Characterization Study of Algerian Bentonite Samples Using Nuclear Techniques Analysis for Environment Applications

Abstract

Bentonite material was synthesized and processed based on a raw matrix from the M'Zila deposit, W. Mostaganem, Algeria, to evaluate their efficiencies in the treatment of radioactive waste in solution. These BMB and (α-Fe2O3 / BMP-Na) materials have been subjected to elemental chemical analysis using two nuclear techniques which are the Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and the Energy Dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (EDXRF) technique. These techniques were multi-elementary, non-destructive and have a good precision and allowed us to identify the overall chemical composition of solid samples, in major elements such as iron (Fe), and Potassium (K) which form the composition of the soil matrix, as well as minor elements such as zirconium (Zr), Barium (Ba), and Sodium (Na) in particular rare earth elements (REEs), which are indicators of the presence of fissile elements such as uranium and thorium. The trace elements also have been detected such as Chromium (Cr), Zinc (Zn), Cobalt (Co), Galium (Ga), Scandium (Sc) and Cesium (Cs), Arsenic (As), and Bromine (Br) which are only trace elements in the ppm range and not metals. we recorded also the absence of Mercury (Hg), Selenium (Se) and Antimony (Sb) which indicates that our sampling deposit of the studied bentonite was not exposed to any external source pollution. These techniques allowed us also to confirm and quantify the insertion of hematite (α-Fe2O3) during doping and after sodium homoionization of the soil matrix.