Integrated sorption and diffusion model for bentonite. Part 1: clay–water interaction and sorption modeling in dispersed systems

Abstract

To predict the long-term migration of radionuclides (RNs) under variable conditions within the framework of safety analyses for geological disposal, thermodynamic sorption models are very powerful tools. The integrated sorption and diffusion (ISD) model for compacted bentonite was developed to achieve a consistent combination of clay–water interaction, sorption, and diffusion models. The basic premise considered in the ISD model was to consistently use the same simple surface model design and parameters for describing RNs sorption/diffusion as well as clay surface and porewater chemistry. A simple 1-site non-electrostatic surface complexation model in combination with a 1-site ion exchange model was selected to keep sorption model characteristics relatively robust for compacted systems. Fundamental parameters for the proposed model were evaluated from surface titration data for purified montmorillonite. The resulting basic model was then parameterized on the basis of selected published sorption data-sets for Np(V), Am(III), and U(VI) in dispersed systems, which cover a range of key geochemical conditions such as pH, ionic strength, and carbonate concentration. The sorption trends for these RNs can be quantitatively described by the model considering a full suite of surface species including hydrolytic and carbonate species. The application of these models to the description of diffusive-sorptive transport in compacted bentonites is presented in Part 2.