Colloid facilitated transport in fractured rock : parameter estimation and comparison with experimental data

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2002

OSTI ID:976348

Viswanathan, H S ^[1]; Wolfsberg, A V ^[2]

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1. Hari Selvi
2. Andrew V.

Many contaminants in groundwater strongly interact with the immobile porous matrix, which retards their movement relative to groundwater flow. Colloidal particles, which are often present in groundwater, have a relatively small size and large specific surface area which makes it possible for them to also adsorb pollutants. The sorption of tracers to colloids may enhance their mobility in groundwater, relative to the case where colloids are not present. A class of pollutants for which colloid-facilitated transport may be of particular significance are radioactive isotopes. A major reason for why geologic repositories are considered suitable for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel is the strong affinity of many radionuclides to adsorb onto the porous matrix. Therefore, radionuclides accidentally released, would be contained in the geological media by adsorption or filtration until sufficient decay takes place. However, the presence of colloids may enhance radionuclide mobility in the groundwater, and reduce the efficiency of geologic media to act as a natural barrier.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 976348
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-02-5852; TRN: US1006881
• Resource Relation: Conference: Submitted to: 2003 International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ADSORPTION
AFFINITY
COLLOIDS
DECAY
EFFICIENCY
FILTRATION
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MANAGEMENT
NUCLEAR FUELS
POLLUTANTS
RADIOISOTOPES
SORPTION
SPECIFIC SURFACE AREA
TRANSPORT
GROUND WATER