Development of evaluation method for radiocesium availability in soil by biomimetic approach

Applicability of biomimetic approach with simulation of plant uptake for assessment of radiocesium availability in soil was investigated. The soil spiked with 137Cs tracer was contacted with wicking material and copper-substituted prussian blue (Cu-PB), which simulate transpirationally induced mass flow and concentration gradient-induced diffusion of radiocesiumin the soil, respectively. Comparison of the removed 137Cs to the wick and the wick + Cu-PB from the soil during the contact period of 12 weeks suggested that the diffusion process has larger contribution than the mass flow process in radiocesium dynamics in root zone. The change of the removed rate of 137Cs from the soil was reflected that its availability decreased with the time elapsing and with subjecting repeated wet-dry treatment. The results suggest that the biomimetic approach can be applicable to the realistic evaluation of the availability of radiocesium in soil.