Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of groundwater chemistry and temperature on swelling and microstructural properties of sand–bentonite for barriers of radioactive waste repositories

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Compacted bentonite–sand mixtures are commonly considered as the key materials for the construction of engineered barrier systems (EBSs) in deep geological repositories (DGRs) in Canada and other countries. These bentonite-based barriers can be simultaneously exposed to a wide range of chemical and thermal (nuclear waste heat decay) conditions of underground water. Thus, an understanding of the effects of groundwater chemistry and temperature and their interactions on the changes in the swelling properties as well as the microstructure of bentonite-based barriers is essential for assessing the durability and safety of an EBS in a DGR. This study experimentally investigates the impact of a Canadian deep underground water chemistry (C; total dissolved solids up to 300 g/L), temperature (T; 23 °C, 40 °C, and 80 °C), and the coupled effects of C and T on the swelling properties and microstructure of bentonite–sand barrier mixtures (30 to 70% by weight). The results show that the groundwater chemistry of southwestern Ontario (Canada) has a significant impact on the swelling characteristics of the examined bentonite–sand material. The swelling ability significantly decreases with respect to the groundwater chemistry. The mineralogical composition of the bentonite changes. Most of the Na-montmorillonite is mainly transformed to Ca-montmorillonite and traces of illite with a lower swelling capacity when the bentonite–sand barrier material is exposed mixed to saline water solutions. The temperature (alone) has a limited effect. However, the temperature–groundwater chemistry interactions significantly affect the swelling capacity of the studied bentonite–sand material. Future safety assessments and the final engineering design of engineered barriers for DGRs in Ontario should take into consideration the possibility of the long-term deterioration of bentonite–sand barriers from chemical attacks and/or thermochemical attacks induced by the high salinity of the groundwater and by simultaneous impact of the chemistry of the groundwater and the heat generated by the nuclear wastes, respectively.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ANDRA (2005) Dossier 2005 Argile. Les recherches de l’Andra sur le stockage géologique des déchets radioactifs à haute activité et à vie longue. Collection les rapports

  • Basma AA, Al-Homoud AS, Husein A (1995) Laboratory assessment of swelling pressure of expansive soils. Appl Clay Sci 9(5):355–368

    Google Scholar 

  • Borgesson L, Chijimatsu M, Fujita T, Nguyen TS, Rutqvist J, Jing L (2001) Thermo-hydro-mechanical characterisation of a bentonite-based buffer material by laboratory tests and numerical back analyses. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 38(1):95–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Boudriche L, Calvet R, Hamdi B, Balard H (2012) Surface properties evolution of attapulgite by IGC analysis as a function of thermal treatment. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 399:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradbury MH, Baeyens B (2002) Porewater chemistry in compacted re-saturated MX-80 bentonite: physicochemical characterisation and geochemical modelling. PSI Bericht 02–10, Villigen PSI and NTB 01–08, Nagra, Wettingen, Switzerland

  • Brunauer S, Emmett PH, Teller E (1938) Adsorption of gases in multimolecular layers. J Am Chem Soc 60(2):309–319

    Google Scholar 

  • Castellanos E, Villar MV, Romero E, Lloret A, Gens A (2008) Chemical impact on the hydro-mechanical behaviour of high-density FEBEX bentonite. Phys Chem Earth 33:S516–S526

    Google Scholar 

  • Cho WJ, Lee JO, Chun KS, Hahn DS (1999) Basic physicochemical properties of domestic bentonite for use as a buffer material in a high-level radioactive waste repository. J Korean Nucl Soc 31:39–50

  • Cho GC, Kim JS, Kwon SK, Sanchez M (2011) Geological storage of high level nuclear waste. KSCE J Civ Eng 15(4):721–737

  • Cui Y-J (2017) On the hydro-mechanical behaviour of MX80 bentonite-based materials. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 9(3):565–574

  • Cui SL, Zhang HU, Zhang M (2012) Swelling characteristics of compacted GMZ bentonite–sand mixtures as a buffer/backfill material in China. Eng Geol 141–142:65–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhawan S, Rao M (2012) Effect of heating and pore water salinity on the swelling characteristics of bentonite buffer. Clays in natural & engineered barriers for radioactive waste confinement. 4th international meeting – March 2010 – Nantes, France

  • Dogan M, Dogan AU, Yesilyurt F, Alaygut D, Buckner D, Wurster D (2007) Baseline studies of the clay minerals society special clays: specific surface area by the Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) method. Clay Clay Miner 55(5):534–541

