Groundwater Transport and Fate Processes for Radionuclides

摘要

This thesis focuses on groundwater transport and fate processes for selectedradionuclides. It collates elementary concepts in hydrology, groundwater chemistry, radiological assessment and uncertainty analysis. Basic concepts of advective transport, dispersion and various sorption models are discussed. The advection-dispersion equation, formulated to include radioactive decay and linear equilibrium sorption, is presented with an explanation of terms and essential concepts. An analytical solution to the advection-dispersion equation is presented, which includes sorption and decay and is used in modeling trials to develop a qualitative understanding of the physical processes represented by the model. A numerical contaminant transport code (SUTRA) is then used to compare the linear and Langmuir sorption models when both are fitted to the same sorption isotherm data. Results from study of the literature covering a comparison between the Freundlich equilibrium isotherm and the linear equilibrium isotherm are