title: EXAFS Study of Sr sorption to Illite, Goethite, Chlorite, and Mixed Sediment under Hyperalkaline Conditions.
abstract: Strontium is an important contaminant radionuclide at many former nuclear sites. This paper investigates the effect of changing pH and ionic strength on the sorption of Sr to a range of common soil minerals. Specifically it focuses on the sorption of Sr onto illite, chlorite, goethite, and a mixed sediment. The interplay between ionic strength and pH was determined by varying the background ionic strength of the system using both NaCl (for a constant pH) and NaOH (to also vary pH). Under conditions of moderate pH, Sr sorption decreased with increasing ionic strength, due to competition between the Na and Sr atoms for the outer-sphere complexes. However, where increasing ionic strength was accompanied by increasing pH, Sr sorption remained high. This suggested that Sr was sorbed to the minerals without competition from background Na ions. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra confirmed that at highly alkaline pH (>12.5) Sr was forming inner-sphere complexes on the surfaces of all minerals. This specific adsorption of the Sr (as SrOH(+)) explains why it was still adsorbed to the minerals under very high ionic strength conditions and was not out-competed by Na.
authors.affiliation: School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds , Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.affiliation: School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Science, University of Manchester , Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds , Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Caroline L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Peacock
authors.affiliation: National Nuclear Laboratory Ltd , Chadwick House, Warrington Road, Birchwood Park, Warrington WA3 6AE, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Divyesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.affiliation: School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds , Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ian T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Burke