Hostname: page-component-7dd5485656-s6l46 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-10-31T13:52:14.812Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Hydration Behavior of MX80 Bentonite in a Confined-Volume System: Implications for Backfill Design

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Julia N. Perdrial  and
Laurence N. Warr
Julia N. Perdrial*
Affiliation:
Centre de Géochimie de la Surface, CNRS & Université Louis Pasteur, 1 rue Blessig, 67084 Strasbourg, France Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Laurence N. Warr
Affiliation:
Institut für Geographie und Geologie, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universität, F. Ludwig-Jahn-Str. 17A, 17487 Greifswald, Germany
*
* E-mail address of corresponding author: jnperdri@email.arizona.edu
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Bentonites are considered suitable backfill material for planned underground nuclear-waste repositories because of an inherent capacity to self-seal and retain contaminants when hydrated. Barrier effectiveness, however, depends on the physical properties of bentonite after placement in a repository site, where hydration state and bulk density can vary. The objective of the present study was to investigate commercial bentonite MX80 hydration rates and mechanisms during water infiltration into dry, moist, and wet samples using the ‘wet-cell’ X-ray diffraction technique. During experimentation, water enters a small flow-through cell and induces swelling within a confined reaction volume, analogous to clay barriers in excavated underground sites. Results demonstrated the importance of using dry, well compacted (>1.4 g/cm3) bentonite, which became saturated slowly (<2.0 ×10−9 m/s) with minimal water in noninterlayer sites (external-surface sites, or within pores). The significant degree of interlayer expansion dominated by the formation of two and eventually three water layers developed as hydration clusters with greater probabilities for the same thickness to lie in adjacent interlayer sites. The relatively thicker particles and the less accessible surface area of hydrated, initially dry bentonite probably resulted in less pore-controlled diffusion, but also less potential radionuclide adsorption by surface complexation. Moist MX80 had the greatest water uptake, the smallest (1.23 g/cm3) dry bulk density, and the greatest proportion of water in pores and on external surfaces. Water that initially accumulated in pore spaces subsequently acted as a reservoir for interlayer hydration and probable gel formation in trapped voids, which is expected to occur in more loosely filled gaps within an excavated repository.

Keywords

Bentonite HydrationConfined VolumeLaboratory AnalogueNuclear Waste Disposal

Information

Type
Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 59 , Issue 6 , December 2011 , pp. 640 - 653
Copyright
Copyright © Clay Minerals Society 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

ANDRA (2005) Dossier 2005 — Argile, Andra, France.Google Scholar
Bailey, S.W., 1980 Structure of layer silicates Crystal Structures of Clay Minerals and their X-ray Identification 5 1–125.Google Scholar
Bérend, I. Cases, J.M. François, M. Uriot, J.P. Michot, L. Masion, A. and Thomas, F., 1995 Mechanism of adsorption and desorption of water vapor by homoionic montmorillonites: 2. The Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+ and Cs+- exchanged forms Clays and Clay Minerals 43 324–336.10.1346/CCMN.1995.0430307CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bergaya, F. and Lagaly, G., 2006 General Introduction: Clays, Clay Minerals, and Clay Science Handbook of Clay Science 1 1–18.10.1016/S1572-4352(05)01001-9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berger, J.N., 2008 Hydration of swelling clay and bacteria interaction — An experimental in situ reaction study Department of Earth and Planetary Science France Strasbourg University Louis Pasteur 204.Google Scholar
