• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.291-306
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• 2009

One-dimensional soil-column studies were carried out to understand the interaction of three industrial effluents namely amino acid ('highly acidic'), surfactant ('highly organic') and pharmaceutical ('organic and toxic') on the physicochemical behavior, index properties and shear strength of bentonite due to artificial contamination extending to nearly 300 days. Changes in inorganic and organic pollutants present in the effluents due to the interaction of the above effluents and soil were assessed to understand the physico-chemical behaviour. Batch and continuous modes of operation, 8 hrs and 16 hrs Hydraulic Retention Time [HRT] and 25%, 50% concentrations of effluents, were the parameters considered. Amino acid, surfactant and pharmaceutical effluents have shown a high variation in pH (7 to 8) after artificial contamination on bentonite that is their original characteristics of the above effluents have been completely reversed. Further, it is found that the shear strength of bentonite has reduced by about 20%, and with respect to liquid limit and plastic limit shows an increasing trend with time within the period of contamination.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.706-710
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• 2021

In the current research, thermal and catalytic thermogravimetric (TG) analysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) over natural zeolite (NZ), olivine, bentonite, HZSM-5, and HAl-MCM-41 were investigated using a TG analyzer and model-free kinetic analysis. Catalytic TG analysis of PET was carried out at multi-heating rates, 10, 20, 30, and 40 ℃/min, under nitrogen atmosphere. Apparent activation energy (Ea) values for the thermal and catalytic pyrolysis of PET were calculated using Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method. Although natural catalysts, NZ, olivine, and bentonite, could not lead the higher PET decomposition efficiency than synthetic zeolites, HZSM-5 and HAl-MCM-41, maximum decomposition temperatures on the differential TG (DTG) curves for the catalytic pyrolysis of PET, 436 ℃ over olivine, 435 ℃ over bentonite, and 434 ℃ over NZ, at 10 ℃/min, were definitely lower than non-catalytic pyrolysis. Calculated Ea values for the catalytic pyrolysis of PET over natural catalysts, 177 kJ/mol over olivine, 168 kJ/mol over bentonite, and 171 kJ/mol over NZ, were also not lower than those over synthetic zeolites, however, those were also much lower than the thermal decomposition, suggesting their feasibility as the proper and cost-effective catalysts on the pyrolysis of PET.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.1511-1518
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• 2021

In most countries, the thermal criteria for the engineered barrier system (EBS) is set to below 100 ℃ due to the possible illitization in the buffer, which will likely be detrimental to the performance and safety of the repository. On the other hand, if the thermal criteria for the EBS increases, the disposal density and the cost-effectiveness for the high-level radioactive wastes will dramatically increase. Thus, fundamentals on the thermal behavior of the buffer under the elevated temperatures is of crucial importance. Yet, the behaviors at the elevated temperatures of the bentonite under groundwater-saturated conditions have not been reported to-date. Here, we have developed an in-situ synchrotron-based method for the thermal behavior study of the buffer under the elevated temperatures (25-250 ℃), investigated dspacings of the montmorillonite in the Korean bentonite (i.e., Ca-type) at dry and KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) groundwater-saturated conditions (KJ-ii-dry and KJ-ii-wet), and compared the behaviors with that of MX-80 (i.e., Na-type, MX-80-wet). The hydration states analyzed show tri-, bi-, and mono-hydrated at 25, 120, and 250 ℃, respectively for KJ-ii-wet, whereas tri-, mono-, and de-hydrated at 25, 150, and 250 ℃, respectively for MX-80-wet. The Korean bentonite starts losing the interlayered water at lower temperatures; however, holds them better at higher temperatures as compared with MX-80.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.237-247
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• 2022

To investigate the curing temperature effect on the engineering properties of ground granulated blast furnace slag-cement bentonite (GGBS-CB) slurry for cutoff walls, the laboratory experiments including the setting time, unconfined compressive strength, and permeability tests were carried out. The mixing procedure for GGBS-CB slurry was as follows: (1) montmorillonite-based bentonite slurry was first fabricated and hydrated for four hours, and (2) cement or GGBS with cement was added to the bentonite slurry. The dosage range of GGBS was from 0 to 90 % of cement by mass fraction. The GGBS-CB slurry specimens were cured and stored in environmental chamber at temperature of 14±1, 21±1, 28±1℃ and humidity of 95±2% until target days. The highest average temperature of three seasons in South Korea was selected and used for the tests. The experimental results indicated that in early age (less than 28 days) of curing the engineering properties of GGBS-CB slurry were primarily affected by the curing temperature, whereas the replacement ratio of GGBS became a main factor to determine the properties of the slurry as the curing time increased.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.245-251
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• 2021

