Radioactive Tracer Study Performed in a Dipole Geometry in a Highly Conductive Fracture Zone

Abstract

ABSTRACTA radioactive tracer experiment has been performed in a highly conductive fracture zone, using a dipole geometry. Anions (131I− and 82Br−) and complexed metal ions (51Cr-EDTA, 58Co-EDTA, 111In-EDTA, 140La-DOTA, 160Tb-EDTA, 169Yb-EDTA and 177Lu-DOTA) have been injected and their properties as non-sorbing tracers were evaluated. Besides, studies of slightlysorbing cations (24Na+, 58Co2+, 86Rb+ and 201T1+) were performed. 99mTcO4 and its chemical analogue 186ReO4 were also injected to study the behaviour of Tc at low redox-potentials. Breakthrough was obtained for Re and for all metal complexes and anions. Some differences in the recovery yields could be seen. No transport of cations, except for Na, could be measured. No breakthrough of Tc could be observed. This indicates that TcO4− was reduced and sorbed.