Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Adsorption of cesium and strontium on natrified bentonites

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The influence of chemical activation–natrification of bentonites on adsorption of Cs and Sr was studied with regards to utilization of bentonites for depositing high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. Bentonite samples from three Slovak deposits in three different grain-size (15, 45 and 250 μm), natural and natrified forms (Na-bentonites); under various experimental conditions, such as contact time, adsorbent and adsorbate concentration have been studied. When comparing the Na-bentonites and their natural analogues, the highest adsorbed Cs and Sr amounts were reached on the natrified samples. After the Sr adsorption a drop in the pH equilibrium value was observed together with the increase of the initial Sr concentration. A disadvantage of the natrified bentonite forms is formation of colloid particles. After 2 h of phase mixing a gentle turbidity was observed as well as formation of a gel-like form. The above findings were confirmed by observing the particle distribution in dry and wet dispersion and centrifugation at two different speeds. Natrification as a technological process of bentonite quality improvement cannot be applied when constructing a long-term repository for high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. The main problem of natrification is a technological process which leads to a significant pH increase. Alkaline environment in combination with the K presence and increased temperature in the vicinity of radio-active waste can lead to a rapid illitization of smectite and loss of the original adsorption qualities. Moreover, sodium additions are a significant point of uncertainty since it is not possible to state what amount of Na enters the interlayer space and what amount stays in the inter-partition space.

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
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Šucha V (2001) Íly v geologických procesoch. Acta Geologica Universitas Comenianae, Bratislava

    Google Scholar 

  2. Meunier A (2005) Clays. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  3. Gregor M, Číčel B (1969) Bentonit a jeho využite. SAV, Bratislava

    Google Scholar 

  4. Galamboš M, Rosskopfová O, Paučová V, Adamcová R, Rajec P (2009) Sorption properties of bentonites barriers. Bezpečnost jaderné energie (in process)

  5. Galamboš M, Rosskopfová O, Daňo M, Adamcová R, Rajec P (2009) Slovak bentonites utilization in deposition of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel (in process)

  6. Galamboš M, Kufčáková J, Rajec P (2009) Sorption of strontium on Slovak bentonites. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 281(3):347–357

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Galamboš M, Kufčáková J, Rajec P (2009) Adsorption of cesium on domestic bentonites. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 281(3):485–492

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Galamboš M, Kufčáková J, Rajec P (2009) Adsorption of cesium on bentonites and montmorillonite. J Radioanal Nucl Chem (in process)

  9. Beláň J (2007) Minulosť a súčasné trendy jadrovej chémie. Omega Info, Bratislava

    Google Scholar 

  10. Adamcová R, Haasová Z (2005) Vybrané fyzikálne vlastnosti bentonitu pre úložisko rádioaktívneho odpadu. Mineralia Slovaca 37(3):387–389

    Google Scholar 

  11. Rajec P, Matel L, Orechovská J, Šucha V (1996) Sorption of radionuclides on inorganic sorbents. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 208(2):477–486

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Galamboš M, Rajec P (2009) Adsorpcia cézia na bentonite Jelšový potok – konkurencia katiónov. Radiologické metody v hydrosféře 09 – Zborník, Chrudim, Žďár nad Sázavou, 85–92

  13. Galamboš M (2009) Prvá Interaktívna konferencia mladých vedcov, 49, Námestovo

  14. Galamboš M, Rosskopfová O, Paučová V, Rajec P (2009) Adsorpcia cézia na smektitickom bentonite z ložiska Jelšový potok, XI. Banskoštiavnické dni 2009 – zborník abstraktov, Zvolen, 81–87

  15. Dyer A, Chow JKK, Umar IM (2000) The uptake of caesium and strontium radioisotopes onto clays. J Mater Chem 10(12):2734–2740

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Gu BX, Wang LM, Minc LD, Ewing RC (2001) Temperature effects on the radiation stability and ion exchange capacity of smectites. J Nucl Mater 297(3):345–354

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Gens A, Guimaraes LdoN, Garcia-Molina A, Alonso EE (2002) Factors controlling rock–clay buffer interaction in a radioactive waste repository. Eng Geol 64(2–3):297–308

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Adamcová R (2002) Retardation capability of mineral linings of waste disposal sites. Acta Geologica Universitas Comenianae 57:5–33

