Sorption of Uranium(VI) on Opalinus Clay in the Absence and Presence of Humic Acid


Sorption of Uranium(VI) on Opalinus Clay in the Absence and Presence of Humic Acid

Joseph, C.; Schmeide, K.; Sachs, S.

Natural clays are dicussed as possible host rocks for nuclear waste repositories. Natural clays contain also organic substances, like humic acids (HA), known for their ability to bind metal ions, e.g. actinides like uranium. Due to this, HA can influence the actinide migration. In this study the effect of HA presence on the U(VI) sorption onto the natural clay, opalinus clay from Mont Terri (Switzerland), is presented.
Beside the mineralogy of the clay and the composition of the synthetic opalinus clay pore water, the speciation of U(VI) in opalinus clay pore water and the sorption results onto opalinus clay in the two background electrolytes, 0.1M NaClO4 and synthetic opalinus clay pore water, are shown. It was concluded, that the released calcium ions determine the speciation and affect as a consequence the sorption behavior of U(VI) and also HA onto opalinus clay.

Keywords: U(VI); humic acid; opalinus clay; opalinus clay pore water; 0.1M NaClO4; speciation; sorption; calcium ions

  • Poster
    4th Graduate Students Seminar, 16.-18.09.2009, Krögis, Germany

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-13403
Publ.-Id: 13403