The uptake of radioisotopes onto clays and other natural materials

The ability of natural and simulated soils to take up radioisotopes of cesium, strontium and ruthenium was examined. Uptakes were assessed by distribution coefficients measured in the presence of different concentrations of Na, Ca, Mg and HN₄ cations, and from synthetic groundwaters. Peat was included in similar studies for comparison purposes. Conclusions were drawn as to the effect of soil and ground water compositions on isotope uptake taking into account the results described in Part 1 of this series¹ which estimated the distribution coefficients for¹³⁷Cs,⁸⁹Sr and¹⁰⁶Ru (as chloride or nitrosyl) shown by illite and montmorillonite clays. These, or similar, clays were soil components in this study.