NOTICE: Due to a lapse in annual appropriations, most of this website is not being updated. Learn more.
Form submissions will still be accepted but will not receive responses at this time. Sections of this site for programs using non-appropriated funds (such as NVLAP) or those that are excepted from the shutdown (such as CHIPS and NVD) will continue to be updated.
An official website of the United States government
Here’s how you know
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Distribution and Retention of 137Cs in Sediments at the Hanford Site, Washington
Published
Author(s)
J P. McKinley, Cynthia J. Zeissler, J M. Zachara, R J. Serne, Richard M. Lindstrom, H T. Schaef, R D. Orr
Abstract
sium-137 and other contaminants have leaked from many of the single-shell storage tanks at the Hanford Site in southeastern Washington. The leakage was into sandy unconsolidated sediments consisting largely of quartz, plagioclase, micas, smectite, and kaolinite. The contaminated sediments were sieved to investigate the distribution of Cs across the different sediment fractions. Characterization using X-ray diffraction showed the presence at all size fractions of mica, quartz, plagioclase, and smectite, along with smectite and kaolinite in the clay-size fraction. A phosphor-plate autoradiograph method was used to identify particular sediment particles responsible for retaining Cs. The Cs bearing particles were found to be either individual mica flakes or agglomerated smectite, mica, quartz, and plagioclase. Of these, only the micaceous component was capable of binding Cs irreversibly. Cs could not be significantly removed from sediments by leaching with dithionite citrate buffer or KOH, and a fraction of the Cs was cation desorbable with solutions containing an excess of Rb+. The small amount of 137Cs that could be mobilized by migrating fluids would likely sorb to nearby mica clasts in downgradient sediments.
McKinley, J.
, Zeissler, C.
, Zachara, J.
, Serne, R.
, Lindstrom, R.
, Schaef, H.
and Orr, R.
(2001),
Distribution and Retention of <sup>137</sup>Cs in Sediments at the Hanford Site, Washington, Environmental Science & Technology
(Accessed October 13, 2025)