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An extended reference fluid density approach/weighted correlation approximation (RFD/WCA) of density functional theory (DFT) is tested for the description of the non-restricted primitive model of electrolyte solutions in slit-like nanopores. The RFD/WCA approach of modeling size-asymmetric ions is validated by reproducing the density and electrostatic potential profiles of planar electrical double layer systems in the presence of mixtures of mono- and multivalent ions. The results from the DFT agree quite well with Monte Carlo simulations and satisfy the contact density sum rules of ionic fluid under a wide range of conditions. These findings suggest that a generic RFD/WCA approach can be formulated within the framework of the restricted and non-restricted primitive model to further investigate the swelling and ion exchange of clay minerals., QC 20170123

An extended reference fluid density approach/weighted correlation approximation (RFD/WCA) of density functional theory (DFT) for size-asymmetric electrolytes presented in part I is applied to calculate the forces and the ion exchange for Ca- and Na-montmorillonite systems in equilibrium with salt solutions. Our modeling shows that the DFT calculations are in excellent agreement with Monte Carlo simulations and experimental results. The results indicate that the ion size plays an important role in force-distance relation. Due to the excluded volume effect, the osmotic pressure curve predicted by DFT is shifted towards larger separation distances with increasing the diameter of counterions. Additionally, the interaction can be switched from attraction to repulsion with increasing diameter of counterions from standard to hydrated ionic size. Furthermore, the quantitative characterization of the exchange of calcium for sodium at room temperature on Wyoming bentonite is investigated with the DFT modeling in aqueous solutions at pH 7.0. It is found that a significant variation of the selectivity coefficient could be observed with the surface charge density, ionic diameter and interlayer separations. This implies that ion selectivity in compacted bentonite differs from that in dilute smectite dispersions., QC 20161129

Many countries intend to use compacted bentonite as a barrier in their deep geological repositories for nuclear waste. In order to describe and predict hydraulic conductivity or radionuclide transport through the bentonite barrier, fundamental understanding of the microstructure of compacted bentonite is needed. This study examined the interlayer swelling and overall microstructure of Wyoming Bentonite MX-80 and the corresponding homo-ionic Na+ and Ca2+ forms, using XRD with samples saturated under confined swelling conditions and free swelling conditions. For the samples saturated under confined conditions, the interparticle, or so-called free or external porosity was estimated by comparing the experimental interlayer distances obtained from one-dimensional XRD profile fitting against the maximum interlayer distances possible for the corresponding water content. The results showed that interlayer porosity dominated total porosity, irrespective of water content, and that the interparticle porosity was lower than previously reported in the literature. At compactions relevant for the saturated bentonite barrier (1.4-1.8 g/cm(3)), the interparticle porosity was estimated to <= 3%., QC 20120312

Abundance of the mineral chlorite as fracture filling material in granitic bedrock motivates sorption studies for quantification of the retention of radionuclides on this mineral. The activation product Ni-63 is an important component in spent nuclear fuel, accounting for a large contribution to the high activity level, and further motivates sorption studies of Ni on chlorite. Earlier sorption studies have been performed on larger mineral pieces; however, it is questionable if these data are representative for fracture filling material. Chlorite from a borehole core from Oskarshamn, Sweden, from the depth of 944 m has been characterized and the chemical composition determined prior to the experiments. The thickness of the fracture filling mineral is at maximum a couple of millimeters; therefore, careful removal of the thin chlorite layer from the core was performed with a carbide tool. The fraction was sieved to a size distribution of 63-118 mu m and ultrasonically washed. The major oxides were found to be 34.4 % SiO2, 21.6 % MgO, 15.4 % Al2O3 and 12.9 % Fe2O3 determined by Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis. Sorption of Ni(II) to the sample was performed in 0.1 M NaClO4 with a batch technique inside a glove-box with Ar-atmosphere, using Ni-63 as a tracer with the Ni carrier concentration of 10(-6) and 10(-8) M. The percent sorption in these experiments was 57% at pH 5.5, 85 % at pH 6.5 and 92 % at pH 8.3, with the last value corresponding to maximum sorption No significant differences between the experiments performed in the two concentrations of 10(-6) and 10(-8) M were found. The degree of sorption on this fracture filling material is of the same magnitude as earlier studies of Ni sorption on chlorite provided from larger mineral pieces, using the same size fraction of the material. Sorption of Ni is, as expected, strongly pH dependent and Ni-63 escaping a breached canister will, reaching chlorite within the surrounding, QC 20100819

Colloids, as humic acid, are known to be strong complexing agent for radionuclides. If such colloids are introduced into the bentonite barrier in a repository for spent fuel, the diffusivities for radionuclides can change. The colloid complexed radionuclides diffusivities will be governed by the colloidal diffusivities, and the transport of strongly bentonite sorbed radionuclides might be facilitated into the biosphere. The diffusive properties of Lignosulfonate (LS) colloids dissolved in 0.01 and 0.1 M NaClO4 in bentonite of dry densities 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.5, and 1.8 g/cm(3) are studied. LS is used as a model substance for humic acid. Independent of ionic strength and of dry density apparent diffusivities in the order of 10(-8) cm(2)/s were obtained. The ratios of effective diffusivity/apparent diffusivity are in accordance with the porosities of the bentonite. The diffusing colloids were not found to be hindered by ionic exclusion or by filtering effects. The results indicate that the LS diffuse through the bentonite as small uncharged colloids. It seems that ionic strength greater than or equal to 0.01 M NaClO4 provides enough ions to shield the charged sites on the colloids, and the colloids can coil into smaller units., QC 20100525

An experiment series at Aspo Hard Rock Laboratory, called "Long Term Test of Buffer Material", LOT, are carried out at Aspo Hard Rock Laboratory to validate models of clay buffer performance at standard KBS-3 repository conditions and to quantify clay buffer alteration processes at adverse conditions. In conjunction with the tests of the bentonite, cation diffusion tests using caesium and cobalt are performed. Each test contains 38 cylindrical blocks of bentonite clay with a hole in the middle which are placed around a copper rod in a vertically drilled hole at a depth of 450 m. In each test, four identical cylindrical bentonite plugs, doped with 1 MBq Co-57 and Cs-134, respectively, are inserted in the fifth block from the bottom. The system was left to be saturated with ground water before heating of the central copper rod started to simulate the thermal activity of radioactive waste. The experiments continued for 14 months before the bentonite blocks were drilled out using over-core drilling technique. The lowest blocks were cut up, sparsely in the outer layer, and in cubic centimeters, big samples closer to where the activity was inserted. All samples were analyzed using a gamma spectrometer to get a three-dimensional picture of the activity distribution. The system was then fitted to a diffusion model to obtain apparent diffusivities for the two cations. The apparent diffusivity for cobalt agrees well with those obtained in other in situ experiments and in laboratory studies, while the value for caesium is lower than expected. This can be due to that the clay was not fully water saturated during the experiment., QC 20100621 NR 20140804

QC 20100618

QC 20100819