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Effect of temperature on mineral evolution and adsorption of Eu3+ by bentonite in hyperalkaline conditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 November 2024

Rao-ping Liao Open the ORCID record for Rao-ping Liao [Opens in a new window] ,
Yong-gui Chen Open the ORCID record for Yong-gui Chen [Opens in a new window] ,
Chuang Yu ,
Wei-min Ye ,
Dong-bei Wu ,
Cong Liu  and
Qiong Wang
Rao-ping Liao
Affiliation:
Department of Geotechnical Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Yong-gui Chen*
Affiliation:
Department of Geotechnical Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China State Key Laboratory of Disaster Reduction in Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Chuang Yu
Affiliation:
College of Environmental Protection, Zhejiang Industry and Trade Vocational College, Wenzhou 325002, China
Wei-min Ye
Affiliation:
Department of Geotechnical Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China State Key Laboratory of Disaster Reduction in Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Dong-bei Wu
Affiliation:
School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Cong Liu
Affiliation:
Department of Geotechnical Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Qiong Wang
Affiliation:
Department of Geotechnical Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
*
Corresponding author: Prof. Yong-gui Chen; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Compacted bentonite, used as an engineering barrier for permanent containment of high-level radioactive waste, is susceptible to mineral evolution resulting in compromise of the expected barrier performance due to alkaline–thermal chemical interaction in the near-field. To elucidate the mineral-evolution mechanisms within bentonite and the transformation of the nuclide adsorption properties during that period, experimental evolution of bentonite was conducted in a NaOH solution with a pH of 14 at temperatures ranging from 60 to 120°C. The results showed that temperature significantly affects the stability of minerals in bentonite under alkali conditions. The dissolution rate of fine-grained cristobalite in bentonite exceeds that of smectite, with the phase-transition products of smectite being temperature-dependent. As the temperature rises, smectite experiences a three-stage transformation: initially, at 60°C, the lattice structure thins due to the collapse of the octahedral sheets; at 80°C, the lattice disintegrates and reorganizes into a loose framework akin to albite; and by 100°C, it further reorganizes into a denser framework resembling analcime. The adsorption properties of bentonite exhibit a peak inflection point at 80°C, where the dissolution of the smectite lattice eliminates interlayer pores and exposes numerous polar or negatively charged sites which results in a decrease in specific surface area and an increase in cation exchange capacity and adsorption capacity of Eu3+. This research provides insights into the intricate evolution of bentonite minerals and the associated changes in radionuclide adsorption capacity, contributing to a better understanding of the stability of bentonite barriers and the effective long-term containment of nuclear waste.

Keywords

Alkali-thermalAlterationMontmorilloniteRepositorySorptionTransformation
Type
Original Paper
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 72 , 2024 , e23
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Clay Minerals Society

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