapped on the surface of clay, something which could further prevent the spread of the toxic waste in the natural environment.

"In this respect, it's a rather positive effect", Dr Schmidt said, adding that "it's hard to make a very general statement" about whether it could actually prevent plutonium leaks.