Effect of gamma-radiation on radionuclide retention in compacted bentonite

Abstract

Compacted bentonite is proposed as an engineered barrier in many concepts for disposal of high level nuclear waste. After the initial deposition however, the bentonite barrier will inevitably be exposed to ionizing radiation (mainly gamma) under anoxic conditions. Because of this, the effects of gamma-radiation on the apparent diffusivity values and sorption coefficients in bentonite for Cs(+) and Co(2+) were tested under different experimental conditions. Radiation induced effects on sorption were in general more noticeable for Co(2+) than for Cs(+), which generally showed no significant differences between irradiated and unirradiated clay samples. For Co(2+) however, the sorption to irradiated MX80 was significantly lower than to the unirradiated clay samples regardless of the experimental conditions. This implies that gamma-radiation may alter the surface characteristics contributing to surface complexation of Co(2+). With the experimental conditions used, however, the effect of decreasing sorption was not large enough to be reflected on the obtained D. values. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Diffusion; Sorption; Bentonite; Humics; Radionuclides; K(d)

Published in

Radiation Physics and Chemistry
2011, volume: 80, number: 12, pages: 1371-1377
Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

SLU Authors

• Norrfors, Karin

  • Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

UKÄ Subject classification

Geochemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2011.08.004

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/84454