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The effect of alkaline alteration on sorption properties of sedimentary rock
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 June 2014
Abstract
The potential effect of high pH plume caused by cementitious materials must be evaluated in the performance assessment for HLW geological disposal. Alkaline plume would lead to change sorption properties of host rock by primary mineral dissolution, secondary mineral precipitation and sequential change of pore water chemistry. In this study, the effect of alkaline alteration on sorption of Cs, Ni and Th was investigated using rock samples from the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory. Crushed rock samples were reacted in high pH alkaline solution at 90 °C for 45 days, 95 days and 1,383 days, respectively. As a result of sample analysis, it was supposed that zeolitic mineral was precipitated as secondary mineral. The cation exchange capacity slightly increased in comparison with the unaltered sample. Distribution coefficients (Kd) of Cs, Ni and Th on unaltered and altered rock sample were measured by batch sorption experiment in synthetic groundwater. Kd of Cs increased with the alteration period. These results show that secondary minerals contribute to the increase in Cs sorption. By contrast, Kd of Ni and Th decreased with the alteration period. This change might be caused by dissolution of clay minerals and amorphous silicates controlling Ni and Th sorption by surface complexation. These results imply that effects of alkaline alteration on Kd of rocks depend on the dissolution/precipitation of minerals, their surface properties and sorption mechanisms.
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- Copyright © Materials Research Society 2014