    Google Scholar 

  • Dollar PS (1988) Geochemistry of formation waters, Southwestern Ontario, Canada and Southern Michigan, U.S.A. Implications for origin and evolution. M.Sc. Thesis. University of Waterloo, Canada

  • Drits V, Lindgreen H, Salyn A, Ylagan R, Mccarty D (1998) Semiquantitative determination of trans-vacant and cis-vacant 2:1 layers in illites and illite-smectites by thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction. Am Mineral 83:1188–1198

    Google Scholar 

  • Eberl DD, Velde B, McCormick T (1993) Synthesis of illite-smectite from smectite at earth surface temperatures and high pH. Clay Miner 28:49–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Estabragh AR, Khosravi F, Javadi AA (2016) Effect of thermal history on the properties of bentonite. Environ Earth Sci 75(8):657

    Google Scholar 

  • Fall M, Nasir O, Nguyen TS (2012) Coupled hydromechanical modeling of gas migration in Ontario’s sedimentary rocks, potential host rocks for nuclear waste repositories. Canadian Geotechnical Conference – Geomanitoba 2012

  • Fall M, Nasir O, Nguyen S (2014) A coupled hydro-mechanical model for simulation of gas migration in host sedimentary rocks for nuclear waste repositories. Eng Geol 176:24–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Garrels R (1984) Montmorillonite/illite stability diagrams. Clay Clay Miner 32(3):161–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghadr S, Assadi-Langroudi A (2018) Structure-based hydro-mechanical properties of sand-bentonite composites. Eng Geol 235:53–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Grim RE, Güven N (1978) Bentonites, geology, mineralogy, properties and uses, development in sedimentology, vol 24. Elsevier, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo G, Fall M (2018) Modelling of dilatancy-controlled gas flow in bentonite based materials with double porosity and double effective stress concepts. Eng Geol 243(4):253–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo G, Fall M (2019) Modelling of preferential gas flow in heterogeneous and saturated bentonite based on phase field method. Comput Geotech 116:103206

    Google Scholar 

  • He Y, Ye W-M, Chen Y-G, Chen B, Ye B, Cui Y-J (2016) Influence of pore fluid concentration on water retention properties of compacted GMZ01 bentonite. Appl Clay Sci 5(129):131–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Heller-Kallai L (2013) Thermally modified clay minerals, in Developments in clay science, Vol. 5A, Handbook of clay science, 2d Ed., F. Bergaya and G. Lagaly Eds, Chapter 10.2, pp. 411–434, Elsevier, Amsterdam

  • Herbert HJ, Kasbohm J, Sprenger H, Fernández AM, Reichelt C (2008) Swelling pressures of MX-80 bentonite in solutions of different ionic strength. Phys Chem Earth 33:S327–S342

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen M, Lam T, Luhowy D, McLay J, Semec B, Frizzell R (2009) Ontario power generation’s proposed L&ILW deep geologic repository: an overview of geoscientific studies. Nuclear Waste Management Organization, GeoHalifax2009/GéoHalifax2009

  • Jeong E, Lim JM, Seo K-W, Lee Y-S (2011) Effects of physicochemical treatments of illite on the thermo-mechanical properties and thermal stability of illite/epoxy composites. J Ind Eng Chem 17:77–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Jönsson B, Akesson T, Jönsson B, Meehdi S, Janiak J, Wallenberg R (2009) Structure and forces in bentonite MX-80. SKB Technical Report TR-09-06. Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company, Stockholm, Sweden

  • Justinavicius D, Poskas P, Narkuniene A (2016) Gas migration modelling in geological repository module in clay formation and sensitivity analysis. Eng Geol 213:158–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Karnland O, Birgersson M (2006) Montmorillonite stability with respect to KBS-3 conditions. SKB Technical Report TR-06-11. Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company, Stockholm, Sweden

  • Kaufhold S, Dohrman R (2011) Stability of bentonites in salt solutions III—calcium hydroxide. Appl Clay Sci 51:300–307

    Google Scholar 

  • Komarneni S, Ravella R, Park M (2005) Swelling mica-type clays: synthesis by NaCl melt method, NMR characterization and cation exchange selectivity. J Mater Chem 15:4241–4245

