THE EFFECT OF SORPTION PROPERTIES OF SOIL MINERALS ON THE VERTICAL MIGRATION RATE OF CESIUM IN SOIL

The vertical distribution of Cs-137 is shown for two types of soil: si lty loamy ''supposed'' soil and silty lessive one, slightly eroded, oc curring in the vicinity of Lublin (Eastern Poland). Based on the distr ibution data the vertical migration rates of Cs-137 are calculated for both soils. These rates are found to be 0.045 and 0.3 cm/year respect ively. The percent contribution of Cs-137 originating from the damaged reactor in Chernobyl is also calculated. The kinetics of cesium adsor ption and its adsorption isotherms on minerals separated from the test ed soils are also studied. The sorption of Cs on soil minerals markedl y affects the migration rate of Cs-137 in soil. The experimental resul ts indicate that, among the extracted mineral fractions, the largest a dsorption takes place on marls from the silty loamy soil. This work is supplemented by results of a physiochemical analysis of the studied s oils.