The present study investigated the ageing effect on compressibility, permeability and shear strength behavior of kaolin and bentonite samples in the presence of NaCl and CaCl₂ solutions. The compressibility, permeability and shear strength parameters were determined on the 60, 190, and 250 days cured samples. The results have shown that, the kaolin sample becomes more compressible in the presence Ca²⁺ ions with ageing. Generally, the normalized compression index values of bentonite samples increased at the end of 60 days and 250 days curing time periods. The normalized permeability value of kaolin decreased by ageing in the presence of Na⁺ ions almost twofold. The permeability values of bentonite increased both in NaCl and CaCl₂ solutions during ageing. In the presence of Na⁺ ions kaolin had higher max. shear stress value than Ca²⁺ ions. When the max. shear stress values of 0, 60 and 190 days samples were compared, it was seen that NaCl solution had no significant effect on the shear strength of kaolin sample. However, the shear strength of kaolin increased in the CaCl₂ solution during ageing. In the presence of Ca²⁺ ions the max. shear stress value of bentonite was higher. The results of this study have shown that ageing has significant effects on the compressibility, permeability and shear strength of kaolinitic and bentonitic clayey soils.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.269-278
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• 2022

The buffer is a critical barrier component in an engineered barrier system, and its purpose is to prevent potential radionuclides from leaking out from a damaged canister by filling the void in the repository. No experimental parameters exist that can describe the buffer expansion phenomenon when Kyeongju bentonite, which is a buffer candidate material available in Korea, is exposed to groundwater. As conventional experiments to determine these parameters are time consuming and complicated, simple swelling pressure tests, numerical modeling, and machine learning are used in this study to obtain the parameters required to establish a numerical model that can simulate swelling. Swelling tests conducted using Kyeongju bentonite are emulated using the COMSOL Multiphysics numerical analysis tool. Relationships between the swelling phenomenon and mechanical parameters are determined via an artificial neural network. Subsequently, by inputting the swelling tests results into the network, the values for the mechanical parameters of Kyeongju bentonite are obtained. Sensitivity analysis is performed to identify the influential parameters. Results of the numerical analysis based on the identified mechanical parameters are consistent with the experimental values.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.5-11
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to examine the proper mixing ratio of ordinary portland cement and Bottom Ash to recycle the Bottom Ash, which is an industrial waste. After the evaluation, the compressive strength and durability were assessed using the mixture of completely weathered soil (Hwangto), weathered granite soil, and Bentonite. Then environmental friendliness of this mixed material was examined through heavy metal leaching method. It was found out that proper mixing ratio is 6:4, and that the 6% mixture quantity of completely weathered soil (Hwangto), weathered granite soil, and Bentonite is the most effective for compressive strength and durability It was also found out through heavy metal leaching method that the Bottom Ash could be below the standard of the Clean Water Law.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.30-58
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• 2022

The deep geological repository for high-level radioactive waste disposal is a multi barrier system comprised of engineered barriers and a natural barrier. The long-term integrity of the deep geological repository is affected by the coupled interactions between the individual barrier components. Erosion and piping phenomena in the compacted bentonite buffer due to buffer-rock interactions results in the removal of bentonite particles via groundwater flow and can negatively impact the integrity and performance of the buffer. Rapid groundwater inflow at the early stages of disposal can lead to piping in the bentonite buffer due to the buildup of pore water pressure. The physiochemical processes between the bentonite buffer and groundwater lead to bentonite swelling and gelation, resulting in bentonite erosion from the buffer surface. Hence, the evaluation of erosion and piping occurrence and its effects on the integrity of the bentonite buffer is crucial in determining the long-term integrity of the deep geological repository. Previous studies on bentonite erosion and piping failed to consider the complex coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical behavior of bentonite-groundwater interactions and lacked a comprehensive model that can consider the complex phenomena observed from the experimental tests. In this technical note, previous studies on the mechanisms, lab-scale experiments and numerical modeling of bentonite buffer erosion and piping are introduced, and the future expected challenges in the investigation of bentonite buffer erosion and piping are summarized.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2001.09a
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• pp.228-230
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• 2001

지하수 개발·이용을 위한 정호심도는 지속적으로 증가하는 추세이다. 이에 따라 보다 깊은 심도에서 또는 특정한 대수층에서의 대수성시험 및 오염방지를 위한 그라우팅 기술이 필요 하다. 기존의 팩커기술이 이를 기술적으로 만족시키고 있지만, 일반적인 정호에서는 경제성과 공정의 복잡성 때문에 적용이 보편화되어 있지 않다. 그러나 bentonite pellet을 이용하여, 간단하고 경제적으로 이 문제를 해결할 수 있다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.139-150
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• 1999

The swelling pressure of a potential buffer material was measured and the effect of dry density, bentonite content and initial water content on the swelling pressure was investigated to provide the information for the selection of buffer material in a high-level waste repository. Swelling tests were carried out according to Box-Behnken's experimental design. Measured swelling pressures were in the wide range of 0.7 Kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$ to 190.2 Kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$ under given experimental conditions. Based upon the experimental data, a 3-factor polynomial swelling model was suggested to analyze the effect of dry density, bentonite content and initial water content on the swelling pressure The swelling pressure increased with an increase in the dry density and bentonite content, while it decreased with increasing the initial water content and, beyond about 12 wt.% of the initial water content, levelled off to nearly constant value.