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Diffusion of Cs+ in compacted Na+/K+–saturated smectite-rich natural clay: role of clay microstructure

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Abstract

Clay surrounding nuclear waste in an underground repository for radioactive waste gets modified by fluid emanating from surrounding host rock. In this work, caesium (Cs+) diffusion was investigated in smectite-rich natural clay saturated with varying exchange ions (Na+, K+). In a transient in-diffusion process carried over 28–60 °C, Cs+ diffusion was found faster (Diffusion coefficient, Da = 6.5 × 10–12–5.2 × 10–12 m2s−1) in K+–saturated clay compared to that in Na+–clay. Small-angle X-ray diffraction revealed three and two molecular water layers present in interlayer of compacted water-saturated Na+–clay and K+–clay, respectively. These studies were rationalised considering exchange ions–dependent stacking of clay platelets and a role of clay microstructural details in Cs+ diffusion characteristics.

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Acknowledgements

Authors (SK, AC) are thankful to Head, CCS, RACD and Head RACD for their constant support and encouragement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radioanalytical Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India

    Sumit Kumar & Annapurna Chandane

  2. Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, 400094, India

    Sumit Kumar, Arijit Sengupta & Pulya U. Sastry

  3. Radiochemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India

    Arijit Sengupta

  4. Solid State Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India

    Vaisyappattu B. Jayakrishnan & Pulya U. Sastry

  5. Technology Development Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India

    Rakesh K. Bajpai

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Kumar, S., Chandane, A., Sengupta, A. et al. Diffusion of Cs+ in compacted Na+/K+–saturated smectite-rich natural clay: role of clay microstructure. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 332, 203–210 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08709-z

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