Abstract
This study examined the conditions required to suppress microbial activity in compacted bentonite, such that microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) of copper waste containers, surrounded by compacted bentonite in a future deep geologic repository, would become insignificant. Experiments were carried out to determine the effects of dry density and porewater salinity on swelling pressure, water activity (aw) and the culturable microbial community in compacted bentonite. A dry density ³ 1.6 g/cm3 ensures that aw is < 0.96 and the swelling pressure > 2 MPa. Both conditions suppress microbial culturability below background levels (2.1 x 102 Colony-Forming Units/g) in as-purchased bentonite. Under such conditions, cells likely survive as dormant cells or inactive spores, which greatly reduces the possibility of significant MIC. Observations in natural clay-rich environments support these findings.
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Stroes-Gascoyne, S., Hamon, C.J., Dixon, D.A. et al. The Effects of Dry Density and Porewater Salinity on the Physical and Microbiological Characteristics of Compacted 100% Bentonite. MRS Online Proceedings Library 985, 1302 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-985-0985-NN13-02
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-985-0985-NN13-02