Transfer of americium from sea water to atmosphere by bubble bursting
Belot, Y.; Caput, C.; Gauthier, D. (1982). Transfer of americium from sea water to atmosphere by bubble bursting. Atmos. Environ. (1994) 16(6): 1463-1466
In: Atmospheric Environment (1994). Pergamon: Oxford. ISSN 1352-2310; e-ISSN 1873-2844, more
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| Keywords |
Air-water exchanges
Bubbles
Chemical elements > Metals
Chemical elements > Metals > Transuranic elements > Actinides > Americium
Chemical elements > Metals > Transuranic elements > Actinides > Plutonium
Colloids > Aerosols
Dimensions > Size > Particle size
Environmental impact
Hydrometeors > Spray
Radioactivity
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top |
- Belot, Y.
- Caput, C.
- Gauthier, D.
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| Abstract |
Laboratory experiments were performed to determine whether seaspray particles, generated by bubble bursting, could be richer in americium than bulk water. The experiments were conducted adding 241Am and 22Na to natural seashore water, blowing bubbles through the water by means of an hydrophobic porous membrane and drawing the resultant aerosol through a cascade impactor for subsequent analysis. The data obtained show that the americium to sodium ratio in aerosol particles is enhanced by several orders of magnitude compared with that in bulk water. The enrichment is the highest for the largest particles and slightly decreases for decreasing particle size. For submicron particles, analytical uncertainty causes doubt as to whether or not any enrichment is present. The results are compared to those obtained in situ for plutonium, americium and other trace metals. |
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