THE CHELATION AND MOVEMENT OF ST89-SR90 (Y90) IN A CALCAREOUS SOIL

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine the influence of synthetic chelating agents on the movement of radiostrontium through . '/' * ; 89 . ■ soil with leaching and to characterize the Sr -complexes found in the soil solution formed with the added chelates. ■ > The extent of chelation and relative competition of Ca and Sr for the added chelating agents was studied over a wide range of pH values because of their similarity in chemical properties„ 89 9 0 90 Movement and displacement of Sr -Sr (Y ) in columns contain­ ing Mohave sandy loam as influenced by EDTA, EGTA, DCyTA, HEEDTA, and DTPA with SSA (5-Sulfosalicylie Acid) was studied. Removal of Sr8 from the six-inch soil columns ranged from 19 to 81% for the five chelate treatments in the following order: HEEDTA DCyTA EDTA EGTA DTPA. Only 5% of the radiostrontium was leached in the control columns treated with SSA only . ;i Electrophoretic techniques were conducted on column leachates to obtain evidence indicating the presence of negatively charged Sr -complexes in the soil solution. Data obtained from the electrophoresis research as well as a color indicator reaction with chelates, indicate the presence of negatively charged radionuclide complexes formed by the synthetic chelating agents applied to the soil.