Effects of Temperature on Deposition Rate of Supersaturated Silicic Acid on Ca-Type Bentonite Available to Purchase

For the disposal system of high-level radioactive waste in Japan, Na-type bentonite is used as one of backfilling and buffer materials for preventing the migration of groundwater and radionuclide. However, the alteration to Ca-type bentonite will cause the degradation of the barrier performance. On the other hand, silicate minerals around the repository dissolve under the high alkaline condition of groundwater (about pH 13) altered by alkaline components leaching from cementitious materials used for the construction of the repository. Such high-concentration silicic acid becomes supersaturated with the decrease in pH by mixing with natural downstream groundwater (pH 8) because of the change in the solubility of silicic acid. So far, the authors have examined the deposition rates of supersaturated silicic acid on Ca-type bentonite under the condition of room temperature, showing the clogging effect of flow-paths with the deposition. However, the dynamic behaviors of silicic acid are much sensitive to temperature change. Therefore, the present study focuses on the effect of temperature on the deposition rate of silicic acid on Ca-type bentonite. As a result, in the range up to 323 K, the deposition of supersaturated silicic acid on Ca-type bentonite was promoted with the increase in temperature. This suggests that the deposition of silicic acid will clog the flow-paths in Ca-type bentonite in this temperature range.