Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology

In hydrothermal reaction tests, smectite-to-illite conversion was identified using a domestic bentonite which is favorably considered as a buffer material, and its dependency on various hydrothermal conditions was investigated. The analysis results of the XRD and Si concentration indicated that the smectite-to-illite conversion was a major process of bentonite alteration under the hydrothermal conditions. The temperature, potassium concentration in solution, and pH were observed to significantly affect the smectite-to illite conversion. A model of conversion reaction rate was suggested to evaluate the long-term stability of smectite composing a major constituent of bentonitic buffer. It was expected from the evaluation results that the smectite would keep its integrity for very long disposal time under a normal condition, whileas it might be converted to illite by 50 percent after over 5x104 year of disposal time under a conservative condition and consequently lose its swelling capacity as a buffer material of a repository.

Keywords

bentonite,smectite,hydrothermal behavior,long-term stability