Reductive immobilization of 79Se by iron canister under simulated repository environment

To understand the fate of Se-79 in a repository-like environment, the interactions between iron canister surface with dissolved selenite (SeO3 (2-)) and selenate (SeO4 (2-)) in anaerobic solutions have been investigated. Se(IV) immobilization on iron surface was observed to be about 100 times faster than that of Se(VI) at same conditions. An iron surface coated with a FeCO3 layer corrosion product is more reactive than a polished iron to immobilize Se(IV) and Se(VI). The reacted iron surfaces were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectrometry and micro-X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS). The result show that Se(IV) and Se(VI) were reduced and precipitated. The dominating phase was found to be FeSe2..