Influence of calcium onto the sorption of uranium(VI) in the far-field of nuclear waste repositories

Sorption of uranium(VI) onto orthoclase and muscovite, representing feldspars and micas as important components of the earth crust, was investigated in presence and absence of calcium under aerobic conditions. Batch experiments accompanied by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) were performed. A reduction of the U(VI) sorption by calcium at pH ≥ 8 due to the formation of the Ca2UO2(CO3)3 complex was observed. An evaluation of the spectroscopic results by PARAFAC indicates the formation of three surface species ≡SiO2UO20, ≡SiO2UO2OH– and ≡SiO2UO2OHCO33–. The results improve the basis for a mechanistic modeling of the sorption onto orthoclase and muscovite, which is important for long-term safety analysis of waste repositories.