Challenges and Lesson Learned from Experimentally Investigating Bisulfide Diffusion through MX-80 Bentonite
Farhana Chowdhury, Tarek Rashwan, Pulin Mondal, Jitendra Sharma, Magdalena Krol, Mehran Behazin, Peter Keech
In the proceedings of: GeoNiagara 2021: 74th Canadian Geotechnical Conference; 14th joint with IAH-CNCABSTRACT: In Canada, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is responsible for the safe long-term containment and isolation of used nuclear fuel. The NWMO plans to permanently store the used fuel in a deep geologic repository (DGR) at least 500 m below the ground surface in a stable rock formation with highly compacted MX-80 bentonite as a key sealant barrier. However, bisulfide (HS-) from the geosphere of DGR may transport through the bentonite and corrode the copper surface of the used fuel container. Therefore, it is crucial to understand HS- transport through the bentonite. This paper presents challenges encountered (e.g., flow blockages and porous disc oxidation, tracking bentonite density changes, and HS- geochemical interactions with bentonite) and valuable lessons learned throughout developing a new experimental program to experimentally measure the transport of HS- through MX-80 bentonite.
RÉSUMÉ: Au Canada, la Société de Gestion des Déchets Nucléaires (NWMO) est responsable du confinement et de l'isolement à long terme des déchets radioactifs. La NWMO prévoit stocker en permanence les déchets radioactifs dans un dépôt géologique profond (DGR) à environs 500 m sous la surface du sol dans une formation rocheuse stable contenant de bentonite MX-80 très compactée comme barrière d'étanchéité principale. Cependant, le bisulfure (HS-) près de la géosphère de DGR peut être transporté à travers la bentonite et corroder la surface en cuivre UFC du conteneur de combustible usé. Par conséquent, il est essentiel de comprendre le transport du HS- à travers la bentonite. Cet article présente les défis rencontrés (par exemple, les blocages d'écoulement et l'oxydation des disques poreux, le suivi des changements de densité de la bentonite et les interactions géochimiques HS- avec la bentonite) et les leçons précieuses apprises tout au long du développement d'un nouveau programme expérimental pour mesurer expérimentalement le transport de HS- à travers MX-80 bentonite.
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Chowdhury, Farhana, Rashwan, Tarek, Mondal, Pulin, Sharma, Jitendra, Krol, Magdalena, Behazin, Mehran, Keech, Peter (2021) Challenges and Lesson Learned from Experimentally Investigating Bisulfide Diffusion through MX-80 Bentonite in GEO2021. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Geotechnical Society.
@article{Chowdhury_GEO2021_207,
author = Farhana Chowdhury, Tarek Rashwan, Pulin Mondal, Jitendra Sharma, Magdalena Krol, Mehran Behazin, Peter Keech,
title = Challenges and Lesson Learned from Experimentally Investigating Bisulfide Diffusion through MX-80 Bentonite ,
year = 2021
}
title = Challenges and Lesson Learned from Experimentally Investigating Bisulfide Diffusion through MX-80 Bentonite ,
year = 2021
}