Determination of distribution coefficient of 137Cs and 90Sr in soil from AERE, Savar

The sorption characteristics of 137Cs and 90Sr on soil matrix have been studied by the batch technique. The sorption coefficients (Kd) and retardation factor (Rf) have been determined for these radionuclides on soil matrices collected from a number of locations in and around the proposed site for shallow land disposal of low-level radioactive wastes at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE) campus, Savar. The Kd values varied from 1278 to 2156 ml/g for 137Cs and from 350 to 640 ml/g for 90Sr. The retardation factors varied from 1709 to 3072 for 137Cs and from 409 to 903 for 90Sr. The results obtained indicated that the AERE soils have good sorption capacity for 137Cs and 90Sr radionuclides. These data could be used in radionuclides transport and safety assessment models.