Sn(IV) Sorption onto Illite and Boom Clay: Effect of Carbonate and Dissolved Organic Matter

Abstract

126Sn is a long-lived fission product and it is important to assess its sorption onto the host rocks surrounding a possible nuclear waste repository. Boom Clay (BC) is under investigation in Belgium as a potential host rock. To better understand Sn(IV) sorption onto the clay minerals constituting BC, sorption of Sn(IV) was here investigated on Illite du Puy (IdP), from pH 3 to 12. Sorption isotherms at pH ~8.4 were acquired in the presence and absence of carbonate, and in the presence and absence of BC dissolved organic matter (DOM). Sn(IV) strongly sorbed on IdP over the full range of the pHs and concentrations investigated. In the presence of carbonates, Sn(IV) sorption was slightly decreased, highlighting the Sn(IV)–carbonate complexation. DOM reduced the Sn(IV) sorption, confirming the strong complexation of Sn(IV) with DOM. The results were modelled with the 2-site protolysis non-electrostatic surface complexation model. The surface complexation constants and aqueous complexation constants with carbonate and DOM were optimized to describe the experimental data. The applicability of the component additivity approach (CAA) was also tested to describe the experimental Sn(IV) sorption isotherm acquired on BC in BC pore water. The CAA did not allow accurate prediction of Sn(IV) sorption on BC, highlighting the high sensitivity of the model to the Sn(IV)-DOM complexation.