    Google Scholar 

  19. Andrejkovičová S, Madejová J, Czímerová A, Galko I, Dohrmann R, Komadel P (2006) Mineralogy and chemistry of Fe-rich bentonite Lieskovec deposit (Central Slovakia). Geologica Carphatica 57(5):371–378

    Google Scholar 

  20. Morel J-P, Marry V, Turq P, Morel-Desrosiers N (2007) Effect of temperature on the retention of Cs+ by Na-montmorillonite: microcalorimetric investigation. J Mater Chem 17:2812–2817

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Andrejkovičová S, Rocha F, Janotka I, Komadel P (2008) An investigation into the use of blends of two bentonites for geosynthetic clay liners. Geotext Geomembr 26:436–445

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Andrejkovičová S, Janotka I, Komadel P (2008) Evaluation of geotechnical properties of bentonite from Lieskovec deposit, Slovakia. Appl Clay Sci 38:297–303

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Osacký M, Honty M, Madejová J, Bakas T, Šucha V (2009) Experimental interactions of slovak bentonites with metalic iron. Geologica Carpathica 60(6):535–543

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Stríček I, Šucha V, Uhlík P, Madejová J, Galko I (2009) Mineral stability of Fe-rich bentonite in the Mock-Up-Cz experiment. Geologica Carpathica 60(5):431–436

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Holmboe M, Wold S, Jonsson M, García-García S (2009) Effects of γ-irradiation on the stability of colloidal Na+-montmorillonite dispersions. Appl Clay Sci 43(1):86–90

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Adamcová R, Madsen FT (1996) Heavy metal retardation in some Slovak clays and clayey soils. Geologica Carpathica Clays 5(1):13–20

    Google Scholar 

  27. Murali MS, Mathur JN (2002) Sorption characteristic of Am(III), Sr(II) and Cs(I) on bentonite and granite. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 254(1):129–136

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Khan SA (2003) Sorption of the long-lived radionuclides cesium-134, strontium-85 and cobalt-60 on bentonite. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 258(1):3–6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Galamboš M, Kufčáková J, Rajec P, Paučová V (2007) Adsorpcia iónov stroncia na bentonitoch slovenského pôvodu – vplyv zmeny pH prostredia, IX. Banskoštiavnické dni 2007 – zborník abstraktov, Zvolen, 81–87

  30. Galamboš M, Paučová V (2002) Vplyv zmeny pH prostredia na sorpciu Sr(II) na bentonite Jelšový potok. Študentská vedecká konferencia PriF UK v Bratislave, zborník abstraktov 2, 20–22

  31. Galamboš M, Paučová V (2009) Vplyv pH na sorpčné vlastnosti bentonitu Kopernica. Študentská vedecká konferencia PriF UK v Bratislave, zborník recenzovaných príspevkov, 830–835

  32. Hurel C, Marmier N, Bourg AC, Fromage F (2009) Sorption of Cs and Rb on purified and crude MX-80 bentonite in various electrolytes. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 279(1):113–119

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Galamboš M, Kufčáková J, Rajec P (2006) Bentonites from Slovak deposits—study of sorption characteristics. XXVIII. Dny radiační ochrany – zborník abstraktov, 97–99

  34. Galamboš M, Kufčáková J, Rajec P (2008) Influence of competitive ions on sorption of strontium on Slovak bentonites. XXX. Days of radiation protection—collection of abstracts, Liptovský Ján, 179–183

  35. Galamboš M, Rosskopfová O, Paučová V, Daňo M, Rajec P (2009) Bentonitové bariéry v multibariérovom systéme hlbinných geologických úložísk – štúdium adsorpčných procesov. XXXI. Days of radiation protection—collection of abstracts, Kouty nad Desnou, Hrubý Jeseník, 97

  36. Emmerich K, Wolters F, Kahr G, Lagaly G (2009) Clay profiling: the classification of montmorillonites. Clays Clay Miner 57(1):104–114

    Google Scholar 

  37. Chatterjee A, Iwasaki T, Hayashi H, Ebina T, Torii K (1998) Electronic and structural properties of montmorillonite—a quantum chemical study. J Mol Catal A 136(2):195–202

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Odom IE (1987) Na/Ca montmorillonite: properties and uses. Trans AIME, Part A-Industrial Minerals 282:1893–1901

