Xenon adsorption on geological media and implications for radionuclide signatures

Paul, M. J.; Biegalski, S. R.; Haas, D. A.; Jiang, H.; Daigle, H.; Lowrey, J. D.

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.01.029

Xenon adsorption on geological media and implications for radionuclide signatures

Journal Article · Mon Feb 12 23:00:00 EST 2018 · Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.01.029· OSTI ID:1420871

^[1]; Biegalski, S. R. ^[1]; Haas, D. A. ^[1]; Jiang, H. ^[1]; ^[1]; Lowrey, J. D. ^[2]

The Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX (United States)
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Here, the detection of radioactive noble gases is a primary technology for verifying compliance with the pending Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. A fundamental challenge in applying this technology for detecting underground nuclear explosions is estimating the timing and magnitude of the radionuclide signatures. While the primary mechanism for transport is advective transport, either through barometric pumping or thermally driven advection, diffusive transport in the surrounding matrix also plays a secondary role. From the study of primordial noble gas signatures, it is known that xenon has a strong physical adsorption affinity in shale formations. Given the unselective nature of physical adsorption, isotherm measurements reported here show that non-trivial amounts of xenon adsorb on a variety of media, in addition to shale. A dual-porosity model is then discussed demonstrating that sorption amplifies the diffusive uptake of an adsorbing matrix from a fracture. This effect may reduce the radioxenon signature down to approximately one-tenth, similar to primordial xenon isotopic signatures.

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1420871

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 22885420

Journal Information:: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity Vol. 187; ISSN 0265-931X

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited By (2)

Evaluation of carbon tetrafluoride as a xenon surrogate for underground gas transport Byers, Margaret F.; Paul, Matthew J.; Haas, Derek A. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 318, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6135-3	journal	August 2018
Adsorption of tracer gases in geological media: experimental benchmarking Byers, Margaret F.; Haas, Derek A.; Barth, Brianna S. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 322, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06768-3	journal	September 2019

Figures / Tables (3)

Fig. 1(p. 4)

Fig. 2(p. 5)

Table B.1(p. 8)

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Xenon adsorption on geological media and implications for radionuclide signatures

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