Speciation of Uranium in Bottom Sediments of Reservoir V-17, Mayak Production Association

This paper examines the speciation of U-234,U- 238 in the bottom sediments of Reservoir V-17, of the Mayak Production Association. The sequential leaching procedure shows that uranium isotopes are present in all the extracted fractions. The maximum uranium content is registered in the carbonate-bound fraction (29-33%). In the conditions of Reservoir V-17, uranium can be washed out of the bottom sediments by the surface waters. It can be assumed that the main radionuclide migration mechanism involves the ion transport of carbonate complexes.