KINETICS OF DESORPTION OF IONS FROM QUARTZ AND MICA SURFACES

As part of an investigation concerning the fate of Ra-226 during uranium ore milling and long-term tailings storage we have investigated the kinetics of the desorption of alkaline earth, lead and sulfate ions from quartz and mica surfaces into water and dilute nitric acid using a radio-tracer technique. The retention times are sufficiently long to permit the growth of the surface deposits hypothesized in the HILEMAN-SNODGRASS model. The kinetics of desorption of most of these ions is found to agree with the model for rate-limiting desorption proposed by CEREFOLINI. In the case of the desorption of B2+ from mica surfaces the data suggest some degree of integration of the Ba2+ into the mica.