Effect of grain size variation on strontium sorption to heterogeneous aquifer sediments.

Strontium-90 (Sr) is a major contaminant at nuclear legacy sites. The mobility of Sr is primarily governed by sorption reactions with sediments controlled by high surface area phases such as clay and iron oxides. Sr adsorption was investigated in heterogeneous unconsolidated aquifer sediments, analogous to those underlying the UK Sellafield nuclear site, with grainsizes ranging from gravels to clays.