Abstract
Batch adsorption, batch diffusion, and flow-through column experiments were conducted using groundwater and fractured rock collected in unsaturated zone to increase our understanding of sorption and transport behavior of radionuclides. Increasing Kd values were observed in the sequence 90Sr, 99Tc, and 3H regardless of the geological media tested. For all sorbing radionuclides, Kd values for the fracture-filling/coating material were observed to be higher than those for without fracture-filling/coating material regardless of the groundwater. These higher Kd values are the result of zeolite mineral in filling/coating material of fractured rock. The batch diffusion and flow-through column experiments were also conducted using the same fractured rock sample, and the results of diffusion and column experiments showed similar trend of radionuclide sorption and transport to sorption experiment. In this study, sorption Kd of radionuclide was determined and used to increase our understanding of radionuclide retardation through fracture-filling/coating materials.
Highlights
A final repository for the radioactive waste is required in South Korea
The objective of this work is to investigate the sorption of radionuclides including measurements of the Kd values of 3H, 99Tc, and 90Sr for fracturefilling/coating material, and the transport to radionuclides released to the vadose zone at the Wolsong low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste (LILW) repository in unsaturated zone
Fractured rock samples were collected near the LILW repository site at unsaturated zone, and fractured rock was characterized by X-ray microtomography (XMT, X-Tek/Metris XTH 320/225 kV, UK) analysis and fractured filling/coating material was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD, Rigaku, D/MAX-2500/PC, Japan), scanning electron microscopy (SEM, JEOL, JSM-7401F, Japan), and polarized light microscopy (PLM, AmScope, PZ620TMF603, USA)
Summary
A final repository for the radioactive waste is required in South Korea. The low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste (LILW) repository which is a rock cavern type was constructed and opened in Wolsong, Gyeongju, South Korea. There is surface type repository is planned to construct at same site in Gyeongju. The radionuclide can be released from the drums after long storage periods and can simultaneously penetrate through artificial barrier from the near surface repository. It can be transported by the flow of rainfall, exist with pore water through fractures in unsaturated zone, and is reached to groundwater flow. Released radionuclides to vadose zone and groundwater can be transported by groundwater flow through porous materials or fractures (Mann et al 2001)
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