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Effects of Chemical Structure on the Stability of Smectites in Short-Term Alteration Experiments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Lan Nguyen-Thanh ,
Horst-Jürgen Herbert ,
Jörn Kasbohm ,
Thao Hoang-Minh  and
Rafael Ferreiro Mählmann
Lan Nguyen-Thanh*
Affiliation:
Technical Petrology, Institute of Applied Geosciences, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstr. 9, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany Institute of Geography and Geology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University of Greifswald, Friedr.-Ludwig-Jahn-Str. 16, 17487, Greifswald, Germany
Horst-Jürgen Herbert
Affiliation:
Gesellschaft für Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit mbH, Theodor-Heuss-Str. 4, 38122, Braunschweig, Germany
Jörn Kasbohm
Affiliation:
Institute of Geography and Geology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University of Greifswald, Friedr.-Ludwig-Jahn-Str. 16, 17487, Greifswald, Germany
Thao Hoang-Minh
Affiliation:
VNU University of Science, 334 Nguyen Trai road, Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi, Vietnam
Rafael Ferreiro Mählmann
Affiliation:
Technical Petrology, Institute of Applied Geosciences, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstr. 9, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany
*
* E-mail address of corresponding author: nguyen@geo.tu-darmstadt.de
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Abstract

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Because of their isolating capacity, smectite-rich clays have been proposed as buffer and backfill materials in high-level radioactive waste repositories. These repositories have to guarantee long-term safety for ~1 million years. Thermodynamics and kinetics of possible alteration processes of bentonite determine its long-term performance as a barrier material. Smectites in 25 different clays and bentonites were investigated in order to identify possible differences in their rates of alteration. These samples were saturated for 30 days in 1 M NaCl solution and deionized water, and then overhead rotated at speeds of 20 rpm and 60 rpm. Depending on the octahedral and interlayer composition, each of the smectites studied had specific rate of alteration, a so-called specific dissolution potential of smectite. The bentonites were classed as ‘slow-reacting bentonite’, ‘moderate-reacting bentonite’, or ‘fast-reacting bentonite’ corresponding to a relatively low (ΔP specific dissolution potential — <-5%), moderate (-5% < ΔP < -20%), or high specific dissolution potential (ΔP > -20%), respectively. The larger the amount of octahedral Fe and Mg compared to octahedral Al, the greater the specific dissolution potential. The present study found that the interlayer composition has a discernible impact on the rate of alteration. In experiments with rotation speeds of 60 rpm and a 1 M NaCl solution, Na+ was found to be the stabilizing cation in the interlayers of all the smectites. The Na-stabilizing mechanism was identified in only some of the smectites (type A) in experiments with 20 rpm (1 M NaCl solution). A second stabilization mechanism (by interlayer cations; Ca and Mg) was identified for other smectites (type B). Each bentonite has a specific rate of alteration. ‘Slow-reacting bentonite’ and clay with smectite-illite interstratifications are recommended as potential clay barriers in HLW repositories. The experimental and analytical procedures described here could be applied to potential barrier materials to identify ‘slow-reacting bentonite’.

Keywords

BentonitesClay StabilityInterlayer CompositionOctahedral Sheet CompositionOverhead RotatingShort-term AlterationSmectiteSpecific Dissolution Potential
Type
Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 62 , Issue 5 , October 2014 , pp. 425 - 446
Copyright
Copyright © Clay Minerals Society 2014

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