Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparison studies adsorption of thorium and uranium on pure clay minerals and local Malaysian soil sediments

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Adsorption studies of thorium and uranium radionuclides on 9 different pure clay minerals and 4 local Malaysian soil sediments were conducted. Solution containing dissolved thorium and uranium at pH 4.90 was prepared from concentrate sludges from a long term storage facility at a local mineral processing plant. The sludges are considered as low level radioactive wastes. The results indicated that the 9 clay minerals adsorbed more uranium than thorium at pH ranges from 3.74 to 5.74. Two local Malaysian soils were observed to adsorb relatively high concentration of both radionuclides at pH 3.79 to 3.91. The adsorption value 23.27 to 27.04 ppm for uranium and 33.1 to 50.18 ppm for thorium indicated that both soil sediments can be considered as potential enhanced barrier material for sites disposing conditioned wastes containing uranium and thorium.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. E. A. Bondietti, Adsorption of U4+ and Th4+ by soil colloids, Agron. Abstr., 1974.

  2. K. Cornelius, J. R. Hurlbut, S. Cornelius, Manual of Mineralogy, 20th ed. John. Wiley and Sons, 1985.

  3. L. L. Ames, J. E. Mcgarrah, B. A. Walker, Clays Clay Minerals, 31 (1983) 335.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. L. L. Ames, J. E. Mcgarrah, B. A. Walker, Clays Clay Minerals, 31 (1983) 343.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. C. K. His, D. Langmuir, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 49 (1985) 1931.

    Google Scholar 

  6. A. H. Keith, J. H. David, K. C. Lee., Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 52 (1987) 627.

    Google Scholar 

  7. D. L. Brian, W. M. James, Geochim Cosmochim. Acta, 51 (1986) 243.

    Google Scholar 

  8. L. Donald, S. H. Janet, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 44 (1980) 1753.

    Google Scholar 

  9. D. J. Gobbett, C. S. Hutchison, Geology of The Malay Peninsula, The Geological Society of Malaysia, Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Batch-Type Procedures for Estimating Soil Adsorption of Chemicals, Technical Resource Document EPA/530/SW-87/006-F, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, 1992.

  11. N. C. Brady, The Nature and Properties of Soils, Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  12. H. S. Syed, Appl. Radiation Isotopes, 46 (1994) No. 5, 287.

    Google Scholar 

  13. J. J. W. Higgo, Review of Sorption Data Applicable to the Geological Environment of Interest for the Deep Disposal of ILW and LLW in the UK: Safety Studies, Nirex Radioactive Waste Disposal, NSS/R162, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology Research (MINT), Bangi, 43000, Kajang, Malaysia

    H. S. Syed

Authors
  1. H. S. Syed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Syed, H.S. Comparison studies adsorption of thorium and uranium on pure clay minerals and local Malaysian soil sediments. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 241, 11–14 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02347283

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02347283

Keywords

Search

Navigation