Radionuclide sorption on low‐exchange capacity hanford site soils

Abstract

Trace Distribution Coefficients (Kd values) for Cs, ⁸⁵Sr, and ⁶⁰Co sorption were found to be a function of sediment type (soil type) and of the solution concentration of macroions including Na⁺, K⁺, and Ca⁺² over wide macroion concentration ranges. These Kd value functions are required as input sorption parameters to a mass transport model. Four methods were evaluated for measuring the Kd value macroion functional relationships. for each sediment type. Precision, bias, and cost effectiveness were compared for choosing a preferred method. The preferred method, an empirical‐statistical method (Box‐Behnken method), was found to be as precise and unbiased as the other methods and the most cost effective.

Key words:

• Box‐Behnken method
• ⁹⁰Sr
• ¹³⁷Cs
• ⁶⁰Co
• trace sorption
• Distribution Coefficient
• radionuclides