Abstract
Apparent sorption rate constants on oceanic particles were measured in batch experiments for a series of soluble and “particle-reactive” radionuclides. We have found that radionuclide uptake by natural particles is slow compared to adsorption rates onto defined oxide surfaces. Equilibrium is attained only at time scales of days. One reason for slow scavenging reactions is the coagulation of radioactively tagged colloidal particles onto larger (filterable) particles. This interpretation explains both the slow sorption (scavenging) kinetics and the dependence of the sorption rate and the distribution ratio (K d ) on the particle concentration. The sorption rate constants for Th isotopes calculated by this method are in good agreement with the rates determined by in situ measurements of the U/Th disequilibrium.
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Santschi, P.H., Nyffeler, U.P., Li, YH., O’Hara, P. (1986). Radionuclide Cycling in Natural Waters: Relevance of Scavenging Kinetics. In: Sly, P.G. (eds) Sediments and Water Interactions. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4932-0_17
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4932-0_17
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