Nairoby Albarran

Strontium migration in a crystalline medium: effects of the presence of bentonite colloids.

The effects of bentonite colloids on strontium migration in fractured crystalline medium were investigated. We analyzed first the transport behaviour of bentonite colloids alone at different flow rates; then we compared the transport behaviour of strontium as solute and of strontium previously adsorbed onto stable bentonite colloids at a water velocity of approximately 7.1·10(-6)m/s-224m/yr. Experiments with bentonite colloids alone showed that - at the lowest water flow rate used in our experiments (7.1·10(-6)m/s) - approximately 70% of the initially injected colloids were retained in the fracture. Nevertheless, the mobile colloidal fraction, moved through the fracture without retardation, at any flow rate. Bentonite colloids deposited over the fracture surface were identified during post-mortem analyses. The breakthrough curve of strontium as a solute, presented a retardation factor, R(f)~6, in agreement with its sorption onto the granite fracture surface. The breakthrough curve of strontium in the presence of bentonite colloids was much more complex, suggesting additional contributions of colloids to strontium transport. A very small fraction of strontium adsorbed on mobile colloids moved un-retarded (R(f)=1) and this fraction was much lower than the expected, considering the quantity of strontium initially adsorbed onto colloids (90%). This behaviour suggests the hypothesis of strontium sorption reversibility from colloids. On the other hand, bentonite colloids retained within the granite fracture played a major role, contributing to a slower strontium transport in comparison with strontium as a solute. This was shown by a clear peak in the breakthrough curve corresponding to a retardation factor of approximately 20.

Experimental Study and Modeling of Uranium (VI) Sorption onto a Spanish Smectite

Adsorption of uranium onto a Spanish smectite was studied, analyzing the effects of the most important parameters such as pH, ionic strength, radionuclide concentration and solid to liquid ratio. Batch sorption studies, in anoxic conditions under N2 atmosphere, were carried out on the bentonite previously purified and converted into the homoionic Na-form. In the sorption edges, two regions could be clearly distinguished. At pH lower than 5, sorption depended strongly on the ionic strength, possibly indicating the predominance of the uranyl ionic exchange process. At higher pH, sorption did not depend on the ionic strength but only on pH. The sorption behavior in this region suggested the predominance of a surface complexation mechanism. Sorption isotherms showed a non linear behavior in the concentration range used. Sorption data were interpreted using a non electrostatic standard model combining surface complexation, with the weak and strong SOH sites of the clay, and ionic exchange. The acid – base properties of the weak SOH sites were determined by potentiometric titrations. The model used was able to reproduce, in a very satisfactory way, all the data in a wide range of experimental conditions.

Colloid and Radionuclide Transport in Granite Under Low Water Flow Rates Expected in a Geological Repository

Colloids generated from the engineered barriers of a high level radioactive waste repository (HLWR) emplaced in crystalline rock could play a significant role in radionuclide transport and they are of concern for the safety assessment of these repositories. The main objectives of this study are: a) to analyze the transport properties of colloids in a crystalline fractured rock under hydrodynamic conditions as similar as possible to those expected in a repository (i.e. low flow rates) and b) to discuss the effects of their presence on the transport of radionuclides. Transport experiments with bentonite and latex colloids in a fractured granite column from the Grimsel Test Site (Switzerland) were carried out, under geochemical conditions ensuring colloid stability (alkaline and low ionic strength water). Transport experiments were also carried out with 85 Sr and 233 U and the results with and without the presence of bentonite colloids were compared. Colloid filtration in the fracture was always observed, even when colloids presented high stability and the conditions were unfavorable to colloid attachment to rock surfaces, being both the colloids and the rock negatively charged and the fracture surface smooth. The retention in the fracture depended on the water flow rate, increasing the retention as the water flow decreased. This work illustrates as both the mobile and retained fraction of colloids, which strongly depend on the hydrodynamic conditions, are of importance in the overall radionuclide mobility.