TRANS URANIC ELEMENTS AT BIKINI ATOLL 565 



bismuth, cobalt, europium, iron, and plutonium, have been evaluated in the tank 

 experiments by using two different sorption beds, AI2O3 and Chelex-100. These elements 

 are of interest in that they are either products of nuclear weapons testing or nuclear 

 reactor operations. 



The results show that the BLVWS can be used to measure the concentration of the 

 above elements in marine waters over a wide range of salinities. The precision of the 

 BLVWS method has been evaluated by comparing duphcate samples taken with the 

 BLVWS. For example, the mean percent variation between duplicate samples (collected 

 simultaneously from the same tank) in experiments using AI2O3 was ±10% for 

 plutonium. 



The results of the tank experiments indicate that, with the use of either AI2O3 or 

 Chelex-100 sorption beds, the BLVWS is a suitable sampling method for some elements. 

 In addition, the behavior of individual elements on the sorption beds provides qualitative 

 information on the physicochemical speciation of the elements. Table 4 gives a summary 

 of the physicochemical states observed at high salinity (>31 %©) with the BLVWS in 

 both the tank and field studies at Bikini lagoon. The results are compared with the 

 chemical species predicted by equilibrium calculations or determined by the other 

 measurement methods. Americium was found to be 80 to 100% particulate (i.e., 

 >0.3 jum) and consequently was collected efficiently on the Millipore filters and/or first 

 AI2O3 bed at all salinities. Plutonium was collected by the BLVWS technique, using 



TABLE 4 Physicochemical States of the Trace Metals in Marine Waters Estimated 



by the BLVWS Method Compared with the Physicochemical States 



Measured and Predicted with Other Methods 



*Colloidal species based on the complete retention of the fraction passing through a 0.3-Mm 

 Millipore filter on the first Alj O3 bed. 

 tStumm(1967). 

 $Nozaki and Tsunogai (1973). 

 §Stumm and Morgan (1970). 

 H Sibley and Morgan (1976). 

 **Lowman and Ting (1973). 

 tfRobertsonetal. (1973). 

 $tAndelman and Ruzzell (1970). 



