Sorption of cesium on boreal forest soil II. The effect of time, incubation conditions, pH and competing cations

Cesium sorption on Olkiluoto mineral soil samples was studied in batch experiments. The effect of incubation time, incubation conditions, pH and competing cations were investigated. The retention of cesium increased with increasing time. In anaerobic conditions the sorption of cesium was lower than in aerobic ones, possibly caused by the formation of NH4 +. Increase in pH promoted the sorption of cesium. Stable cesium reduced the sorption of 134Cs+ the most, and the overall sorption hindering effectivity of cations decreased in the order of stable Cs+ > NH4 + > K+ » Ca2+ > Na+.