JAEA-Review-2010-065.pdf:15.99MB - 日本原子力研究開発機構
JAEA-Review-2010-065.pdf:15.99MB - 日本原子力研究開発機構
JAEA-Review-2010-065.pdf:15.99MB - 日本原子力研究開発機構
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1-23<br />
Studies on Microstructure and Elemental Distributions<br />
of Barrier Materials for Geological Disposal of<br />
Radioactive Waste<br />
N. Miyasaka a) , K. Yoshi a) , T. Kozaki b) , S. Sato b) , N. Kozai c) , M. Kohka d) ,<br />
T. Satoh d) and T. Kamiya d)<br />
a) Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University, b) Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido<br />
University, c) Advanced Science Research Center, <strong>JAEA</strong>,<br />
d) Department of Advanced Radiation Technology, TARRI, <strong>JAEA</strong><br />
A compacted Na-bentonite, of which major mineral is<br />
montmorillonite having high swelling ability and low<br />
hydraulic conductivity, is a candidate buffer material in<br />
geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste.<br />
However, Na-bentonite would change if its exchangeable<br />
cations of Na + are replaced with Fe 2+ which can be released<br />
from corrosion of carbon steel waste containers. Therefore,<br />
the performance as the buffer should be evaluated in a<br />
proper way not only for Na-bentonite but also for<br />
Fe(II)-bentonite. In a hydraulic conductivity measurement<br />
for Fe(II)-bentonite, Fe 2+ in the sample are easily oxidized<br />
and precipitated under the presence of oxygen. Similarly,<br />
some fraction of Fe 2+ in the sample may be precipitated as a<br />
result of hydrolysis if the sample is kept contact with fresh<br />
water for long time. Therefore, the stability of<br />
Fe(II)-bentonite during the measurement is a key issue to be<br />
studied so as to evaluate its hydraulic conductivity. In this<br />
study, Fe(II)-montmorillonite before and after the hydraulic<br />
conductivity measurements were characterized by chemical<br />
analyses. In addition, a micro-PIXE analysis was<br />
conducted for the samples to find the precipitation of iron in<br />
the samples.<br />
The Fe(II)-montmorillonite was prepared from<br />
Na-montmorillonite by a modified ion-exchange reaction<br />
using Fe(II)-nitrilotriacetate complex solution. Total<br />
amounts of exchangeable cations in the samples before and<br />
after the hydraulic conductivity measurement were<br />
determined by ICP-AES after extracted with 0.1 M KCl<br />
solution. The ratios of Fe(II) to total Fe extracted from the<br />
samples were determined by colorimetry. Detail<br />
procedures of the chemical analyses are described<br />
1)<br />
elsewhere . The samples for micro-PIXE analyses were<br />
prepared by drying the suspension of the sample which had<br />
been dropped on a graphite plate. The hydraulic<br />
conductivity measurements by constant head method were<br />
conducted at dry densities of 0.8 and 1.0 Mg m -3 for about<br />
30 days under a room temperature. Amount of distilled<br />
water passed through the sample during the experiment was<br />
3.6 × 10-5 m 3 and 2.5 × 10-6 m 3 per 1 g-clay at dry densities<br />
of 0.8 and 1.0 Mg m -3 , respectively. The samples were<br />
handled under oxygen-free condition except a moment to set<br />
the sample on a sample holder of the micro-PIXE system.<br />
Table 1 shows the results of chemical analyses for Fe(II)-<br />
sample before and after the hydraulic conductivity<br />
<strong>JAEA</strong>-<strong>Review</strong> <strong>2010</strong>-065<br />
- 27 -<br />
measurement at the dry density of 0.8 Mg m -3 . Although<br />
no oxidation of Fe(II) occurred, Fe content was found to<br />
decrease during the measurement. Figure 1 shows<br />
two-dimensional elemental mappings of Si, Al and Fe for<br />
the Fe(II)-sample after the hydraulic conductivity<br />
measurement. The region where only Fe has high content<br />
(as indicated with circles in the figure) appeared after the<br />
hydraulic conductivity measurement. These findings<br />
suggest that small fraction of Fe(II) ions in the Fe(II)-sample<br />
are precipitated between montmorillonite particles during<br />
the measurement.<br />
In general, Fe 2+ ions precipitated in micro pores may<br />
reduce the hydraulic conductivity, whereas Fe 2+ ions<br />
precipitated over montmorillonite particles may inhibit their<br />
swelling, resulting in high hydraulic conductivity.<br />
However, the hydraulic conductivities observed were kept<br />
constant during the whole period of the measurement at both<br />
dry densities. This suggests that at least small amount of<br />
the precipitation has no or negligibly small impact on the<br />
hydraulic conductivity.<br />
Reference<br />
1) J. Manjanna et al., J. Nucl. Sci. Tech. 44 (2007) 929.<br />
Table 1 Exchangeable cations and Fe(II)/Fe(total) ratio<br />
of Fe extracted from Fe(II)-samples before and after<br />
hydraulic conductivity measurement at dry density of<br />
0.8 Mg m -3 .<br />
Exchangeable cation [meq/100g] Fe(II)/Fe(total)<br />
Na Ca Fe [%]<br />
Before 3 2 101 100<br />
After 1 3 92 100<br />
Fig. 1 Two-dimensional elemental mappings of Si, Al and<br />
Fe for Fe(II)-sample after hydraulic conductivity<br />
measurement at dry density of 0.8 Mg m -3 .