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Sorption and desorption studies of Cs and Sr in contaminated soil samples around Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

  • Soils, Sec 4 • Ecotoxicology • Research Article
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

Huge amounts of radiocesium, radiostrontium, and fission products were released into the atmosphere during the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the distribution coefficient of Cs and Sr in the soil-water system around FDNPP from the viewpoint of their migration.

Materials and methods

The determination of sorption coefficient Kd(S) as well as desorption coefficient Kd(D) for Cs and Sr has been carried out in the present study using the laboratory batch method. In this experiment, stable Cs and Sr were used for sorption on contaminated Fukushima soil samples and groundwater collected in proximity to the soil sample sites. Different soil parameters were measured to understand their effect on the sorption and desorption processes. Desorption experiments were carried out on some selected contaminated soil samples.

Results and discussion

Kd(S)-Cs and Kd(S)-Sr varied from 65 to 2100 L/kg and 15 to 130 L/kg, respectively. Kd(D)-Cs and Kd(D)-Sr varied between 75–2500 and 10–120 L/kg, respectively. High values of sorption coefficients for Cs indicate sorption capacity of soils for Cs is more than Sr. For Cs, Kd(D) was higher than Kd(S) whereas for Sr, Kd(S) was either equal to or higher than Kd(D). A moderate Pearson’s correlation of (Kd) Cs and Sr with exchangeable cations (Al, K, Mg, and Na) supported that ion exchange sorption mechanism is significant. There is enhanced Cs sorption compared to Sr due to the presence of biotite, kaolinite and smectite minerals resulting in high mobility of Sr in the Fukushima environment.

Conclusions

We concluded retention capacity of Fukushima soils for Cs is moderately stronger than Sr, which supports Sr is more mobile in the environment.

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Funding

This research was supported partially by a Grant-in-Aid from Fukushima Prefecture related to Research and Development in Radiological Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radioecology and Fukushima Project, Centre for Advanced Radiation Emergency Medicine, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), 4-9-1Anagawa, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan

    Sharayu Kasar, Suchismita Mishra, Sarata Kumar Sahoo, Norbert Kavasi, Hideki Arae & Tatsuo Aono

  2. Radiation Safety System Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India

    Suchismita Mishra

  3. Department of Radiation Physics and Chemistry, Fukushima Medical University, 1, Hikarigaoka, Fukushima, 960-1295, Japan

    Yasutaka Omori & Atsuyuki Sorimachi

Authors
  1. Sharayu Kasar
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  2. Suchismita Mishra
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  3. Yasutaka Omori
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  4. Sarata Kumar Sahoo
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  5. Norbert Kavasi
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  6. Hideki Arae
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  7. Atsuyuki Sorimachi
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  8. Tatsuo Aono
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sarata Kumar Sahoo.

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Responsible editor: Dong-Mei Zhou

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Kasar, S., Mishra, S., Omori, Y. et al. Sorption and desorption studies of Cs and Sr in contaminated soil samples around Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. J Soils Sediments 20, 392–403 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-019-02376-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-019-02376-6

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