Montmorillonite colloids: I. Characterization and stability of dispersions with different size fractions

Abstract

Bentonite is planned to be used as a technical barrier in the final storage of spent nuclear fuel and high level vitrified waste. In contact with ground water of low ionic strength, montmorillonite colloids may be released from the bentonite buffer and thereby enhance the transport of radionuclides (RNs) sorbed: In the present case, clay colloids represent aggregates of several clay mineral layers. It is of major importance to determine RN sorption properties for different sizes of montmorillonite aggregates, since size fractionation may occur during particle transport in natural media. In this study, a protocol for size fractionation of clay aggregates is developed, by sequential and direct centrifugation, in the presence and absence of organic matter. Seven colloidal fractions of different mean aggregate sizes are obtained ranging, when considering the mean equivalent hydrodynamic sphere diameter (ESD), from similar to 960 nm down to similar to 85 nm. Applying mathematical treatments (Jennings and Parslow, 1988) and approximating the clay aggregates to regular disc-shaped stacks of clay mineral sheets result in mean surface diameters varying from similar to 1.5 mu m down to similar to 190 nm. All these colloidal fractions are characterized by XRD, IC and ICP-OES where they are found to have the same chemical composition. The number of edge sites (aluminol and silanol) is estimated (in mol/kg) for each colloidal fraction according to (Tournassat et al., 2003). It is calculated from the mean particle sizes obtained from AsFlFFF and PCS measurements, where the clay aggregates are approximated to regular disc-shaped stacks of clay mineral sheets. The estimated number of edge sites varies significantly for the different clay dispersions. In addition, stability studies using the various clay colloidal fractions are performed by the addition of NaCl, CaCl2 or MgCl2, in the presence or absence of organic matter, where no difference in stability is found. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Montmorillonite colloids; Characterization; Size separation; Number of edge sites; Nuclear waste disposal; Colloidal stability

Published in

Applied Clay Science
2015, Volume: 114, pages: 179-189 Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

UKÄ Subject classification

Geochemistry
Physical Chemistry


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2015.05.028

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/84455