Adsorptive Transport of Noble Gas Tracers in Porous Media
- BATTELLE (PACIFIC NW LAB)
- UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
- University of Texas at Austin
The transport of noble gas radionuclides in porous media is relevant to the detection of underground nuclear detonations as well as the sequestration of reprocessing off-gases. However, in field tests releasing radioxenon underground, the quantity of radioxenon observed at the surface has fallen well below expectations1. This study examined the diffusivity of noble gases (Kr and Xe) and the inert molecular gas sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) in porous media to observe any unexpected behavior. To replicate the transport of radiogenic noble gases in underground media, a two-bulb gaseous diffusion apparatus was constructed. The two bulbs are connected with a column of 10-30 Ottawa sand and ordinary atmosphere filled both the bulbs and pore spaces. The tracer gases were diluted in an isolated bulb to approximately 1000 ppm. Once released, the gases were allowed to diffuse through the column. Aliquots were withdrawn at regular time intervals from both bulbs and concentrations were quantified using a Shimadzu QP2010 SE gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. The effective diffusivity was then calculated using a maximum likelihood estimate on the quasi-steady state model.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 2527290
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-127673
- Journal Information:
- International Journal of Modern Physics: Conference Series, Journal Name: International Journal of Modern Physics: Conference Series Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 48
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Migration of noble gas tracers at the site of an underground nuclear explosion at the Nevada National Security Site
Gas diffusion through variably-water-saturated zeolitic tuff: Implications for transport following a subsurface nuclear event