Characteristics of colloids generated during the corrosion of nuclear waste glasses in groundwater
Aqueous colloidal suspensions were generated by reacting nuclear waste glasses with groundwater at 90{degrees}C at different ratios of the glass surface area to solution volume (S/V). The colloids have been characterized in terms of size, charge, identity, and stability with respect to salt concentration, pH, and time, by examination using dynamic light scattering, electrophoretic mobility, and transmission electron microscopy. The colloids are predominately produced by precipitation from solution, possibly with contribution from reacted layers that have spallated from the glass. These colloids are silicon-rich minerals. The colloidal suspensions agglomerate when the salinity of the solutions increase. The following implications for modeling the colloidal transport of contaminants have been derived from this study: (1) The sources of the colloids are not only solubility-limited real colloids and the pseudo colloids formed by adsorption of radionuclides onto a groundwater colloid, but also from the spalled surface layers of reacted waste glasses. (2) In a repository, the local environment is likely to be glass-reaction dominated and the salt concentration is likely to be high, leading to rapid colloid agglomeration and settling; thus, colloid transport may be insignificant. (3) If large volumes of groundwater contact the glass reaction site, the precipitated colloids may become resuspended, and colloid transport may become important. (4) Under most conditions, the colloids are negatively charged and will deposit readily on positively charged surfaces. Negatively charged surfaces will, in general, facilitate colloid stability and transport.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 10196073
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/CMT/CP-78677; CONF-931201-2; ON: DE94003806; TRN: 94:000877
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 4. international conference on chemistry and migration behavior of actinides and fission products in the geosphere,Charleston, SC (United States),12-17 Dec 1993; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COLLOIDS
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
GLASS
CORROSION
GROUND WATER
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
AGGLOMERATION
SUSPENSIONS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
VITRIFICATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
400702
052002
540230
PROPERTIES OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
WASTE DISPOSAL AND STORAGE
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT