Volatilization of Cesium-137 from Soil with Chloride Amendments during Heating and Vitrification

During vitrification of soil and soil:limestone mixtures, significant volatilization (> 10%) of the radioisotope [sup 137]Cs occurred particularly in the presence of small amounts ( 99% of the [sup 137]Cs by repeated amendment and treatment at 1000[degree]C. Amendment with sodium borate and subsequent heating to 1200[degree]C also stimulated significant volatilization of [sup 137]Cs. However, amendments up to 10% of other chemicals including carbonates, nitrates, phosphates, sulfates, fluorides, polystyrene, graphite, stainless steels, iron, zinc oxide, and antimony oxide did not increase [sup 137]Cs volatilization compared to unamended samples. The majority of the chloride-induced volatilization occurred between 800 and 1000[degree]C for sodium chloride-amended samples of both soil and soil:limestone mixtures. Thus, an effective and potentially efficient soil decontamination technique for [sup 137]Cs has been identified. 17 refs., 8 figs., 3 tabs.