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Intercomparison of determining diffusion coefficients of I− in compacted bentonite using various mathematical models of through-diffusion experiments in the laboratory

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Abstract

Diffusion is the dominant process involved in the transport of 129I through geological media; therefore, the evaluation of the experimental results on the diffusion of I− through compacted bentonite was performed by three diffusion models, CC-CC, CC-VC, and VC-VC. Multiple experiments were cross-checked to verify internal consistency and thereby obtain reliable diffusion parameters. The results showed that I− diffusion coefficients ranged from 1.15 × 10–12 to 4.67 × 10–12 m2/s, which were consistent with those of the literature. These techniques could potentially be performed to measure the diffusion coefficients of non-sorbing or weakly sorbing radionuclides onto compacted bentonite in radioactive waste repositories.

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Abbreviations

αc :

Capacity factor of porous medium, dimensionless

ρb :

Bulk dry density of the porous medium, gcm−3

θtot :

Total porosity of the porous medium; dimensionless

Kd :

Distribution coefficient, cm3 g−1

A:

Cross sectional area of specimen normal to the direction of the diffusional flux, cm2

L:

Thickness (or length) of the specimen in the direction of diffusion, cm

C:

Concentration of the diffusing substance in pore water, ppm

CA :

Concentration of the diffusing substance in the inlet reservoir, ppm

CB :

Concentration of the diffusing substance in the outlet reservoir, ppm

Qt :

Total accumulated amount of diffusing substance, mol

Da :

Apparent diffusion coefficient, m2 s-1

De :

Effective diffusion coefficient, m2 s-1

VA :

Volume of inlet reservoir, mL

VB :

Volume of outlet reservoir, mL

V1 :

Volume of specimen, mL

S:

Fitted slope

t:

Time, s

tx :

Time-lag, s

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Division, Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Jiaan Village, No. 1000, Wenhua Rd., Longtan District, Taoyuan City, 32546, Taiwan

    Tsuey-Lin Tsai & Der-Ming Chang

  2. Nuclear Science and Technology Development Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan

    Shih-Chin Tsai

  3. Department of Occupational Safety and Hygiene, Fooyin University, 151 Jinxue Rd., Daliao District, Kaohsiung City, 83102, Taiwan

    Wen-Hsi Cheng

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Tsai, TL., Tsai, SC., Chang, DM. et al. Intercomparison of determining diffusion coefficients of I− in compacted bentonite using various mathematical models of through-diffusion experiments in the laboratory. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 330, 1317–1327 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-08041-y

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