Mechanism of soil-to-plant transfer of Cs and K using element-substituted biotite

Uno, Koichiro*; Nakao, Atsushi*; Okumura, Masahiko   ; Kogure, Toshihiro*; Yamaguchi, Akiko  ; Takeda, Hikaru*; Maruyama, Hayato*; Shinano, Takuro*; Yanai, Junta*

Biotite inhibits radiocesium (RCs) transfer from soil to plants by two functions of selective adsorption of radiocesium (Cs) between layers (Cs adsorption ability) and K supply from between layers (K supply ability). However, it was difficult to distinguish between the two. In this study, the authors succeeded in preparing biotite in which both functions are variously different by preparing weathered biotite in which interlayer pottasium (K) was replaced with rubidium (Rb) to lose K supply ability. By systematically comparing these biotites, the authors clarified the effects of Cs adsorption ability and K supply ability on Cs transfer to plants.