Effect of ~(137)Cs Accumulation by Organomineral Coarse Particles in Sandy Soils Contaminated during the Chernobyl NPP Accident

摘要

Dark-colored particles in the coarse fractions of sandy soils were found to concentrate ~(137)Cs. Up to 94% of the fractional ~(137)Cs was associated with these particles in the sand and coarse silt fractions, although their relative mass did not exceed 1-5%. The concentrations of ~(137)Cs in the dark-colored particles were up to 400 times higher than those in the light-colored particles. The high values of the radiocesium interception potential (RIP(K) = 1600-4600 mM/kg) indicate the presence of clay minerals in the dark particles.