Sorption of Eu(III)/Cm(III) on Ca-montmorillonite and Na-illite. Part 1: Batch sorption and time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy experiments

Abstract

Sorption of Cm(III) and Eu(III) at trace concentrations onto Ca-montmorillonite (SWy-1) and Na-illite (Illite du Puy) has been studied under anaerobic conditions by batch sorption experiments and time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). Comparison of the results from spectroscopic and batch sorption experiments with Cm and Eu indicates the existence of outer-sphere complexes at pH <4 in the experiments with Na-illite (0.25 g/L solid; 2.5 × 10 −7 mol/L Cm; 0.1 mol/L NaClO 4). In the case of Ca-montmorillonite, (0.25 g/L solid, 2.5 × 10 −7 mol/L Cm or 10 −6 mol/L Eu, 0.066 mol/L Ca(ClO 4) 2), Cm/Eu outer-sphere complexes do not form at significant levels due to the Ca 2+ competition for the clay mineral cation-exchange sites. TRLFS spectra indicate the formation of inner-sphere surface complexes at pH >5 for both clay minerals. Five H 2O/OH − molecules remain in the first metal ion coordination sphere of the sorbed Eu/Cm. Measured fluorescence lifetimes of sorbed Eu/Cm and peak deconvolution of Cm-spectra are consistent with the formation of surface complexes of the form ≡S-O-Eu/Cm(OH) x (2−x)(H 2O) 5−x. At pH ≥ 12 Cm becomes incorporated into a surface precipitate at the Ca-montmorillonite surface presumably composed of Ca(OH) 2 or calcium silicate hydrate. A dramatic shift of the fluorescence emission band by more than 20 nm and a clear increase in the fluorescence lifetime suggests the almost complete displacement of coordinated H 2O and OH −. The pH dependent Eu sorption data obtained in batch experiments are consistent with spectroscopic data on Eu and Cm within experimental uncertainties thus demonstrating the validity of Eu as a homologue for trivalent actinides. Parameterization of a two-site protolysis nonelectrostatic surface complexation and cation exchange model using the batch sorption data and spectroscopic results is discussed in Part 2 of this work.