Sorption of radium-226 from oil-production brine by sediments and soils

The sorption of²²⁶Ra from oil-production brine by soils and sediments was investigated. Sorption was rapid, and the percentage sorbed increased with brine dilution. Greatest removals of²²⁶Ra from sediments in the laboratory occurred with alkaline DTPA, HCl, and BaCl₂, with lesser removals using CaCl₂ and NaCl solutions. Digestion of sediments with NaOCl indicates that most of the native and sorbed²²⁶Ra is associated with the mineral rather than organic fraction of the sediments. Correlation analysis based on 14 soils indicates that the retention of²²⁶Ra may involve precipitation reactions associated with sulfate-bearing minerals, as well as ion-exchange reactions with the clay mineral fractions of surficial earth materials. Oceanographer, Naval Ocean Research and Development Activity, Code 334; NSTL Station, Mississippi 39529 NORDA Contribution #83:334:01.