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. 2019 Feb;41(1):411-425.
doi: 10.1007/s10653-018-0123-y. Epub 2018 May 23.

Investigation of 3H, 99Tc, and 90Sr transport in fractured rock and the effects of fracture-filling/coating material at LILW disposal facility

Won-Seok Kim  1 , Sangsoo Han  2 , Jinmo Ahn  2 , Wooyong Um  2   3
Affiliations

Investigation of 3H, 99Tc, and 90Sr transport in fractured rock and the effects of fracture-filling/coating material at LILW disposal facility

Won-Seok Kim et al. Environ Geochem Health. 2019 Feb.

Abstract

Batch adsorption, batch diffusion, and flow-through column experiments were conducted using groundwater and fractured rock collected in unsaturated zone to increase our understanding of sorption and transport behavior of radionuclides. Increasing Kd values were observed in the sequence 90Sr, 99Tc, and 3H regardless of the geological media tested. For all sorbing radionuclides, Kd values for the fracture-filling/coating material were observed to be higher than those for without fracture-filling/coating material regardless of the groundwater. These higher Kd values are the result of zeolite mineral in filling/coating material of fractured rock. The batch diffusion and flow-through column experiments were also conducted using the same fractured rock sample, and the results of diffusion and column experiments showed similar trend of radionuclide sorption and transport to sorption experiment. In this study, sorption Kd of radionuclide was determined and used to increase our understanding of radionuclide retardation through fracture-filling/coating materials.

Keywords: Adsorption; Fractured rock; Radionuclide transport; Repository; Unsaturated zone.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The in situ core sampling point at LILW repository in Gyeongju, South Korea
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Experiment for a batch sorption, b flow-through column, and c diffusion
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Fractured rock sample and column
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The schematic diagram of diffusion cell (unit, mm)
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
a PLM, b SEM, c XRD result of fractured rock
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Result of XMT for core sample with fractures
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Breakthrough curves for Br and radionuclide and CXTFIT model fit
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Experimental results and linear regression line for 3H diffusion through with and without fractured sample
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Experimental results and linear regression line for 99Tc diffusion through with and without fractured sample
Fig. 10
Fig. 10
Experimental results and linear regression line for 90Sr diffusion through with and without fractured sample
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References

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