Measuring the diffusion and sorption of the trace elements and radionuclides in soil, clay and bentonite

Abstract

Diffusion is an important migration mechanism of trace elements and radionuclides in the biosphere, soils, clays, river sediments. Naturally, in the last few years there has increased also the relevance to diffusion of trace elements and radionuclides and methods of its determination in bentonite. Bentonite is proposed as sealing and backfill material in the near-field of deep repositories of spent nuclear fuel and of radioactive wastes. This paper presents capillary modification of measuring diffusivity, some of its results in porous natural materials and barrier materials of repositories for wastes.