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Sorption of radionuclides to a cementitious backfill material under near-field conditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

M. Felipe-Sotelo ,
J. Hinchliff ,
N. Evans ,
P. Warwick  and
D. Read
M. Felipe-Sotelo*
Affiliation:
Chemistry Department, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK
J. Hinchliff
Affiliation:
Chemistry Department, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK
N. Evans
Affiliation:
Chemistry Department, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK
P. Warwick
Affiliation:
Chemistry Department, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK Enviras Ltd, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK
D. Read
Affiliation:
Chemistry Department, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK
*
*E-mail: m.felipe-sotelo@lboro.ac.uk
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Abstract

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The sorption behaviour of I−, Cs+, Ni2+, Eu3+, Th4+ and UO2+ 2on NRVB (Nirex reference vault backfill) a possible vault backfill, at pH 12.8 was studied. Sorption isotherms generated were compared to results obtained in the presence of cellulose degradation products (CDP). Whereas Cs was not affected by the presence of the organic compounds, a notable reduction in the sorption of Th and Eu to cement was observed. The results also indicated limited removal of Ni from solution (with or without an organic ligand) by sorption, the concentration in solution seemingly being determined solely by solubility processes. In the case of uranium, the presence of CDP increased the sorption to cement by almost one order of magnitude. Further studies into the uptake of CDP by cement are being undertaken to identify the mechanism(s) responsible.

Keywords

vault backfilleuropiumgeological disposalradioactive wastesorptionthoriumuraniumuranyl
Type
Research Article
Information
Mineralogical Magazine , Volume 76 , Issue 8 , December 2012 , pp. 3401 - 3410
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
© [2012] The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2012

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