• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.1041-1048
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• 2021

An engineered barrier system (EBS) for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) is composed of a disposal canister with spent fuel, a buffer material, a gap-filling material, and a backfill material. As the buffer is located in the empty space between the disposal canisters and the surrounding rock mass, it prevents the inflow of groundwater and retards the spill of radionuclides from the disposal canister. Due to the fact that the buffer gradually becomes saturated over a long time period, it is especially important to investigate its thermal-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) properties considering variations of saturated condition. Therefore, this paper suggests a new method of measuring thermal conductivity and water suction for single compacted bentonite at various levels of saturation. This paper also highlights a convenient method of saturating compacted bentonite. The proposed method was verified with a previous method by comparing thermal conductivity and water suction with respect to water content. The relative error between the thermal conductivity and water suction values obtained through the proposed method and the previous method was determined as within 5% for compacted bentonite with a given water content.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1998

Effects of pH, bentonite and Portland cement on the leaching of the simulated waste glass were investigated. The simulated waste glass showed the low leach rate in the neutral pH region, while the leach rate in both acidic and alkaline regions increased. Addition of bentonite to the leachant enhanced the leaching of the waste glass. When the waste glass was leached at 72$^{\circ}C$ for 36 days in the ground water with gel state Na-bentonite, approximately 2.2${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ of the surface was corroded out and the large amount of Ti, Nd, and Zr was observed on the surface. The amount of B leached from the simulated waste glass in the presence of domestic bentonite was about three times higher than that in the presence of Aldrich bentonite as well as Portland cement.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2013

There was a study for biological characteristics, except for physico-chemical and mineralogical properties, on the natural bentonite that is considered as a buffer material for the high-level radioactive waste disposal site. A bentonite slurry that was prepared from a local 'Gyeongju bentonite' in Korea was incubated in a serum bottle with nutrient media over 1 week and its stepwise change was observed with time. From the activated bentonite in the nutrient media, we can find a certain change of both solid and liquid phases. Some dark and fine sulfides began to be generated from dissolved sulfate solution, and 4 species of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) were identified as living cells in samples that were periodically taken and incubated. These results show that sulfate-reducing (or metal-reducing) bacteria are adhering and existing in the powder of bentonite, suggesting that there may be a potential occurrence of longterm biogeochemical effects in and around the bentonite buffer in underground anoxic environmental conditions.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.3-9
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• 2002

Relnoval of ammonia from aqueous solutions has been studied with zeolite and bentonite minerals. Zeolite and bentonite powder were supplied by a domestic company and used as delivered without further purification. The aqueous pH was found to increase by addition of zeolite or bentonite up to pH 8.5 from initial pH of 5.5∼5.7. From the C.E.C. measurement by ammonium acetate leaching method, the values of C.E.C. of zeolite and bentonite sample were observed to be 129.7 meq/100 gr and 65.1 meq/100 gr, respectively and Na+ ion accounted for the major part of total C.E.C. in both cases. In the removal of ammonia with zeolite and bentonite, physical adsorption of ammonium ion onto minerals was believed to contribute to the removal of it as well as the intrinsic cation exchange reaction. Finally, zeolite was found to be superior to bentonite in the removal of ammonia from aqueous solutions.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.6B
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• pp.677-682
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• 2006

Dodecyldimethylethylammonium (DDDEA), a cationic surfactant, and aluminum metal ions were used with bentonite to synthesize to synthesize an improved organo bentonite. Among three different synthesis procedure for organo bentonites, aluminium-pillared bentonite showed the highest DDDEA sorption, which indicated that aluminium-pillared organo bentonite would exhibit the highest sorption capacity for organic contaminants. Aluminium pillared organo bentonite also showed a high sorption capability for phosphorus, while it did not exhibit strong sorption for nitrate. In the meantime, more desorption was observed with aluminium-pillared organo bentonite than ordinary organo bentonites.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.223-234
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• 2024

