Modeling of cesium transport through sand-bentonite mixtures

Abstract

The sorption and transport of Cs through mixture of Ca/Mg-bentonite and sand have been studied using five column experiments with different bentonite/sand ratio, initial Cs concentration and column height. For comparison the batch experiments with small m/V ratio and high Cs concentration were performed. The results showed that Cs removal from aqueous solution by bentonite is controlled by ion-exchange reaction between Cs and Ca/Mg initially sorbed on bentonite and that there is a consistency between the results obtained from batch equilibrium data and the results obtained from column experiments verified in the environment of PHREEQC.