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Experimental Investigation of the Interaction of Clays with High-pH Solutions: A Case Study From the Callovo-Oxfordian Formation, Meuse-Haute Marne Underground Laboratory (France)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Francis Claret ,
Andreas Bauer ,
Thorsten Schäfer ,
Lise Griffault  and
Bruno Lanson
Francis Claret
Affiliation:
Environmental Geochemistry Group, LGIT - Maison des Géosciences, University J. Fourier - CNRS, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France ANDRA, Parc de Croix Blanche, 1-7 rue Jean Monnet, 92298 Châtenay-Malabry Cedex, France
Andreas Bauer
Affiliation:
Forschungszentum Karlsruhe, Institut für Nukleare Entsorgung, PO Box 3640, D-76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
Thorsten Schäfer
Affiliation:
Forschungszentum Karlsruhe, Institut für Nukleare Entsorgung, PO Box 3640, D-76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
Lise Griffault
Affiliation:
ANDRA, Parc de Croix Blanche, 1-7 rue Jean Monnet, 92298 Châtenay-Malabry Cedex, France
Bruno Lanson*
Affiliation:
Environmental Geochemistry Group, LGIT - Maison des Géosciences, University J. Fourier - CNRS, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
*
*E-mail address of corresponding author: [email protected]
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Abstract

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The impact of alkaline solutions (pH = 13.2) on the clay mineralogy of the Callovo-Oxfordian formation hosting the French underground laboratory for nuclear waste disposal investigation (Meuse-Haute Marne site) has been studied experimentally. Initially, each of the four samples selected as representative of the mineralogical transition in this Callovo-Oxfordian formation consists of a mixture of three main clay phases: discrete illite, discrete smectite and a randomly interstratified mixed-layered mineral (MLM) containing ∼65% of non-expandable layers. Clay separates were altered in batch reactors at 60°C using high solution:solid ratios. The mineralogy of this clay fraction and solution chemistry were monitored as a function of reaction time. In addition, the interactions between organic matter and clay particles were investigated using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM).

The clay mineralogy is little affected even though the pH is still high after 1 y reaction time. The only significant mineralogical evolution is the partial dissolution of the discrete smectite component leading to the formation of a new randomly interstratified illite-expandable MLM. Additional mineralogical transformations lead, for one sample, to the dissolution of micro-crystalline quartz and, for another sample, to the crystallization of a tobermorite-like phase. The low reactivity of clay minerals may be attributed to the presence of organic matter in the samples. In their initial state, all outer surfaces of clay particles are indeed covered with organic matter. After 1 y reaction time, STXM studies showed the basal surfaces of clay particles to be devoid of organic matter, but their edges, which are the most reactive sites, were still protected.

Keywords

High pHFrench Underground LaboratoryOrganic MatterSTXMXRD
Type
Research Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 50 , Issue 5 , October 2002 , pp. 633 - 646
Copyright
Copyright © 2002, The Clay Minerals Society

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