Analytical Chemistry Seminar – Natalie Yaw, Chemistry Graduate Student

About the event

Speaker: Natalie Yaw, chemistry graduate student

              Moreau Group

Talk title: Pu interactions with Fe colloids: implications for environmental transport

Abstract: The release of actinides into the environment, both accidentally and negligently, is a continuing legacy of US weapons/energy programs which threatens the health of humans and the ecosystem. Pu is a particular element of concern in these scenarios due to its abundance in nuclear wastes and its exceedingly long half-life. As such, understanding the transformation and transportation of Pu in aqueous systems is of paramount importance in order to model and mitigate its spread. A growing body of literature shows that colloid-assisted transport is responsible for a large portion of Pu movement in the environment, meaning the transport is not solubility-limited. In particular, Fe-bearing colloids have repeatedly been isolated in the field carrying Pu far from its source. Recent literature will be surveyed herein that has made strides towards understanding these Pu/Fe colloids, studying the mechanism of formation, binding modality, and potential for remobilization, with the ultimate goal of designing safer waste repositories, developing better modeling for Pu migration, and designing remediation strategies.