Effect of illite particle shape on cesium sorption

Samples containing illite and illite-smectite, having different crystal sha pes (plates, "barrels", and filaments), were selected for sorption experime nts with cesium. There is a positive correlation between total surface area and Cs-sorption capacity, but no correlation between total surface area an d the distribution coefficient, K-d. Generally K-d increases with the edge surface area, although "hairy" (filamentous) illite does not fit this patte rn, possibly because elongation of crystals along one axis reduces the numb er of specific sorption sires.