Cases, J.M. Bérend, I. Besson, G. François, M. Uriot, J.P. Thomas, F. and Poirier, J.E., 1992 Mechanism of adsorption and desorption of water vapor by homoionic montmorillonite. 1. The sodium-exchanged form Langmuir 8 2730–2739.10.1021/la00047a025CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cases, J.M. Bérend, I. François, M. Uriot, J.P. Michot, L.J. and Thomas, F., 1997 Mechanism of adsorption and desorption of water vapor by homoionic montmorillonite: 3. The Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+ exchanged forms Clays and Clay Minerals 45 8–22.10.1346/CCMN.1997.0450102CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chipera, S.J. Carey, J.W. and Bish, D.L., 1997 Controlledhumidity XRD analyses: application to the study of smectite expansion/contraction Advances in X-ray Analysis 39 713–722.10.1154/S0376030800023168CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Collins, D.R. Fitch, A.N. and Catlow, C.R.A., 1992 Dehydration of vermiculites and montmorillonites: a timeresolved powder neutron diffraction study Journal of Materials Chemistry 2 865–873.10.1039/jm9920200865CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cui, Y.J. Yahia-Aissa, M. and Delage, P., 2002 A model for the volume change behavior of heavily compacted swelling clays Engineering Geology 64 233–250.10.1016/S0013-7952(01)00113-2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Delage, P., 2007 Microstructure features in the behaviour of engineered barriers for nuclear waste disposal Experimental Unsaturated Soil Mechanics 11–32.10.1007/3-540-69873-6_2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Delage, P. and Graham, J., 1996 The mechanical behaviour of unsaturated soils: understanding the behavior of unsaturated soils requires reliable conceptual models Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Unsaturated Soils, Paris 1223–1256.Google Scholar
Delage, P. Howat, M.D. and Cui, Y.J., 1998 The relationship between suction and swelling properties in a heavily compacted unsaturated clay Engineering Geology 50 31–48.10.1016/S0013-7952(97)00083-5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drits, V. Środoń, J. and Eberl, D. D., 1997 XRD measurement of mean crystallite thickness of illite and illite/smectite: Reappraisal of the Kübler index and the Scherrer equation Clays and Clay Minerals 45 461–475.10.1346/CCMN.1997.0450315CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drits, V.A. Eberl, D.D. and Środoń, J., 1998 XRD measurement of mean thickness, thickness distribution and strain for illite and illite-smectite crystallites by the Bertaut-Warren-Averbach technique Clays and Clay Minerals 46 38–50.10.1346/CCMN.1998.0460105CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ferrage, E. Lanson, B. Sakharov, B.A. and Drits, V.A., 2005 Investigation of smectite hydration properties by modeling experimental X-ray diffraction patterns: Part I: Montmorillonite hydration properties American Mineralogist 90 1358–1374.10.2138/am.2005.1776CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gattermann, J. Wittke, W. and Erichsen, C., 2001 Modelling water uptake in highly compacted bentonite in environmental sealing barriers Clay Minerals 36 435–446.10.1180/000985501750539517CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grim, R.E., 1962 Applied Clay Mineralogy New York McGraw-Hill.10.1080/11035896209447314CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoffmann, C. Alonso, E.E. and Romero, E., 2007 Hydromechanical behaviour of bentonite pellet mixtures Physics and Chemistry of the Earth 32 832–849.10.1016/j.pce.2006.04.037CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hofman, U. and Bilke, W., 1936 Intercrystalline swelling of montmorillonite Kolloidzeitschrift 77 239–251.Google Scholar
Imbert, C. and Villar, M.V., 2006 Hydro-mechanical response of a bentonite pellets/powder mixture upon infiltration Applied Clay Science 32 197–209.10.1016/j.clay.2006.01.005CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johannesson, L.E. Boegesson, L. and Sandén, T., 1995 Compaction of bentonite blocks Development of technique for industrial production of blocks which are manageable by man 48.Google Scholar
Kahr, G. Kraehenbuehl, F. Stoeckli, H.F. and Mueller-Vonmoos, M., 1990 Study of the water-bentonite system by vapour adsorption, immersion calorimetry and X-ray techniques; II, Heats of immersion, swelling pressures and thermodynamic properties Clay Minerals 25 499–506.10.1180/claymin.1990.025.4.08CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kaufhold, S. Dohrmann, R. and Klinkenberg, M., 2010 Water-uptake capacity of bentonite Clays and Clay Minerals 58 37–43.10.1346/CCMN.2010.0580103CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kraehenbuehl, F. Stoeckli, H.F. Brunner, F. Kahr, G. and Mueller-Vonmoos, M., 1987 Study of the water-bentonite system by vapour adsorption, immersion calorimetry and X-ray techniques; I, Micropore volumes and internal surface areas, following Dubinin’s theory Clay Minerals 22 1–9.10.1180/claymin.1987.022.1.01CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kühnel, R.A. and van der Gaast, S.J., 1993 Humidity controlled diffractometry and its applications Advances in X-ray Analysis 36 439–449.10.1154/S0376030800019066CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lagaly, G., Jasmund, K. and Lagaly, G., 1993 Reaktionen des Tonminerale Tonminerale und Tone: Struktur, Eigenschaften und Einsatz in Industrie und Umwelt Darmstadt, Germany Steinkopff Verlag 89–167.10.1007/978-3-642-72488-6_3CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lagaly, G., 2006 Colloid clay science Handbook of Clay Science 1 141–245.10.1016/S1572-4352(05)01005-6CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Laird, D.A. Shang, C. and Thompson, M.L., 1995 Hysteresis in crystalline swelling of smectites Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 171 240–245.10.1006/jcis.1995.1173CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Likos, W.J., 2004 Measurement of crystalline swelling in expansive clay Geotechnical Testing Journal 27 540–546.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Likos, W.J. and Wayllace, A., 2010 Porosity evolution of free and confined bentonites during interlayer hydration Clays and Clay Minerals 58 399–414.10.1346/CCMN.2010.0580310CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lloret, A. and Villar, M.V., 2007 Advances on the knowledge of the thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of heavily compacted FEBEX bentonite Physics and Chemistry of the Earth 32 701–715.10.1016/j.pce.2006.03.002CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MacEwan, D.M.C. and Wilson, M.J., 1980 Interlayer and intercalation complexes of clay minerals Crystal Structure of Clay Minerals and their X-ray Identification 5 197–242.10.1180/mono-5.3CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Méring, J., 1949 L’interférence des Rayons X dans les system á stratification désordonnée Acta Crystallographica 2 371–377.10.1107/S0365110X49000977CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Michot, L.J. and Villieras, F., 2006 Surface area and porosity Handbook of Clay Science 1 965–978.10.1016/S1572-4352(05)01035-4CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Montes-H, G. Duplay, J. Martinez, L. and Mendoza, C., 2003 Swelling-shrinkage kinetics of MX80 bentonite Applied Clay Science 22 279–293.10.1016/S0169-1317(03)00120-0CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mooney, R.W. Keenan, A.G. and Wood, L.A., 1952 Adsorption of water vapor by montmorillonite II. Effect of exchangeable ions and lattice swelling as measured by X-ray diffraction. Journal of the American Chemical Society 74 1371–1374.Google Scholar
Moore, D.M. and Hower, J., 1986 Ordered interstratification of dehydrated and hydrated Na-smectite Clays and Clay Minerals 34 379–384.10.1346/CCMN.1986.0340404CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norrish, K., 1954 Crystalline swelling of montmorillonite: manner of swelling of montmorillonite Nature 173 256–257.10.1038/173256a0CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norrish, K. and Quirk, J.P., 1954 Crystalline swelling of montmorillonite: Use of electrolytes to control swelling Nature 173 255–256.10.1038/173255a0CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Olson, K.R., 1985 Characterization of pore size distributions within soils by mercury intrusion and water-release methods Soil Science 139 400–404.10.1097/00010694-198505000-00004CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Perdrial, J.N. Warr, L.N. Perdrial, N. Lett, M.-C. and Elsass, F., 2009 Interaction between smectite and bacteria: Implications for bentonite as backfill material in the disposal of nuclear waste Chemical Geology 264 281–294.10.1016/j.chemgeo.2009.03.012CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Plançon, A. and Drits, V.A., 1999 Program for calculation of diffraction by oriented powders of two- and three-component mixed-layer clay minerals: CALCMIX.Google Scholar
Prost, R., 1975 Étude de l’hydratation des argiles: interactions eau-minérale et mécanisme de la rétention de l’eau Annales d’Agronomie 26 463–535.Google Scholar
Pusch, R., 2001 The microstructure of MX-80 clay with respect to its bulk physical properties under different environmental conditions SKB Technical Report, TR-01-08 Stockholm 108.Google Scholar
Pusch, R., 2006 Mechanical properties of clays and clay minerals Handbook of Clay Science 1 247–260.10.1016/S1572-4352(05)01006-8CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pusch, R., 2006 Clays and nuclear waste management Handbook of Clay Science 1 703–716.10.1016/S1572-4352(05)01023-8CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pusch, R. Kasbohm, J. Pacovsky, J. and Cechova, Z., 2007 Are all smectite clays suitable as buffers? Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C 32 116–122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Saiyouri, N. Hicher, P.Y. and Tessier, D., 2000 Microstructural approach and transfer water modelling in highly compacted unsaturated swelling clays Mechanics of Cohesive-Frictional Materials 5 41–60.10.1002/(SICI)1099-1484(200001)5:1<41::AID-CFM75>3.0.CO;2-N3.0.CO;2-N>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Salles, F. Douillard, J.-M. Denoyel, R. Bildstein, O. Jullien, M. Beurroies, I. and Van Damme, H., 2009 Hydration sequence of swelling clays: Evolutions of specific surface area and hydration energy Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 333 510–522.10.1016/j.jcis.2009.02.018CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sauzeat, E. Villiéras, T.F. François, M. Pelletier, M. Barrés, O. Yvon, J. Guillaume, D. Dubbessy, J. Pfeiffert, C. Ruck, R. and Cathelineau, M., 2001 Caractérisation minéralogique, cristallochimique et texturale de l’argile MX-80 LEM-CREGU. ANDRA Technical Report, France.Google Scholar
Schramm, L.L. and Kwak, J.C.T., 1982 Influence of exchangeable cation composition on the size and shape of montmorillonite particles in dilute suspension Clays and Clay Minerals 30 40–48.10.1346/CCMN.1982.0300105CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sposito, G. and Prost, R., 1982 Structure of water adsorbed on smectites Chemical Reviews 82 553–573.10.1021/cr00052a001CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stroes-Gascoyne, S. Hamon, C.J. Maak, P. and Russel, S., 2008 The effects of the physical properties of highly compacted smectite clay (bentonite) on the culturability of indigenous microorganisms Applied Clay Science 47 155–162.10.1016/j.clay.2008.06.010CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tessier, D. and Decarreau, A., 1990 Organisation des matériaux argileux en relation avec leur comportement hydrique Matériaux Argileux, Structure, Propriétés et Applications Paris SocietéFrançais de Minéralogie et Cristallographie 388–445.Google Scholar
Villar, M.V., 2007 Water retention of two natural compacted bentonites Clays and Clay Minerals 55 311–322.10.1346/CCMN.2007.0550307CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Villar, M.V. and Lloret, A., 2007 Dismantling of the first section of the FEBEX in situ test: THM laboratory tests on the bentonite blocks retrieved Physics and Chemistry of the Earth 32 716–729.10.1016/j.pce.2006.03.009CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Warr, L. and Berger, J., 2007 Hydration of bentonite in natural waters: Application of confined volume wet-cell X-ray diffractometry Physics and Chemistry of the Earth 32 247–258.10.1016/j.pce.2006.02.048CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Warr, L.N. and Hofmann, H., 2003 In situ monitoring of powder reactions in percolating solution by wet-cell X-ray diffraction techniques Journal of Applied Crystallography 36 948–949.10.1107/S0021889803004333CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, J. Cuadros, J. and Cressey, G., 2004 An in situ timeresolved XRD-PSD investigation into Na-montmorillonite interlayer and particle rearrangement during dehydration Clays and Clay Minerals 52 180–191.10.1346/CCMN.2004.0520204CrossRefGoogle Scholar