A Study on Long-Term Retardation Effect of Integrated Buffer Materials Based on Bentonite on Uranium

Abstract

Buffer material has been shown to be effective over the long term for radionuclide diffusion retardation and is used as the final artificial barrier of the multi-barrier system in the high-level waste disposal repository. The method of disposal raises the possibility of radionuclides escaping and returning to the biosphere when ground water enters the natural geological barrier, risking the repository’s long-term stability and safety. Bentonite was chosen as the basic material in the integrated buffer material due to its low permeability, high swelling, and self-healing ability. Meanwhile, attapulgite served as an auxiliary, and pyrite served as a mineral additive. The buffer material B7AP was created by combining three materials, namely bentonite, attapulgite, and pyrite, with a mass ratio of 63:27:10. The diffusion of uranium in samples with a dry density of 1.70 g/cm3 was studied using a constant source diffusion experiment. The results showed that the B7AP buffer material had a good uranium retardation effect, with an apparent diffusion coefficient of 4.07 × 10−12 m2/s. In addition, using the theory of porous media contaminant migration, a simplified convection-dispersion-adsorption equation for uranium migration on integrated buffer material B7AP was established. MATLAB software was used to simulate time scales, seepage velocity, apparent diffusion coefficient, and retardation factor. The current study provides scientific evidence for improving retardation performance, screening, and optimizing the formula design of radioactive waste repository buffer materials.