Biogeochemistry of Pond B (Savannah River Site, South Carolina, USA): Sediment Core, Total extraction data, Pond B Savannah River Site July 2019. Subsurface Biogeochemistry of Actinides SFA

Pond B at Savannah River Site (SRS, South Carolina) is a monomictic reservoir that received SRS R reactor cooling water from 1961–1964. Previous studies conducted between the 1980s–1990s on the water column and sediments of Pond B measured trace amounts of Pu (33 MBq 238Pu and 430 MBq 239,240Pu), 241Am, and 137Cs. Since then, the pond has been relatively isolated and the radionuclide concentrations have not been monitored over time. Herein, about 30 years after the last publication on Pond B, we are re-evaluating the geochemistry and radionuclide distribution within Pond B at four locations along a horizontal transect from the inlet to outlet. This study investigated the distribution of anthropogenic radionuclides Pu-239 and Cs-137 along with total organic carbon, iron, and trace element in contaminated sediments of Pond B at the Savannah River Site (SRS). Pond B received reactor cooling water from 1961 to 1964, and trace amounts of Pu-239 and Cs-137 during operations. Our study collected sediment cores to determine concentrations of Pu-239, Cs-137, and major and minor elements in solid phase, pore water and an electrochemical method was used on wet cores to determine dissolved elemental concentrations.

萨凡纳河场址（Savannah River Site, SRS，南卡罗来纳州）的B池塘为单循环水库，1961年至1964年间曾接收SRS R反应堆的冷却水。20世纪80年代至90年代的既往研究针对该池塘的水柱与沉积物开展检测，测得痕量钚（Pu，33 MBq 238Pu与430 MBq 239,240Pu）、241Am以及137Cs。此后该池塘处于相对隔离状态，且未对放射性核素浓度进行长期动态监测。距上一次有关B池塘的研究成果发表约30年后，本次研究沿从入口到出口的水平断面设置4个采样点位，重新评估B池塘内的地球化学特征与放射性核素分布情况。本研究针对萨凡纳河场址B池塘受污染沉积物中的人为放射性核素钚-239（Pu-239）与铯-137（Cs-137），以及总有机碳、铁与微量元素的分布特征展开调查。该池塘在运行期间（1961年至1964年）接收反应堆冷却水的同时，也引入了痕量Pu-239与Cs-137。本次研究采集沉积物岩芯，以测定固相、孔隙水中的Pu-239、Cs-137以及主次量元素浓度；同时采用电化学方法对湿岩芯进行检测，以获取溶解态元素的浓度数据。