Preliminary report on the statistical evaluation of sorption data: Sorption as a function of mineralogy, temperature, time, and particle size

Abstract

The Yucca Mountain area of Nevada is a candidate of the US Department of Energy as a permanent geologic repository for the isolation of high-level wastes.To determine the site's suitability as a repository, studies are being done of the transport of radionuclides from a repository to the environment by dissolution Two intervals are given to assess the uncertainty in the estimate. In the first interval, only random variability is considered. The second type considers variability caused by geologic processes. From these data, predictions were made within one-half order of magnitude.

Observation of Time Dependent Dispersion in Laboratory Scale Experiments with Intact Tuff

“…The past studies were primarily batch sorption measurements of the distribution coefficients [2] for several radionuclides as a function of stratigraphic position. Other parameters affecting sorption measurements such as temperature, water composition, air composition, tracer concentration, and particle size have been varied and the sensitivity to these parameters evaluated for crushed tuff samples [3,4]. Crushed tuff columns have been used to verify the prediction of retardation factors based on batch K d s and found to be in good agreement provided the particle size distributions were controlled [5].…”

Summary Report Geochemistry/Transport Tests, Milestone Sp23qm3 (Revised),november 18, 1997

“…The past studies were primarily batch-sorption measurements of the distribution coefficients for several radionuclides as a function of stratigraphic position. Other parameters affecting sorption measurements such as temperature, water composition, air composition, tracer concentration, and particle size have been varied and the sensitivity to these parameters evaluated for crushed tuff samples (Beckman et al 1988;Fuentes et al 1987). Crushed-tuff columns have been used to verify the drediction of retardation factors based on batch K,s and found to be in good agreement provided the particle size distributions were controlled .…”