Leaching of radionuclides from activated soil into groundwater

Soil samples collected from the CERN site were irradiated by secondary radiation from the 400 GeV/c SPS proton beam at the H4IRRAD test area. Water samples were also irradiated at the same time. Detailed gamma spectrometry measurements and water scintillation analysis were performed to measure the radioactivity induced in the samples. FLUKA Monte Carlo simulations were performed to benchmark the induced radioactivity in the samples and to estimate the amount of tritium produced in the soil. Two leaching procedures were used and compared to quantify the radioactivity leached by water from the activated soil. The amount of tritium coming from both the soil moisture and the soil bulk was estimated. The present results are compared with literature data for the leaching of 3H and 22Na. •CERN soil and water samples were irradiated by secondary radiation from the 400 GeV/c proton beam.•Gamma spectrometry and liquid scintillation analysis were performed to determine the radioactivity induced in the samples.•FLUKA Monte Carlo simulations were performed to benchmark the induced radioactivity in the samples.•Two leaching procedures were used to quantify the amount of radioactivity leached out of the soil into the water.•Results are compared with literature data for the leaching of 3H and 22Na.