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U.S. Department of Energy
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Groundwater colloid properties and their potential influence on radionuclide transport

Conference ·
OSTI ID:572189
 [1]
  1. Paul Scherrer Inst., Villigen (Switzerland)
Colloid facilitated transport is still an issue in radioactive waste management. Sophisticated phenomenological transport models are available, but progress is required to fully understand mechanisms and parameters. Investigation of the marl groundwater colloids in steady-state conditions at Wellenberg, shows that their concentration is independent of the water flow rate. Their generation is caused by the re-suspension of the rock clay fraction only. The re-suspension process is presently being studied under flow transient conditions. Extension of these measurements to other safety relevant systems as well as a literature survey show that the colloid concentration under steady-state conditions is correlated to the concentration of alkali elements and earth alkali elements. The higher their respective concentration, the fewer colloids are occurring. Considerations on colloid contamination models are also included. The paper emphasizes various colloid transport mechanisms including colloid generation from the irreversibly contaminated aquifer.
OSTI ID:
572189
Report Number(s):
CONF-961202--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English