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The bentonite industry in North America. Suppliers, reserves, processing capacity and products

Abstract

The Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program is studying a concept for the disposal of nuclear fuel waste at a depth of 500 to 1000 m below the surface in stable crystalline rock of the Canadian Shield. The waste containers would be surrounded by a clay-based buffer material, composed of equal proportions of bentonite clay and silica sand. In the reference disposal concept, some 1.9 x 10{sup 5} Mg of used fuel would be emplaced. This would require 2.5 x 10{sup 6} Mg of bentonite. A review of the bentonite industry in North America was carried out to establish the availability of sufficient high-quality material. There are proven reserves of sodium bentonite clay in excess of 1.5 x 10{sup 8} Mg, and vast supplies are known to exist but not yet proven. The Canadian conceptual disposal vault would require 6 x 10{sup 4} Mg of sodium bentonite each year for 40 years. The bentonite industry of North America has an installed annual production capacity of 2 x 10{sup 7} Mg. A disposal vault would therefore require approximately 2% of the industry capacity. A number of commercial products have been screened for potential suitability for use as a component of the  More>>
Publication Date:
Nov 01, 1992
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
AECL-10587; COG-92-80.
Reference Number:
SCA: 210802; PA: AIX-25:011663; EDB-94:035786; ERA-19:008991; NTS-94:015200; SN: 94001152659
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Nov 1992
Subject:
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; BENTONITE; RESERVES; CANADA; CAPACITY; CHEMICAL COMPOSITION; PRODUCTION; SWELLING; USA; VISCOSITY; 210802; FUEL CYCLE
OSTI ID:
10127298
Research Organizations:
Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Pinawa, MB (Canada). Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment
Country of Origin:
Canada
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: DE94614175; TRN: CA9300976011663
Availability:
OSTI; NTIS (US Sales Only); INIS
Submitting Site:
INIS
Size:
50 p.
Announcement Date:
Jul 04, 2005

Citation Formats

Dixon, D A, Hnatiw, D S.J., and Walker, B T. The bentonite industry in North America. Suppliers, reserves, processing capacity and products. Canada: N. p., 1992. Web.
Dixon, D A, Hnatiw, D S.J., & Walker, B T. The bentonite industry in North America. Suppliers, reserves, processing capacity and products. Canada.
Dixon, D A, Hnatiw, D S.J., and Walker, B T. 1992. "The bentonite industry in North America. Suppliers, reserves, processing capacity and products." Canada.
@misc{etde_10127298,
title = {The bentonite industry in North America. Suppliers, reserves, processing capacity and products}
author = {Dixon, D A, Hnatiw, D S.J., and Walker, B T}
abstractNote = {The Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program is studying a concept for the disposal of nuclear fuel waste at a depth of 500 to 1000 m below the surface in stable crystalline rock of the Canadian Shield. The waste containers would be surrounded by a clay-based buffer material, composed of equal proportions of bentonite clay and silica sand. In the reference disposal concept, some 1.9 x 10{sup 5} Mg of used fuel would be emplaced. This would require 2.5 x 10{sup 6} Mg of bentonite. A review of the bentonite industry in North America was carried out to establish the availability of sufficient high-quality material. There are proven reserves of sodium bentonite clay in excess of 1.5 x 10{sup 8} Mg, and vast supplies are known to exist but not yet proven. The Canadian conceptual disposal vault would require 6 x 10{sup 4} Mg of sodium bentonite each year for 40 years. The bentonite industry of North America has an installed annual production capacity of 2 x 10{sup 7} Mg. A disposal vault would therefore require approximately 2% of the industry capacity. A number of commercial products have been screened for potential suitability for use as a component of the buffer. Ten currently marketed bentonite products have been identified as meeting the initial quality standards for the buffer, and two non-commercial bentonites have been identified as having the potential for use in a disposal vault. (Author) (14 figs., 7 tabs., 18 refs.).}
place = {Canada}
year = {1992}
month = {Nov}
}