Abstract:
The Tessier sequential extraction method was employed to study the existing form of
241Am in sandy soil samples which were contaminated by radioactivity. In addition, the process was also applied to the soil into which
241Am was added purposely. The experimental results reveal that the associations of
241Am in two kinds of soils are quite different from each other. In the radioactively contaminated soil, a significant proportion of
241Am was associated with residual phase. It indicates that
241Am in the soil has rather low possibility for migration. However, the
241Am in simulant soil was mainly associated with carbonate fraction for a long time after added into the soil. It indicates that
241Am in simulant soil has high possibility for migration.