Kinetics of Cesium Adsorption on Vermiculite.

This poster will present potential rate-controlling steps involved in the process of Cs⁺ adsorption to vermiculite clay interlayers at various time intervals while in competition with a monovalent and multivalent cation. Improving our understanding of Cs⁺ adsorption kinetics on vermiculite is of critical importance due to the radiocesium contamination in soil from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant meltdown in 2011. Rate of adsorption is determined at 20°C, using a suspension of acid washed vermiculite in DI H₂O, HCl, and CsOH while introducing K⁺ and Ca²⁺ at the following time intervals: 0, 5, 10, 30, and 60 minutes. The data will explore how quickly vermiculite interlayers collapse due to Cs⁺ introduction and the impacts of K⁺ and Ca²⁺ competition on Cs⁺ adsorption.