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee OL, Kang IM, Cho WJ (2010) Smectite alteration and its influence on the barrier properties of smectite clay for a repository. Appl Clay Sci 47:99–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Su G, Zheng Q, Nguyen TS (2019) A dual-porosity model for the study of chemical effects on the swelling behaviour of MX-80 bentonite. Materials 12(10):1671

    Google Scholar 

  • Mansa R, Huang C-T, Quintela A, Rocha F, Detellier C (2015) Preparation and characterization of novel clay/PLA nanocomposites. Appl Clay Sci 115:87–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Mata C, Ledesma A (2003) Hydro-chemical behaviour of bentonite based mixtures in engineered barriers. In Proceedings of International Workshop on Large Scale Field Tests in Granite: Advances in Understanding and Research Needs, Sitges, Spain, 12–14 November 2003. Universitat Polite`cnicia de Catalunya- ENRESA. Sitges, Spain. Paper No. 22. Minerals 41, 162–177

  • Mitchell JK, Soga K (1993) Fundamentals of soil behavior, Book 2nd edition, Wiley

  • Moore DM, Reynolds RC (1989) X-ray diffraction and the identification and analysis of clay minerals. New York City: Oxford University press; Oxford

  • Morena GDL, Asensio L, Navarro V (2018) Intra-aggregate water content and void ratio model for MX-80 bentonites. Eng Geol 246:131–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Morodome S, Kawamura K (2009) Swelling behavior of Na- and Ca-montmorillonite up to 150°C by in situ X-ray diffraction experiments. Clay Clay Miner 57:150–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Nasir O, Fall M, Evgin E (2014a) A simulator for modeling of porosity and permeability changes in near field sedimentary host rocks under climate changes influences. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 42:122–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Nasir O, Fall M, Nguyen S, Evgin E (2014b) Modeling of the thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical response of Ontario sedimentary rocks to future glaciations. Can Geotech J. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2013-0016

  • Navarro V, Yustres Á, Asensio L, Morena DLG, González-Arteaga J, Laurila T, Pintado X (2017) Modelling of compacted bentonite swelling accounting for salinity effects. Eng Geol 223(7):48–58

    Google Scholar 

  • NWMO (2011a) Geosynthesis. Prepared by: Nuclear Waste Management Organization NWMO DGR-TR-2011-11

  • NWMO (2011b) OPG’s deep geological repository for low and intermediate level. Waste, regional hydrogeochemistry – Southern Ontario. NWMO DGR-TR-2011-12

  • NWMO (2012) Nuclear Waste Management Organization, Newsletter volume 10, issue 3 June

  • NWMO (2013) Website http://www.nwmo.ca/dgrprojectschedule

  • Ouellet-Plamondon C, Stasiak J, Al-Tabbaa A (2014) The effect of cationic, non-ionic and amphiphilic surfactants on the intercalation of bentonite. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 444:330–337

    Google Scholar 

  • Priyanto D, Baumgartner P (2008) Volume-mass relationships of soil with fresh water and saline water solutions. Nuclear waste management organization, appendix D: technical report TR-2008-04

  • Pusch R (1982) Mineral-water interactions and their influence on the physical behaviour of highly compacted Na bentonite. Can Geotech J 19:381–387

    Google Scholar 

  • Pusch R (1998) Backfilling with mixtures of bentonite/ballast materials or natural smectitic clay. SKB Technical Report. TR-98-16 Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company, Stockholm, Sweden

  • Pusch R (2000) On the effect of hot water vapor on MX-80 clay. Geodevelopment AB, Lund. Technical Report:TR-00-16, KSB

  • Pusch R (2001) Experimental study of the effect of high porewater salinity on the physical properties of a natural smectitic clay, SKB, Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co., Technical Report TR-01-07, KSB

  • Pusch R (2002) The buffer and backfill handbook. Part 1. SKB Technical Report TR-02-20. Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company, Stockholm, Sweden

  • Pusch R, Yong RN (2006) Microstructure of smectite clays and engineering performance. Book, CRC Press. Taylor & Francis, 332 pages

  • Quintessa (2011) Bentonite a review of key properties, processes and issues for consideration in the UK context QRS-1378ZG-1, Version 11, February

  • Rodwell WR, Horseman ST, Harris AW (1999) Gas migration and two-phase flow through engineered and geological barriers for a deep repository for radioactive waste. A Joint EC/NEA Status Report, EUR 19112 EN, Brussels

  • RWM (2003) Engineered barrier systems and the safety of deep geological repositories. Radioactive Waste Management, ISBN 92-64-18498-8

