Publications

The sorption of Cs and Cd on model soil minerals was examined by complementary analytical and experimental procedures. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were used to characterize the chemical and physical nature of Cs-reacted soil minerals. Cd and Cs adsorption isotherms for kaolinite were also measured at variable pH and temperature to establish likely reaction stoichiometries, while atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to characterize the microtopography of the clay surface. XPS analyses of Cs-exchanged samples show that Cs is sorbed at mineral surfaces and at the interlayer site of smectite clays, although the spectral resolution of XPS analyses is insufficient to differentiate between basal, edge or interlayer sites. {sup 133}Cs MAS-NMR results also show that Cs is adsorbed primarily in an interlayer site of montmorillonite and on edge and basal sites for kaolinite. Cd adsorption isotherms on kaolinite were found to be additive using Al{sub 2}0{sub 3} + Si0{sub 2} Cd binding constants. AFM quantification of kaolinite crystallites suggest that edges comprise up to 50% of the BET surface area, and are consistent with NMR and surface charge results that Cs an Cd adsorption occur primarily at edge sites.

This is a peer review report of the Environmental and Molecule Sciences Laboratory. Although the Pretreatment, Treatment, and Waste Forms comments are focused specifically on pretreatment treatment, and waste forms, the group recognizes that the life cycle designation is a somewhat arbitrary breakdown of a series of activities that form a continuum in the environmental restoration and waste management program. Consequently, some of the comments made here are relevant in a broader context or even for EM as a whole. particular, characterization activities pervade all life cycles in environmental restoration/waste management. As we use the term in this section, ``characterization`` refers to the process monitoring and control that are required during pretreatment and treatment. Most of the technology presentations during the review identified links to support this area and delineated to varying degrees the specific ties to the Hanford Site cleanup requirements. Overall, the EMSL especially its planned facilities, are most impressive, and DOE and PNL are urged to proceed with all due haste toward its completion. Specific issues or concerns identified during the review are included in the following section.