RADIATION PROTECTION ›› 2022, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (3): 244-251.

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Influence of electron irradiation on the performance of Gaomiaozi Ca-bentonite

LIU Wei, LIANG Dong, YANG Zhongtian, LIU Yuchen, LI Honghui   

  1. China Institute for Radiation Protection, CNNC Key Laboratory on Geological Disposal of High-level Radioactive Waste, Taiyuan 030006
  • Received:2021-06-19 Published:2022-07-01

Abstract: In order to study the effect of electron irradiation on the performance of Gaomiaozi Ca-bentonite, the microstructure and some physicochemical properties were analyzed with different cumulative radiation doses. The results showed that electron radiation changed the cell parameters and the size of montmorillonite, destroyed Si—O and Al—O bonds in the structure, reduced the cation exchange capacity and layer charge as well as expansion index, increased the solubility of Si and Al, and weakened the adsorption capacity of 137Cs and 99Tc. Compared with unirradiated samples, when cumulatively dose was up to 5 MGy, the swelling index reduced by 18.65%, the distribution coefficients of 137Cs and 99Tc decreased by 50.85% and 58.58%, and the solubility of Si and Al increased by 125% and 199%, respectively. It is proposed that the effect of electron irradiation on bentonite performance should be considered in the design and safety evaluation of backfill materials for geological disposal repository.

Key words: bentonite, electron irradiation, microstructure, dissolution, swelling index, distribution coefficient

CLC Number: 

  • TL942