  • Rytwo G, Banin A, Nir S (1996) Exchange reactions in the Ca-Mg-Na montmorillonite system. Clay Clay Miner 44:276–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Sällfors G, Öberg-Högsta A-L (2002) Determination of hydraulic conductivity of sand-bentonite mixtures for engineering purposes. Geotech Geol Eng 20(1):65–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar G, Siddiqua S (2017) Preliminary studies of hydraulic and mechanical behavior of nanoparticle-based light backfill exposed to pore fluid salinity. J Hazard Toxic Radioact Waste 21(2):04016010

    Google Scholar 

  • Siddiqua S, Blatz J, Siemens G (2011) Evaluation of the impact of pore fluid chemistry on the hydromechanical behaviour of clay-based sealing materials. Can Geotech J 48:199–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Sing KSW (1982) Reporting physisorption data for gas/solid systems with special reference to the determination of surface area and porosity. Pure Appl Chem 54(11):22OI–22l8

    Google Scholar 

  • Steefel C, Rutqvist J, Tsang CF, Liu HH, Sonnenthal E, Houseworth J, Birkholzer J (2010) Reactive transport and coupled THM processes in engineering barrier systems (EBS). Lawrence Berkeley national laboratory (LBNL), 09-10-2010

  • Teich-McGoldrick SL, Greathouse JA, Jové-Colon CF, Cygan RT (2015) Swelling properties of montmorillonite and beidellite clay minerals from molecular simulation: comparison of temperature, interlayer cation, and charge location effects. J Phys Chem C 119:20880–20891

    Google Scholar 

  • Terzaghi K, Peck RB, Mesri G (1996) Soil mechanics in engineering practice, 3rd edn, pp 71–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas HR, Cleall PJ, Chandler N, Dixon D, Mitchell HP (2003) Water infiltration into a large-scale in-situ experiment in an underground research laboratory. Géotechnique 53(2):207–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Ureana C, Azañón JM, Corpas F, Nieto F, León C, Pérez L (2013) Magnesium hydroxide, seawater and olive mill wastewater to reduce swelling potential and plasticity of bentonite soil. Constr Build Mater 45:289–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Velde R, Renac C (1996) Smectite to illite conversion and K-Ar ages. Clay Miner 31:25–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Villar MV, Lloret A (2004) Influence of temperature on the hydro-mechanical behaviour of a compacted bentonite. Appl Clay Sci 26:237–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang CC, Juang LC, Lee CK, Hsu TC, Lee JF, Chao HP (2004) Effects of exchanged surfactant cations on the pore structure and adsorption characteristics of montmorillonite. J Colloid Interface Sci 280(1):27–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q, Tan A, Cu YI, Delage P, Gatmiri B (2012) Experimental study on the swelling behaviour of bentonite/claystone mixture. Eng Geol 124:59–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Wersin P, Johnson LH, McKinely IG (2007) Performance of the bentonite barrier at temperatures beyond 100°C: a critical review. Phys Chem Earth 32:780–788

    Google Scholar 

  • World Nuclear Association (2014) Radioactive waste management. http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Nuclear-Fuel-Cycle/Nuclear-Wastes/Radioactive-Waste-Management

  • Ye W-M, He Y, Chen Y-G, Chen B, Cui YJ (2016) Thermochemical effects on the smectite alteration of GMZ bentonite for deep geological repository. Environ Earth Sci 75:906

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang F, Ye WM, Chen YG, Chen B, Cui YJ (2016) Influences of salt solution concentration and vertical stress during saturation on the volume change behavior of compacted GMZ01 bentonite. Eng Geol 207:48–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Chen Q, Qin X, Hong B, Zhang Q (2017) In-situ stress and fracture characterization of a candidate repository for spent nuclear fuel in Gansu, northwestern China. Eng Geol 231:218–229

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, 161 Colonel by, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada

    Asmaa Shehata, Mamadou Fall & Mohammed Alzamel

  2. Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences and Center for Catalysis Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

    Christian Detellier

Authors
  1. Asmaa Shehata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mamadou Fall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Christian Detellier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mohammed Alzamel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mamadou Fall.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shehata, A., Fall, M., Detellier, C. et al. Effect of groundwater chemistry and temperature on swelling and microstructural properties of sand–bentonite for barriers of radioactive waste repositories. Bull Eng Geol Environ 80, 1857–1873 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-020-02020-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-020-02020-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation