Affinity of radioactive cesium and strontium for illite and smectite clay in the presence of groundwater ions

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996 · Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Environmental Science and Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/10934529609376485· OSTI ID:420737

Jeong, C H; Kim, C S ^[1]; Kim, S J ^[2]; Park, S W ^[3]

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1. Korea Atomic Energy Research Inst., Taejeon (Korea, Republic of)
2. Seoul National Univ. (Korea, Republic of)
3. Keimyung Univ., Taegu (Korea, Republic of)

Sorption behavior of hazardous nuclides such as {sup 137}Cs and {sup 90}Sr onto illite and smectite clay was studied in the presence of major groundwater ions (Ca{sup 2+}, Mg{sup 2+}, K{sup +}, Na{sup +} and HCO{sub 3}{sup -}). Illite and smectite clay can selectively sorb small hydrated Cs{sup +} ion in the presence of groundwater cations except K{sup +} ion. In contrast, sorption of larger and stable hydrated Sr{sup 2+} ion onto illite and smectite clay is highly competed by background groundwater cations. The results of this study indicate that the transport of {sup 137}Cs in geologic barrier of a radioactive waste repository would be greatly retained by illite and smectite clay, and that the fate of {sup 90}Sr would be significantly controlled by ionic strength of groundwater cations and bicarbonate ion as a complex agent. 29 refs., 6 figs., 4 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 420737
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Environmental Science and Engineering, Vol. 31, Issue 9; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1996
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
40 CHEMISTRY
RADIOISOTOPES
SORPTION
CESIUM
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
ILLITE
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SMECTITE
STRONTIUM
AFFINITY
GROUND WATER
IONS
CALCIUM
MAGNESIUM
POTASSIUM
SODIUM
HYDRATION
PH VALUE
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
NUMERICAL DATA