The Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 16 No 2 (2012): 94 – 102

 

 

 

EFFECTS OF PHYSICO-CHEMICAL SOIL PROPERTIES

ON THE ADSORPTION AND TRANSPORT OF ¹³⁷Cs

IN RENGAM AND SELANGOR SOIL SERIES

 

(Kesan Sifat Fizikokimia Terhadap Penyerapan dan Pengangkutan ¹³⁷Cs Dalam Tanah Siri Rengam dan Selangor)

 

Zidan Mohamed M. Houmani¹, Amran Ab.Majid¹, Shahidan Radiman¹

Zaharudin Ahmad²

 

¹Faculty of Science and Technology,

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.

²Nuclear Malaysia ,

43000 Bangi, Selangor D.E, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: houmani67@yahoo.com

 

 

Abstract

In this study, the adsorption of ¹³⁷Cs in soil samples were quantified using the distribution coefficient (K_d-value).  The distribution coefficients (K_d) of ¹³⁷Cs in Rengam and Selangor soil series were determined by a batch technique. The Malaysian soil series (Rengam and Selangor soil series )  were collected systematically at three different depths (0-20 cm, 20-40 cm and 40-60 cm) at two different sites in Malaysia. The batch K_d tests were used with deionized water that was spiked with ¹³⁷Cs tracer to the soil sample and the activities of ¹³⁷Cs in the supernatant solution were measured by a low background but high efficiency well-type HPGe detector. Several physicochemical soil properties were also characterised for each soil type. Pearson’s correlation and stepwise multiple regression models were applied at 0.05 level of significance throughout all analysis to determine the relationships and influences between distribution coefficients (K_d-value) of ¹³⁷Cs with physicochemical soil properties of each soil type. The calculated K_d-value for Rengam and Selangor soil series at several depth were determined to be in the range of 202 to 1739 ml.g^-1 and 3389 to 5919 ml.g^-1 respectively. The results indicate that the stepwise multiple regression model incorporating pH and porosity influence the K_d-value of ¹³⁷Cs in Rengam Soil Series and exhibits an R² equal to 0.922 indicating that 92.2% of total variation has been explained by the regression model. The regression model also reveals that cation exchange capacity, bulk density, porosity and free manganese oxide (Mn²⁺)   have influence on the K_d-values of ¹³⁷Cs in Selangor soil series and exhibits an R² equal to 0.997  indicating 99.7 % of total variation. Therefore, the sorption coefficients in relation to the environmental factors including physicochemical properties can be used to predict and design the radionuclide transport and safety assessment models.

 

Keywords:  K_d-value, ¹³⁷Cs, physicochemical soil properties

 

References

1.       Poinssot, C., Baeyens, B., &Bradbury, M. H. (1999). Experimental and modelling studies of caesium sorption on illite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 63 (19-20):3217-3227.

2.       Staunton, S., & Roubaud, M. (1997). Adsorption of 137Cs on montmorillonite and illite: Effect of charge compensating cation, ionic strength, concentration of Cs, K and fulvic acid. Clays and clay minerals 45 (2):251-260.

3.       Nabyvanets, Y. B., Gesell, T. F., Jen, M. H., &Chang, W. P. (2001). Distribution of ¹³⁷Cs in soil along Ta-han river valley in Tau-Yuan County in Taiwan. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 54 (3):391-400.

4.       Atun, G., & Kilislioglu, A. (2003). Adsorption behavior of cesium on montmorillonite-type clay in the presence of potassium ions. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 258 (3):605-611.

5.       Eisenbud, M. (1973). Environmental radioactivity. 2^nd ed, Environmental sciences. New York,: Academic Press.

6.       Paramananthan, S. (2000). Soils of Malaysia. Their Characteristics and Identification. Vol. 1. Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.

7.       Sheppard, M. I., & Thibault, D. H. (1990). Default soil solid/partition coefficients, K_d s, for four major soil types: A compendium. Health Physics 59 (4):471- 482.

8.       Day, P. R. (1965). Particle fractionation and particle-size analysis. In Methods of soil analysis, Part 1 edited by Black, C. A., Evans, D. D., White, J. L., Ensminger, L. E.  &Clark, F. E. Madison: American socity of Agronomy.

9.       Blake, G. R. (1965). Particle density,Bulk density. In Methods of soil analysis, edited by Black, C., Evans, D. D., Ensminger, L. E., White, J. L.  &Clark, F. E. Madison: American Society of Agronomy.

10.    Metson, A. J. (1956). Methods of chemical analysis for soil survey samples. Vol. 12. Wellington: Dept. of Scientific Industrial, Research.

11.    Carter, M. R. (1993). Soil sampling and methods of analysis. Boca Raton: Lewis Publishers.

12.    HACH. (1996). Spectrophotometer Instrument Manual. For use with the software Ver. 3. Loveland Colorado: HACH Company.

13.    Wan  Zuhairi, W. Y. Access (2006). SSA based on EGME method  2006  [cited  27/11/2006 2006].  Available from  http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/~zuhairi/Pengajaran/intranet/e-library/Soil lab/Specific surface area.pdf.

14.    Walkley, A., & Black, I. A. (1934). An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining organic carbon in soils: Effect of variations in digestion conditions and of inorganic soil constituents. Soil Science 63:251-263.

15.    Moore, D. M., & Reynolds, R. C. (1997). X-Ray Diffraction and the Identification and Analysis of Clay Minerals,. 2^nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press.

16.    ASTM. (1984). Standard Test Method for Distribution Ratios by the Short-Term Batch Method. In Annual Book of ASTM Standards: American Society for Testing and Materials.

17.    Currie, L. A. (1968). Limits for qualitative detection and quantitative determination Anal Chem 40:586-593.

18.    Munshower, F. F. (1994). Practical handbook of disturbed land revegetation. Florida: Lewis.

19.    Giannakopoulou, F., Haidouti, C., Chronopoulou, A., &Gasparatos, D. (2007). Sorption behavior of cesium on various soils under different pH levels. Journal of Hazardous materials 149 (3):553-556.

20.    Kamei-Ishikawa, N., Uchida, S., &Tagami, K. (2008). Distribution coefficients for ⁸⁵Sr and ¹³⁷Cs in Japanese agricultural soils and their correlations with soil properties. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 277 (2):433-439.

21.    Shenber, M. A., & Eriksson, Å. (1993). Sorption behaviour of caesium in various soils. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 19 (1):41-51.

22.    Hasany, S., & Chaudhary, M. (1984). Adsorption behaviour of microamounts of cesium on manganese dioxide. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 84 (2):247-256.