Effect of fulvic acid on the sorption and desorption of 90Sr2+ on red earth

Summary Sorption and desorption of radiostrontium on the red earth and its solid components in the presence and absence of fulvic acid were investigated by a batch technique under ambient conditions at pH 5.3±0.1 and T = 25±2 °C. The organic matter in the red earth is a significant trap of ⁹⁰Sr²⁺ and the presence of fulvic acid enhances the sorption of ⁹⁰Sr²⁺ on the red earth at pH 5.3. It was found that all the sorption and desorption isotherms are linear and the sorption of ⁹⁰Sr²⁺ on the red earth can be described by a reversible sorption process and the sorption mechanism is mainly ion-exchange. The effect of ionic strength on ⁹⁰Sr²⁺ sorption was also investigated.