Browsing by Author "Itakura, T"

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    Environmental mobility of cobalt-influence of solid phase characteristics and groundwater chemistry.
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2008-05) Payne, TE; Itakura, T; Comarmond, MJ; Harrison, JJ
    The adsorption of cobalt on samples from a potential waste repository site in an arid region was investigated in batch experiments, as a function of various solution phase parameters including the pH and ionic strength. The samples were characterized using a range of techniques, including BET surface area measurements, total clay content and quantitative X-ray diffraction. The statistical relationships between the measured cobalt distribution coefficients (Kd values) and the solid and liquid phase characteristics were assessed. The sorption of cobalt increased with the pH of the aqueous phase. In experiments with a fixed pH value, the measured Kd values were strongly correlated to the BET surface area, but not to the amount of individual clay minerals (illite, kaolinite or smectite). A further set of sorption experiments was undertaken with two samples of distinctive mineralogy and surface area, and consequently different sorption properties. A simple surface complexation model (SCM) that conceptualized the surface sites as having equivalent sorption properties to amorphous Fe-oxide was moderately successful in explaining the pH dependence of the sorption data on these samples. Two different methods of quantifying the input parameters for the SCM were assessed. While a full SCM for cobalt sorption on these complex environmental substrates is not yet possible, the basic applicability and predictive capability of this type of modeling is demonstrated. A principal requirement to further develop the modeling approach is adequate models for cobalt sorption on component mineral phases of complex environmental sorbents. © 2009, Elsevier Ltd.
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    Final report on a field study of soil-to-plant transfer of radioactive caesium, strontium and zinc in tropical Northern Australia to the IAEA/FAO/IUR CRP on classification of soils systems on the basis of transfer factors of radionuclides from soil to reference plants
    (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, 2003-09) Twining, JR; Shotton, P; Tagami, K; Payne, TE; Itakura, T; Russell, RA; Wilde, KL; McOrist, GD; Wong, HKY
    Soil-to-plant radionuclide transfer factors for cesium (134Cs), strontium (85Sr) and zinc (65Zn) into sorghum and mung plants grown in tropical Australia have been determined over a four-year study period. The crops were grown on two types of red earth soils. Transfer factors for Cs and Sr are not substantially different from the expected values based on previous studies, reported in the general literature and compiled in the IUR database, mainly performed within temperate climates. In contrast, the values for zinc (Zn) are more than an order of magnitude greater than anticipated. Most of the radioactivity added to the soils has been retained in the top 5 cm of both soils. There has been a general decline in soil-to-plant transfer of Cs and Zn as time has increased.
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    Laboratory studies of the diffusive transport of 137Cs and 60Co through potential waste repository soils
    (Elsevier, 2010-09) Itakura, T; Airey, DW; Leo, CJ; Payne, TE; McOrist, GD
    Tests using reconstituted samples have been performed to assess the diffusive transport of 137Cs and 60Co through natural regolith materials from a region in South Australia being considered for a radioactive waste repository. A double diffusion cell apparatus made of polycarbonate resin was developed to estimate the effective diffusion (De) and sorption coefficients (Kd) that allowed large withdrawals from the source and collector cells and has enabled tests with low concentrations of radioactivity. An alternative to porous stainless steel filter plates has also been used to reduce uncertainty in test interpretation. Analysis of the transient data used a staged method of the Laplace transform to take into consideration the volume of the samples withdrawn from the apparatus during testing. At test completion samples were cut into slices and analysed for radionuclide concentration. Data obtained from the sliced samples confirmed that both numerical and experimental data produced acceptable mass balance. The De values obtained in this study were of the order of 10−6 cm2 s−1 for both species, higher than previously published data. The Kd values from the diffusion and batch sorption tests were in reasonable agreement for 137Cs, but an order of magnitude different for 60Co. The sorption of the latter radionuclide was strongly pH dependent, and this dependency during diffusion tests would benefit from further investigation. © 2010, Elsevier Ltd.
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    Migration of Cs-137 and Co-60 in the Australian arid zone
    (Cambridge University Press/Springer Nature, 2000) Payne, TE; Harries, JR; Itakura, T
    Batch adsorption experiments with Cs-137 and Co-60 were undertaken using representative samples of geologic materials from the arid region that has been selected for an Australian low-level waste repository. The results indicate that the pH is the main factor affecting the adsorption of Co-60 but has little influence on the sorption of Cs-137. The ionic strength affects Cs sorption, with a decrease in Kd associated with higher ionic strength. Selective sorption sites on mica and illite control uptake of trace Cs, whereas the high total site availability of smectite is significant when the total Cs is higher (1 mmol/L). The effects of mineralogy on Cs sorption which were observed for these complex materials confirmed previous results reported for pure minerals. © 2000 Materials Research Society
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    Soil–water distribution coefficients and plant transfer factors for 134Cs, 85Sr and 65Zn under field conditions in tropical Australia
    (Elsevier B. V., 2004) Twining, JR; Payne, TE; Itakura, T
    Measurements of soil-to-plant transfer of 134Cs, 85Sr and 65Zn from two tropical red earth soils (‘Blain’ and ‘Tippera’) to sorghum and mung crops have been undertaken in the north of Australia. The aim of the study was to identify factors that control bioaccumulation of these radionuclides in tropical regions, for which few previous data are available. Batch sorption experiments were conducted to determine the distribution coefficient (Kd) of the selected radionuclides at pH values similar to natural pH values, which ranged from about 5.5 to 6.7. In addition, Kd values were obtained at one pH unit above and below the soil–water equilibrium pH values to determine the effect of pH. The adsorption of Cs showed no pH dependence, but the Kd values for the Tippera soils (2300–4100 ml/g) exceeded those for the Blain soils (800–1200 ml/g) at equilibrium pH. This was related to the greater clay content of the Tippera soil. Both Sr and Zn were more strongly adsorbed at higher pH values, but the Kd values showed less dependence on the soil type. Strontium Kds were 30–60 ml/g whilst Zn ranged from 160 to 1630 ml/g for the two soils at equilibrium pH. With the possible exception of Sr, there was no evidence for downward movement of radionuclides through the soils during the course of the growing season. There was some evidence of surface movement of labelled soil particles. Soil-to-plant transfer factors varied slightly between the soils. The average results for sorghum were 0.1–0.3 g/g for Cs, 0.4–0.8 g/g for Sr and 18–26 g/g for Zn (dry weight) with the initial values relating to Blain and the following values to Tippera. Similar values were observed for the mung bean samples. The transfer factors for Cs and Sr were not substantially different from the typical values observed in temperate studies. However, Zn transfer factors for plants grown on both these tropical soils were greater than for soils in temperate climates (by more than an order of magnitude). This may be related to trace nutrient deficiency and/or the growth of fungal populations in these soils. The results indicate that transfer factors depend on climatic region together with soil type and chemistry and underline the value of specific bioaccumulation data for radionuclides in tropical soils. Crown Copyright © 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd.