SOIL CHROMATOGRAPHIC MOVEMENT OF TECHNETIUM-99 THROUGH SELECTED MINNESOTA SOILS

Abstract

We monitored the movement of technetium-99 through 41 samples of Minnesota soils, using soil column layer chromatography (CLC), a modification of soil thin layer chromatography. Under the aerobic conditions of soil CLC, 99Tc occurs as the pertechnetate anion. Pertechnetate movement in the soils was characterized by the traditional Rf chromatographic parameter. Reduced Rf values were statistically related to elevated levels of soil organic matter. Complexation of 99Tc, related to soil organic matter, was weak. Elution patterns of 99Tc in the soil CLC colums were asymmetric, with pertechnetate retardation associated with both hydrodynamic dispersion and weak retention. Pertechnetate was less mobile than was Cl- in selected soils by soil CLC.