The Change in Bioavailability of Organic Matter Associatedwith Clay-Based Buffer Materials as a Result of Heat Andradiation Treatment

Abstract

ABSTRACTCompacted clay-based buffer surrounds corrosion-resistant waste containers in the Canadian concept for nuclear fuel waste disposal. Clays naturally contain small quantities of organic matter that may be resistant to bacterial degradation. The containers with highly radioactive material would subject the surrounding buffer to both heat (max. 95°C) and radiation (max. 52 Gy/h). Both could potentially break down complex organic material to smaller, more bioavailable compounds. This could stimulate microbial growth and possibly affect gas production, microbially-influenced corrosion or radionuclide migration. Experiments were carried out in which buffer (50 wt.% Na-bentonite, 50 wt.% sand) was heated at 60 and 90°C for periods of 2, 4 and 6 weeks, in some cases followed by irradiation to 25 kGy. Unheated buffer was also irradiated to 25 and 50 kGy at different moisture contents. The treated materials were subsequently suspended in distilled water, shaken for 24 h and centrifuged to remove the solids. The 0.22 μm filter-sterilized leachates were inoculated with equal volumes of fresh groundwater and incubated at room temperature for 10 d to determine the increase in total and viable bacteria compared to a groundwater control. Results indicated that leachates from buffer subjected to heat, radiation or combinations of these, had a stimulating effect on both total and viable cell counts in groundwater, compared to unamended groundwater controls. This stimulating effect was generally most pronounced for viable counts and could be larger than two orders of magnitude. Leachates from untreated buffer material also stimulated the growth of groundwater bacteria, but to a lesser extent than leachates from heat-and radiation-treated buffer material. The effects of heat and radiation on nutrient availability in clay-based sealing materials (at relevant clay/moisture ratios) should, therefore, be taken into account when attempting to quantify the effects of microbial activity on vault performance.