  39. Odom IE (1984) Smectite clay minerals: properties and uses. Philos Trans R Soc Lond A311:391–409

    Google Scholar 

  40. Permien T, Lagaly G (1994) The rheological and colloidal properties of bentonite dispersions in the presence of organic compounds: I. Flow behaviour of sodium-bentonite in water–alcohol. Appl Clay Sci 29:751–760

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Permien T, Lagaly G (1994) The rheological and colloidal properties of bentonite dispersions in the presence of organic compounds: IV. Sodium montmorillonite and acids. Appl Clay Sci 9:251–263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Permien T, Lagaly G (1994) The rheological and colloidal properties of bentonite dispersions in the presence of organic compounds: III. The effect of alcohols on the coagulation of sodium montmorillonite. Colloid Polym Sci 272:1306–1312

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Komine H, Ogata N (1996) Prediction for swelling characteristics of compacted bentonite. Can Geotech J 33:11–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Środoń J, Andreolli C, Elsass F, Robert M (1990) Direct highresolution transmission electron microscopic measurement of expandability of mixed-layer illite/smectite in bentonite rocks. Clays Clay Miner 38:373–379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Santamarina JC, Klein KA, Wang YH, Prencke E (2002) Specific surface: determination and revelance. Can Geotech J 39:233–241

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Hauser EA, Reed CE (1937) Studies in thixotropy. II. The thixotropic behaviour structure of bentonite. J Phys Chem 41(7):911–934

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Masahiko Y, Naoki A (2005) Thixotropy and thermophysical properties of bentonite suspension. Thermophys Prop 26:496–498

    Google Scholar 

  48. Sridharan A, Rao AS, Sivapullaiah PV (1986) Swelling pressure of clays. Geotech Test J 9:24–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Číčel B, Komadel P, Bednáriková E, Madejová J (1992) Mineralogical composition and distribution of Si, Al, Fe, Mg and Ca in the fine fractions of some Czech and Slovak bentonites. Geol Carpath Clays 43:3–7

    Google Scholar 

  50. Huertas FJ, Carretero P, Delgado J, Linares J, Samper J (2001) An experimental study on The ion-exchange behaviour of the smectite of Cabo de Gata (Almeria, Spain): FEBEX. Colloid Interface Sci 239(2):409–416

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Degryse F, Smolders E, Cremers A (2004) Enhanced sorption and fixation of radiocaesium in soils amended with K-bentonites, submitted to wetting–drying cycles. Eur J Soil Sci 55(3):513–522

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Alther GR (1986) The effect of the exchangeable cations on the physico-chemical properties of Wyoming bentonites. Appl Clay Sci 1:273–284

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Keren R (1989) Effect of clay charge density and adsorbed ions on the rheology of montmorillonite suspensions. Soil Sci Am J 53:25–29

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Kufčáková J, Galamboš M, Rajec P (2005) Sorption of strontium on selected group of bentonites. ChemZi 1(3):270

    Google Scholar 

  55. Kufčáková J, Galamboš M, Rajec P (2005) Sorption of strontium on bentonites from Slovak deposits. XXVII. Days of radiation protection—collection of abstracts, Liptovský Ján, 119–120

  56. Cuevas J, Villar MV, Martín M, Cobeña JC, Leguey S (2002) Thermo-hydraulic gradients on bentonite: distribution of soluble salts, microstructure and modification of the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour. Appl Clay Sci 22(1–2):25–38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Villar MV, Martín PL, Barcala JM (2005) Modification of physical, mechanical and hydraulic properties of bentonite by thermo-hydraulic gradients. Eng Geol 81(3):284–297

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Makhoukhi B, Didi MA, Villemin D (2007) Modification with diphosphonium salts: synthesis and characterization. Mat Lett 62(16):2493–2496

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Nowicki A, Przybytniak G, Kornacka A, Mirkowski K, Zimek Z (2007) Radiation-induced modification of montmorillonite used as a filler in PP composite. Radiat Phys Chem 76(5):893–900

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Bojemueller E, Nennemann A, Lacaly G (2001) Enhanced pesticide adsorption by thermally modified bentonites. Appl Clay Sci 18(5–6):277–284

