Distributions of radionuclide sorption coefficients (Kd) in sub-surface sediments and the implications for transport calculations

The effect of the spatial variability of Kd on calculations of contaminant travel time in the vadose zone was determined. Depth discrete measurements of Kd were made for a suite of radionuclides (109Cd, 57Co, 60Co, 85Sr, 137Cs, and 88Y) utilizing a sediment core from the E-Area at the Savannah River Site. The Kd’s were ordered as 85Sr2+ < 137Cs+ < 109Cd2+ < 57Co2+ = 60Co2+ << 88Y3+ and the values generally fell below or near the lowest quartile of values reported in the literature. Correlations were generally weak between soil properties and Kd values. Most importantly, all of the Kd distributions could be reasonably approximated as log-normal. Deterministic and stochastic calculations of contaminant travel time to the water table were made. The deterministic calculations were based on each of three conceptual models of the vadose zone: complete stratification (17 strata, each with a different Kd), two strata (two sections of the vadose zone, each characterized by a single, average Kd), and unstratified (a single zone with an average Kd). Stochastic calculations were based on log-normal fits to the Kd data. The two strata model generally yielded travel times 2× greater than those in the completely stratified model. The unstratified model yielded travel times that were between 3 and 5 times greater than the completely stratified model. The stochastic mean travel times were comparable to those of the two strata model.