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Migration of Radionuclides in Fracture Columns

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2011

Pirkko Hölttä
Affiliation:
University of Helsinki, Department of Radiochemistry, Unioninkatu 35, SF-00170 Helsinki, Finland
Martti Hakanen
Affiliation:
University of Helsinki, Department of Radiochemistry, Unioninkatu 35, SF-00170 Helsinki, Finland
Aimo Hautojärvi
Affiliation:
Technical Research Centre of Finland, Nuclear Engineering Laboratory, P.O. Box 169, SF-00181 Helsinki, Finland.
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Abstract

Radionuclides transported by ground water flowing through fractures may be delayed by interactions with the fracture surfaces. The migration of radionuclides in fractures was studied under well defined laboratory conditions using tonal-ite drill core columns with a fracture running parallel to the core axis. The hydrodynamic characterization of the columns was performed using tritiated water, pertechnetate and chloride ions as non-sorbing tracers. Strontium and neptunium were used to study the retardation of radionuclides on the fracture surfaces.

The experimental set-up is described, and break-through curves of non-sorbing tracers, strontium and neptunium are presented. The results were interpreted using models for dispersion and diffusion into the rock matrix. From the shape of the break-through curves it was concluded that for non-sorbing tracers there was very little or no diffusion at all into the rock matrix. Retardation of strontium in a column with intact tonalite surfaces indicated a Ka factor identical with that earlier determined by batch experiments. The break-through curve of neptunium indicated a non-sorbing fraction.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1991

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References

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