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Villar MV, Cuevas J, Martin PL (1996) Effects of heat/water flow interaction on compacted bentonite: preliminary results. Eng Geol 41:257–267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Babaki H, Salem A, Jafarizad A (2007) Kinetic model for the isothermal activation of bentonite by sulfuric acid. Mater Chem Phys 108(2–3):263–268

    Google Scholar 

  63. Komadel P, Schmidt D, Madejova J, Číčel B (1990) Alteration of Smectite by treatments with hydrochloric acid and sodium carbonate solutions. Appl Clay Sci 5:113–122

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Onal M, Sarikaya Y, Alemdaroglu T (2002) The effect of acid activation on some physicochemical properties of a bentonite. Turk J Chem 26:409–416

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Onal M, Sankaya Y (2007) Preparation and characterization of acid-activated bentonite powders. Powder Technol 172(1):14–18

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Bleifuss RL (1973) Activation of non-swelling bentonite. Clay Miner 10:41

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Saidi A, Shamanian M, Barati M, Azari K (2004) Hyperactivation of bentonite in pelletizing process. Int J ISSI 1(1):38–41

    Google Scholar 

  68. Madejová J, Bujdák J, Janek M, Komadel P (1998) Comparative FT-IR study of structural modifications during acid treatment of dioctahedral smectites and hectorite. Spectrochim Acta A 54:1397–1406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Sarikaya Y, Onal M, Ceylan H, Bozdogan I (1994) Soda activation of Giresun bentonite. Turk Chem J 18:11–20

    Google Scholar 

  70. Szanto F, Gilde-Farkas M, Varkonyi B, Balazs J (1967) Binding of Na2CO3 by bentonite fractions. Acta Geol Acad Sci Hung 11(4):409–418

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Tombacz E, Balazs J, Lakatos J, Szanto F (1989) Influence of the exchangeable cations on stability and rheological properties of montmorillonite suspensions. Colloid Polym Sci 267:1016–1025

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Volzone C, Garrido LB (1991) The effect of some physico-chemical and mineralogical properties on the Na2CO3 activation of Argentine bentonites. Appl Clay Sci 6:143–154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Yildiz N, Erol M, Baran B, Sarikaya I, Calimli A (1998) Modification of rheology and permeability of Turkish ceramic clays using sodium silicate. Appl Clay Sci 13:65–77

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Bakhmatyuk BP, Grygorchak II, AYu Pidluzhna, Ripetskii EI (2007) Intercalation of bentonite: thermodynamics, kinetics, and practical applications. Inorg Mater 43(5):537–540

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Hrachová J, Komadel P, Fajnor VŠ (2007) The effect of mechanical treatment on the structure of montmorillonite. Mater Lett 61(16):3361–3365

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Kim BH, Jung JH, Kim JW, Choi HJ, Joo J (2001) Effect of dopant and clay on nanocomposites of polyaniline (PAN) intercalated into Na+-montmorillonite (Na+-MMT). Synth Met 121:1311–1312

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Kadlecová Z, Puffr R, Baldrian J, Schmidt P, Roda J, Brožek J (2008) Homoionic inorganic montmorillonites as fillers for polyamide 6 nanocomposites. Eur Polym J 44:2798–2806

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  78. Panasyugin AS, Kitikova NV, Bondareva GV, Raťko AI (2003) Adsorption and structural properties of montmorillonite pillared with hydroxocomplexes of iron and rare-earth metals. Colloid J 65(4):478–481

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  79. Mody HM, Oza PM, Pandya VP (1993) Alumina-pillared clay of improved thermal stability. Appl Clay Sci 8:53–60

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  80. Bahranowski K, Serwicka EM (1993) Preparation and physico-chemical characterization of vanadium-doped pillared montmorillonites. Geol Carpath Clays 44:17–20

    Google Scholar 

  81. Vaughan DEW (1988) Pillared clays—a historical perspective. Catal Today 2:187–198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská Dolina, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

    Michal Galamboš, Jana Kufčáková, Ol’ga Rosskopfová & Pavol Rajec

Authors
  1. Michal Galamboš
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jana Kufčáková
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ol’ga Rosskopfová
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Pavol Rajec
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michal Galamboš.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Galamboš, M., Kufčáková, J., Rosskopfová, O. et al. Adsorption of cesium and strontium on natrified bentonites. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 283, 803–813 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-009-0424-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-009-0424-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation