• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.5-11
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• 2021

The compacted bentonite buffer is one of the most important components in an engineered barrier system (EBS) to dispose of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) produced by nuclear power generation. The compacted bentonite buffer has a crucial role in protecting the disposal canister against the external impact and penetration of groundwater, so it has to satisfy the thermal-hydraulic-mechanical requirements. Even though there have been various researches on the investigation of thermal-hydraulic properties, few studies have been conducted to evaluate mechanical properties for the compacted bentonite buffer. For this reason, this paper conducted a series of unconfined compression tests and obtained mechanical properties such as unconfined compressive strength, elastic modulus, and void ratio of Korean compacted bentonite specimens with different water content and dry density values. The unconfined compressive strength and elastic modulus increased, and the Poisson's ratio decreased a little with increasing dry density. It showed that unconfined compressive strength and elastic modulus were proportional to dry density. However, there was not a remarkable correlation between mechanical properties and water content.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.603-618
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• 2023

This study focused on evaluating the suitability of the WRK (waste repository Korea) bentonite as a buffer material in the SNF (spent nuclear fuel) repository. The U (uranium) adsorption/desorption characteristics and the adsorption mechanisms of the WRK bentonite were presented through various analyses, adsorption/desorption experiments, and kinetic adsorption modeling at various pH conditions. Mineralogical and structural analyses supported that the major mineral of the WRK bentonite is the Ca-montmorillonite having the great possibility for the U adsorption. From results of the U adsorption/desorption experiments (intial U concentration: 1 mg/L) for the WRK bentonite, despite the low ratio of the WRK bentonite/U (2 g/L), high U adsorption efficiency (>74%) and low U desorption rate (<14%) were acquired at pH 5, 6, 10, and 11 in solution, supporting that the WRK bentonite can be used as the buffer material preventing the U migration in the SNF repository. Relatively low U adsorption efficiency (<45%) for the WRK bentonite was acquired at pH 3 and 7 because the U exists as various species in solution depending on pH and thus its U adsorption mechanisms are different due to the U speciation. Based on experimental results and previous studies, the main U adsorption mechanisms of the WRK bentonite were understood in viewpoint of the chemical adsorption. At the acid conditions (＜pH 3), the U is apt to adsorb as forms of UO₂²⁺, mainly due to the ionic bond with Si-O or Al-O(OH) present on the WRK bentonite rather than the ion exchange with Ca²⁺ among layers of the WRK bentonite, showing the relatively low U adsorption efficiency. At the alkaline conditions (>pH 7), the U could be adsorbed in the form of anionic U-hydroxy complexes (UO₂(OH)₃^-, UO₂(OH)₄^2-, (UO₂)₃(OH)₇^-, etc.), mainly by bonding with oxygen (O^-) from Si-O or Al-O(OH) on the WRK bentonite or by co-precipitation in the form of hydroxide, showing the high U adsorption. At pH 7, the relatively low U adsorption efficiency (42%) was acquired in this study and it was due to the existence of the U-carbonates in solution, having relatively high solubility than other U species. The U adsorption efficiency of the WRK bentonite can be increased by maintaining a neutral or highly alkaline condition because of the formation of U-hydroxyl complexes rather than the uranyl ion (UO₂²⁺) in solution,and by restraining the formation of U-carbonate complexes in solution.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.117-131
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• 2006

A coupled T-H-M(Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical) analysis was carried out for KENTEX (KAERI Engineering-scale T-H-M Experiment for Engineered Barrier System), which is a facility for validating the coupled T-H-M behavior in the engineered barrier system of the Korean reference HLW(high-level waste) disposal system. The changes of temperature, water saturation, and stress were estimated based on the coupled T-H-M analysis, and the influence of the types of mechanical constitutive material laws was investigated by using elastic model, poroelastic model, and poroelastic-plastic model. The analysis was done using ABAQUS, which is a commercial finite element code for general purposes. From the analysis, it was observed that the temperature in the bentonite increased sharply for a couple of days after heating the heater and then slowly increased to a constant value. The temperatures at all locations were nearly at a steady state after about 37.5 days. In the steady state, the temperature was maintained at $90^{\circ}C$ at the interface between the heater and the bentonite and at about $70^{\circ}C$ at the interface between the bentonite and the confining cylinder. The variation of the water saturation with time in bentonite was almost same independent of the material laws used in the coupled T-H-M processes. By comparing the saturation change of T-H-M and that of H-M(Hydro-Mechanical) processes using elastic and poroelastic material mod31 respectively, it was found that the degree of saturation near the heater from T-H-M calculation was higher than that from the coupled H-M calculation mainly because of the thermal flux, which seemed to speed up the saturation. The stresses in three cases with different material laws were increased with time. By comparing the stress change in H-M calculation using poroelasetic and poroelasetic-plastic model, it was possible to conclude that the influence of saturation on the stress change is higher than the influence of temperature. It is, therefore, recommended to use a material law, which can model the elastic-plastic behavior of buffer, since the coupled T-H-M processes in buffer is affected by the variation of void ratio, thermal expansion, as well as swelling pressure.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.17-28
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• 1997

In this study sodium chloride solution is employed for chemicals, and several cylindrical triaxial tests are performed on the sand-bentonite mixtures saturated with sodium chloride solution. Deformation(elastic modulus, E) and strength(cohesion, c', and angle of friction, f') parameters are obtained from the triaxial tests as functions of confining pressure and sodium chloride solution concentrations. The results here indicate an increase in the value of effective cohesion with increase in the concentration of NaCl solution, which can be explained by using the Gouy-Chapman model. The value of the effective angle of shearing resistance does not show significant change with the increase in concentration of NaCl solution. The Young's modulus also increases with the increase in concentration of NaCl solution.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.193-199
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• 1972

Bentones from Korean bentonites were first prepared by reacting bentonites with high molecular weight imidazolines. The cation exchange capacity of bentonites was found more than 100meq/100g sample. Greases were then prepared by dispersing bentones into a lubricating oil and milling through a three-roll dispersion mill. Consistency in microscale, oxidation stability (static), water resistance, and wear property of the greases were tested by the ASTM methods, and good experimental results were obtained.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.582-590
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• 1995

우리 나라에서 건설될 중저준위폐기물 처분장의 기본설계개념에 따르면, 중준위폐기물 동굴에는 점토질 뒷채움재가 설치될 예정이다. 이 뒷채움재의 후보물질로는 원료 입수의 용이성 및 경제성 측면에서 천연점토와 분쇄암석의 혼합물이 고려되고 있다. 그러나 이 혼합물이 폐기물처분장의 뒷채움재로 사용되기 위해서는 주요특성들이 뒷채움재의 요구사항을 만족시켜야한다. 이 보고서에서는 경상북도 연일지역에서 산출되는 천연점토와 분쇄암석 혼합물에 대해 핵종유출저지 관점에서 가장 중요한 특성인 수리특성과 방사성핵종 확산특성 및 역학적 특성을 측정하여 뒷채움재료로서의 사용 가능성을 평가하였다. 혼합물의 수리전도도는 동일 밀도에서 점토함량이 감소함에 따라 증가되었으나, 점토함량이 적은 경우에도 상당히 낮은 값을 유지하여 뒷채움재를 통한 핵종이동의 주요 메커니즘은 확산이 될 것이라는 것을 보여주었다. 압축점토에 대한 방사성핵종 복산계수 측정결과, 동일밀도의 나트륨벤토나이트에서 측정된 값의 범위 내에 있었으며, 점토-분쇄암석 혼합물의 액소성한계, 다짐특성, 압축강도및 압밀계수등의 역학적 특성도 나트륨벤토나이트-모래 혼합물에서 얻어진 값과 유사하였다. 이러한 결과들로부터 연일산 천연점토-분채암석 혼합물을 고가의 나트륨벤토나이트 대용으로 처분장 뒷채움재로 사용할 수 있다는 것을 알 수 있었다.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.704-712
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• 2006

This research was designed to investigate the removal of heavy metals, such as $Al^{3+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, $Mn^{2+}$, $Pb^{2+}$ and $Zn^{2+}$, by adsorption on clay minerals. Bentonite(Raw-Bentonite), $Ca^{2+}$ and $Na^+$ ion exchanged bentonite(Ca- and Na-Bentonite) and montmorillonite, such as KSF and K10 from Sigma Aldrich, were used as adsorbents. The component of five inorganic adsorbents was analyzed by XRF, and the concentration of metal ions was measured by ICP. The cation exchange capacity(CEC) and the particle charge of adsorbents were measured. The initial concentration range of metal ions was $10{\sim}100$ mg/L. From the experimental results, it was shown that the adsorption equilibrium was attained after $1{\sim}2$ hours. The maximum percentage removal of $Al^{3+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, $Pb^{2+}$ and $Zn^{2+}$ on Na-Bentonite were more than 98% and that of $Mn^{2+}$ was 66%. $Al^{3+}$ was leached out from KSF with the higher concentration of hydrogen ion. Percentage removals of $Pb^{2+}$ and $Zn^{2+}$ on KSF were 88% and 59%, respectively. In general, the percentage removal of metal ions was decreased with the higher initial concentration of metal ions. The adsorption capacity of metal ions on Na-Bentonite was $1.3{\sim}19$ mg/g. Freundlich equation was used to fit the acquired experimental data. As the results, the adsorption capacity of metal ions was in the order of Na-Bentonite$\gg$Raw-Bentonite$\cong$K10>Ca-Bentonite>KSF. Freundlich constant, K of Na-Bentonite was the largest for metal ions. The order K of Na-Bentonite was Al>Cu>Pb>Zn>Mn, and the adsorption intensity(1/n) was determined to be $0.2{\sim}0.39$.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2012

Recently, industrial by-products are exponentially growing because energy consumption is increasing due to rapid industrial development and improved living standards. The purpose of this study is to determine the proper mixing ratio to meet the liner conditions(must be less than $1{\times}10^{-7}$cm/sec), using pond ash and bentonite as liner. As the result of the compaction test, depending on the increase mixing ratio of bentonite, the maximum dry unit weight was decreased but the optimum moisture content was tended to be increased at the compaction curve. As the result of the permeability test, depending on the increase mixing ratio of bentonite, the coefficient of permeability showed tendency to be decreased in the form of index and the tendency was caused by the hydration reactions filling the void of the pond ash. When the mixing ratio of bentonite was approximately over 15%, it was satisfied with the land fill liner conditions. In other words, it is necessary to consider other mixtures containing the cement or another material in the economical aspect for application of the pond ash.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.368-373
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• 2017

Comparative fining trials were conducted in a laboratory to study the effects of fining treatments including polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) and bentonite on the color and clearness of apple wine. The wines were subjected to three different fining treatments: PVPP, PVPP+bentonite (applied at the same time), and PVPP+bentonite (24 h later). Based on the results, all treatments induced noticeable decreases in wine color (APHA value) and turbidity. The treatment including PVPP and bentonite at the same time provided the best results in relation to wine color and clearness. PVPP was the most effective in the reduction of phenolic compounds, which means it helped wine obtain a paler color. Organic acids and aromatic profile were not altered by the fining treatments.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.53-62
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• 2011

During the construction of vertical cutoff walls, filtration of bentonite slurry into the adjacent soil formation fabricates a layer of bentonite filter cake on the wall surface. The bentonite filter cake possesses much lower hydraulic conductivity compared to that of backfill materials in the cutoff wall. Hydraulic conductivity of bentonite filter cakes formed with three different types of bentonites has been measured by performing the modified fluid loss test under various pressure levels. Three different mixture ratios, 4, 6, and 8%, were selected for fabricating bentonite filter cakes to represent common field conditions. Two analysis methods for interpreting the experimental data from the modified fluid loss tests were employed to estimate hydraulic conductivity of the bentonite cakes. The range of hydraulic conductivities of the three bentonite cakes is between $2.15{\times}10^{-11}\;m/s$ and $2.88{\times}10^{-10}\;m/s$ which is 1 to 2.7 orders of magnitude lower than that of the design cutoff wall backfill. The stress distribution and thickness of the bentonite cakes were also evaluated in this paper.