Determination of natural uranium concentration in Boom Clay: Effect of different extraction techniques

Lian Wang, Mieke De Craen, Norbert Maes, Pierre De Cannière, Martin Put

    Research outputpeer-review

    Abstract

    Natural uranium concentration has been measured in the pore water of Boom Clay extracted by
    three different techniques: (1) batch leaching of clay suspensions; (2) squeezing of clay cores;
    (3) collection by piezometers. The results show that the batch and the squeezing techniques extract higher uranium concentrations (up to three orders of magnitudes) than measured in the pore water collected by piezometers. Batch techniques (leaching and squeezing) tend to remobilise natural uranium from clay surfaces as colloids into aqueous phase. As a consequence, the batch distribution coefficient (Kd) may underestimate the retention capability of the clay. The in situ retention mechanisms for natural uranium may involve colloid filtration and/or dissolution of uranium-bearing minerals.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationRadionuclide Retention in Geologic Media
    PublisherOECD NEA - Nuclear Energy Agency
    Pages257-262
    Number of pages6
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 2002
    Event2001 - Radionuclide Retention in Geologic Media - Oskarshamn
    Duration: 7 May 20019 May 2001
    https://www.oecd-nea.org/jcms/pl_13502/radionuclide-retention-in-geologic-media?details=true

    Conference

    Conference2001 - Radionuclide Retention in Geologic Media
    Country/TerritorySweden
    CityOskarshamn
    Period2001-05-072001-05-09
    Internet address

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