Crystal structure control of aluminized clay minerals on the mobility of caesium in contaminated soil environments.

ABSTRACT: Radioactive caesium pollution resulting from Fukushima Dai-ichi and Chernobyl nuclear plant accidents involves strong interactions between Cs⁺ and clays, especially vermiculite-type minerals. In acidic soil environments, such as in Fukushima area, vermiculite is subjected to weathering processes, resulting in aluminization. The crystal structure of aluminized clays and its implications for Cs⁺ mobility in soils remain poorly understood due to the mixture of these minerals with other clays and organic matter. We performed acidic weathering of a vermiculite to mimic the aluminization process in soils. Combination of structure analysis and Cs⁺ extractability measurements show that the increase of aluminization is accompanied by an increase in Cs⁺ mo

SUBMITTER: Dzene L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5324138 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature