Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 September 2012
Environmental investigations show transuranic ions sorb to humic substances.The resulting species are often mobile and are expected to be importantvectors in the migration of transuranic ions in natural systems. However,theses environmental studies yield no quantitative data useful for modeling.Laboratory complexation experiments with transuranic ions and humicsubstances generate mermodynamic data required for complexation modeling.The data presented in this work are based on the metal ion chargeneutralization model, which is briefly described. When a consistentcomplexation model is used, similar results are obtained from differentexperimental conditions, techniques, and laboratories. Trivalent transuranicions (CM(III), AM(III)) have been extensively studied with respect to pH,ionic strength, origin of humic acid, and mixed species formation. Thecomplexation of Np(V) has been examined over a large pH and metal ionconcentration range with different humic acids. Some data does exist on thecomplexation of plutonium with humic acid, however further work is needed.Calculations on the Gorleben aquifer system using the thermodynamic data arepresented. Critical information lacking from the mermodynamic database isidentified.