Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Suu-Yan Liang, Wen-Sheng Lin, Chan-Po Chen, Chen-Wuing Liu, Chihhao Fan
Summary: Radionuclides are inorganic substances that affect the disposal of radioactive waste and the release of concentrations of radionuclides. The solubility of inorganic substances determines nuclide migration within disposal sites. Variability in environmental factors complicates safety assessments, while focus on radionuclide reactions may overlook the thermodynamics of these processes. Empirical models are commonly used to describe nuclide distributions within geochemical systems. Emerging research focuses on the application of geochemical models and activity coefficient equations to improve safety assessments and environmental management strategies for nuclear waste disposal sites.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Malcolm Coull, Benjamin Butler, Rupert Hough, Luke Beesley
Summary: Construction and demolition fines (C&D-fines) and green waste compost (GWC) were used to create technosols, which showed significantly improved plant growth compared to geogenic soil. The technosols had higher concentrations of Ca and Mg in pore waters, attributed to gypsum and calcite enrichment from C&D-fines, while GWC provided soluble K. Further assessment is needed to determine the long-term geochemical viability of technosols for wider scale applications.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yun-zhi Tan, Zi-yang Xie, Fan Peng, Fang-hong Qian, Hua-jun Ming
Summary: The research indicates that adding graphite significantly influences the properties of the graphite-bentonite mixture, with the optimal graphite ratio being around 15-20%. Graphite particles should ideally have a grain size ranging from 100 to 200 mesh.
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chongmin Chen, Xuewan Wu, Zhifeng Wan, Jiujing Shang, Wei Huang, Wei Zhang, Jinqiang Liang, Zebang Xiao, Wei Zhou, Lifeng Zhong
Summary: This study analyzed the geochemical characteristics of sediment cores and pore water in the Beikang Basin of the southern South China Sea. The results showed extremely low δ13C(DIC) in the pore water, a decrease in sulfate content with depth, kink-type depth profiles of enrichment factors for Sr, Ba, and Ni, and the presence of reducing sedimentary environment indicated by Mo, U, and REE features. The study concluded that fluid fluxes and tectonic settings greatly influence the properties and activities of cold seeps, leading to regional differences.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Xiaofang Chen, Yin-Bo Zhu, Hao Yu, Jefferson Zhe Liu, Christopher D. Easton, Zhouyou Wang, Yaoxin Hu, Zongli Xie, Heng-An Wu, Xiwang Zhang, Dan Li, Huanting Wang
Summary: The scalable fabrication of ultrathin graphene membranes with precisely controlled subnanometer pores using graphene oxide nanosheet and polymer co-assembly on a porous ceramic substrate has shown unprecedented molecular-sieving water evaporation properties, achieving high water evaporation flux and salt rejection rates. This work provides new insights into water transport and evaporation through graphene subnanometer pores and offers a new strategy for membrane design for water desalination and other evaporation separations.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Kimbal T. Lu, Yingjie Zhang, Tao Wei, Gabriel L. Murphy, Aurpa Bhuiyan, Nicholas Scales, Rongkun Zheng
Summary: This study presents a comprehensive investigation on lanthanide monouranate-based glass-ceramic composites as potential waste forms for the immobilization of lanthanide actinide fraction waste. The results show that the crystalline LnUO(4) precursor can be well stabilized in a sodium aluminoborosilicate glass, while the in situ crystallization of EuUO4 from oxide precursors is robust under various processing conditions. Microscopic observations reveal different microstructures, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy confirms the presence of pentavalent uranium.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Geological
William M. Kibikas, R. Charles Choens, Stephen J. Bauer, Eyal Shalev, Vladimir Lyakhovsky
Summary: The Ghareb Formation in southern Israel is being considered as a potential site for a nuclear waste repository, and its behavior under different loads has been extensively studied. The rock properties of the Ghareb were characterized through deformation experiments, including tests on elastic properties, time-dependent behavior, and permeability. The results showed that the Ghareb began to deform inelastically at a relatively low effective pressure, and water saturation significantly weakened the rock properties. The deformation and permeability loss were strongly influenced by the effective pressure, and deformation anisotropy may occur even under hydrostatic conditions.
ROCK MECHANICS AND ROCK ENGINEERING
(2023)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Michael Ojovan, Hans J. Steinmetz
Summary: The disposal of nuclear waste is the final stage of nuclear waste management activities, involving the placement of waste in appropriate facilities without the intention of retrieval. The International Atomic Energy Agency has developed a classification scheme based on the end points of waste management for guidance. The estimated retention times for safe isolation of waste radionuclides are determined by the radiotoxicity of the waste.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tuan A. Ho, Eric N. Coker, Carlos F. Jove-Colon, Yifeng Wang
Summary: Swelling clay hydration/dehydration processes are significant in environmental and industrial applications. Experimental studies lack the ability to capture rapid water transport and structural changes in interlayers. Using molecular simulations and thermogravimetric analyses, researchers have observed a two-stage dehydration process in swelling clay, which is closely associated with interlayer collapse and changes in the coordination number of cations.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
H. M. Reijonen, W. R. Alexander, S. Norris
Summary: This study aims to develop a strategy for utilizing natural analogues in the UK's nuclear waste services' geological disposal facility program. The strategy emphasizes that natural analogue information and projects should be treated as part of knowledge management rather than a stagnant database. It is anticipated that integrating natural analogue information into the digital safety case can enhance transparency and facilitate the best utilization of the data.
PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
(2023)
Article
Nuclear Science & Technology
Bo Chen, Fan Peng, Long Zhang, De'an Sun
Summary: This study investigates the effect of initial water content on the swelling characteristics of compacted bentonite. The results show that the swelling pressure decreases and the swelling deformation reduces with increasing initial water content. The microstructure of the specimens is significantly affected by water content, and uniaxial compaction may induce anisotropy in the bentonite, resulting in variation in swelling potential.
ANNALS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Zsuzsanna Szabo-Krausz, Laszlo Elod Aradi, Csilla Kiraly, Peter Konya, Patrik Torok, Csaba Szabo, Gyorgy Falus
Summary: The study revealed that carbonation in the granite-concrete contact zone may reduce porosity and permeability, and newly formed Ca-carbonates and titanite were observed at the interface. The presence of titanite indicates changing geochemical and thermodynamical constrains along the reaction front of granite-concrete.
APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Wanqiang Zhou, Yanlin Shi, Yao Li, Dongfan Xian, Jingyi Wang, Chunli Liu
Summary: The adsorption behavior of Eu(III) on rutile is influenced by different factors under varying acidic conditions. The use of a surface complexation model (SCM) successfully describes the adsorption behavior of Eu(III) at the rutile/water interface.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Su-Cadirci Tugce Busra, Ince Ceren, Calabria-Holley Juliana, Rajnish Kurchania, J. Ball Richard
Summary: The study highlights the significant impact of brick dust particle size distribution on the water transport kinetics and dewatering time of hydrated lime mortars. This control can help optimize mortar performance and provide an environmentally friendly alternative by utilizing waste brick dust.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Qinghua Lei, Simon Loew
Summary: This paper investigates the seismic behavior of a nuclear waste repository site in Forsmark, Sweden, using a seismo-mechanical model based on the finite element method. The study shows that the shear displacement of a single fracture is strongly influenced by its length and dip angle, while the displacement pattern of a fracture network is dominated by its backbone structures. The earthquake-induced shear displacement decreases significantly with distance to the hypocentre, with a distance of approximately 700 meters needed for a fracture up to 100 meters long to not displace beyond 5 centimeters.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS AND MINING SCIENCES
(2021)