Performance of Asphalt and Clay Liners as a Uranium Mill Tailings Leachate Barrier

Abstract

ABSTRACTPacific Northwest Laboratory is evaluating the long-term effectiveness of various asphalt and clay liner materials as a radionuclide and process chemical barrier from uranium mill tailings. A field test is being conducted by monitoring asphalt and clay liners installed at the Grand Junction, Colorado tailings site. In addition eight prospective liners have undergone three months exposure to accelerated conditions to predict their behavior over a 1000 year period. High calcium leachates have been forced through thin layers of clay to determine the ability of the clay to resist ion exchange, which reduces its swelling capabilities. Asphalt liners have been exposed to elevated temperatures and increased strengths of oxidizing agents to accelerate their aging process. The permeability coefficients measured during this exposure were then used to predict each liners stability with time. The analyses thus far show that clay soils with bentonite amendments and most asphalt compositions have good long-term performance characteristics.