This review explores the potential of pillared bentonite materials as solid acid catalysts for synthesizing diethyl ether, a promising renewable energy source. Diethyl ether offers numerous environmental benefits over fossil fuels, such as lower emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and carbon oxides (CO_x) gases and enhanced fuel properties, like high volatility and low flash point. Generally, the synthesis of diethyl ether employs homogeneous acid catalysts, which pose environmental impacts and operational challenges. This review discusses bentonite, a naturally occurring alumina silicate, as a heterogeneous acid catalyst due to its significant cation exchange capacity, porosity, and ability to undergo modifications such as pillarization. Pillarization involves intercalating polyhydroxy cations into the bentonite structure, enhancing surface area, acidity, and thermal stability. Despite the potential advantages, challenges remain in optimizing the yield and selectivity of diethyl ether production using pillared bentonite. The review highlights the need for further research using various metal oxides in the pillarization process to enhance surface properties and acidity characteristics, thereby improving the catalytic performance of bentonite for the synthesis of diethyl ether. This development could lead to more efficient, environmentally friendly synthesis processes, aligning with sustainable energy goals.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.41.2-46
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• 1995

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.228-243
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• 2023

Bentonite is widely recognized and utilized as a buffer material in high-level radioactive waste repositories, mainly due to its favorable characteristics such as swelling capability and low permeability. Bentonite buffers play an important role in ensuring the safe disposal of radioactive waste by providing a low permeability barrier and effectively preventing the migration of radionuclides into the surrounding rock. However, the long-term performance of bentonite buffers still remains a subject of ongoing research, and one of the main concerns is the erosion of the buffer induced by swelling and groundwater flow. The erosion of the bentonite buffer can significantly impact repository safety by compromising the integrity of buffer and leading to the formation of colloids that may facilitate the transport of radionuclides through groundwater, consequently elevating the risk of radionuclide migration. Therefore, it is very important to numerically quantify the erosion of bentonite buffer to evaluate the long-term performance of bentonite buffer, which is crucial for the safety assessment of high-level radioactive waste disposal. In this technical note, Two-region model is introduced, a proposed model to simulate the erosion behavior of bentonite based on a dynamic bentonite diffusion model, and quantitative evaluation is conducted for the bentonite buffer erosion with this model.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.469-477
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• 2021

Safe storage of spent nuclear fuel in deep underground repositories necessitates an understanding of the long-term alteration of metal canisters and buffer materials. A small-scale laboratory alteration test was performed on metal (Cu or Fe) chips embedded in compacted bentonite blocks placed in anaerobic water for 1 year. Lactate, sulfate, and bacteria were separately added to the water to promote biochemical reactions in the system. The bentonite blocks immersed in the water were dismantled after 1 year, showing that their alteration was insignificant. However, the Cu chip exhibited some microscopic etch pits on its surface, wherein a slight sulfur component was detected. Overall, the Fe chip was more corroded than the Cu chip under the same conditions. The secondary phase of the Fe chip was locally found as carbonate materials, such as siderite (FeCO₃) and calcite ((Ca, Fe)CO₃). These secondary products can imply that the local carbonate occurrence on the Fe chip may be initiated and developed by an evolution (alteration) of bentonite and a diffusive provision of biogenic CO₂ gas. These laboratory scale results suggest that the actual long-term alteration of metal canisters/bentonite blocks in the engineered barrier could be possible by microbial activities.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.159-166
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• 1991

Seven oxyfluorfen formulations were tested for control of 8 weed species and rice injury under four different water depths with various ages of rice seedlings. Among formulations tested, rice injury was slight by formulations of Elvan, Coal Slag, Chitosan and Bentonite B under 0 cm or shallow water depths, and by those of Elvan and Coal Slag under deep water conditions. Weed control was high by Bentonite A and B, and Chitosan, and was low by Elvan. Coal Slag and Sand coated oxyfluorfen, if the target weeds of oxyfluorfen are annual species, further development of Elvan, coal slag, chitosan and Bentonite A would be controlled to increase control efficacy or to decrease rice injury.