Pu在膨润土层中的反应性迁移模拟研究(2)——Pu的种态分布及反应性迁移分析

Reactive Transport Modeling of Pu in Bentonite Layer (2)—Prediction of Species and Reactive Transport of Pu

  • 摘要: 为评估柯尔碱膨润土工程屏障材料的安全性能,采用考虑渗流扩散、溶解-沉淀、表面配位吸附、放射性衰变等多过程动态耦合的反应性迁移模拟方法,综合运用TOUGHREACT等程序开展了Pu在柯尔碱膨润土层中反应迁移的数值模拟,结合地下水-膨润土体系演化模拟分析了Pu的种态分布特征,叠加表面配位模型预测分析了Pu的长期迁移规律。结果表明:地下水中Pu主要以难迁移的Pu(OH)4(aq)形式存在;由于膨润土的低渗透性和强吸附性,正常情景下Pu的扩散范围很小而将长期滞留于1 m厚膨润土中;在忽略强吸附阻滞作用的保守情景下,Pu在渗流作用下可扩散迁移出膨润土层;考虑到长时间尺度下不可避免存在的不确定性,建议重视渗流扩散为主导的其他过程和情景研究。

     

    Abstract: In order to assess the safety performance of Kerjian bentonite as one of the engineering barrier materials, a process-based TOUGHREACT modeling approach to predict reactive transport of Pu was employed in this paper, following the previous topic on geochemical simulation of bentonite evolution. This approach, which combines hydrodynamic modeling and geochemical modeling, has a style of dynamic coupling of multiple processes, such as fluid flow, molecular diffusion, mineral dissolution and precipitation, sorption via surface complexation, and radioactive decay. Specifically, reactive transport modeling was performed using TOUGHREACT and other simulators to quantify the complex interplay between Pu transport and reaction processes over a long period of time. The surface complexation model of Pu sorption on bentonite was constructed based on the diffusion layer model (DLM) and literature data, from which the equivalent distribution coefficient (Kd) was subsequently derived. Eventually, the migration of Pu in the Kerjian bentonite layer was simulated in terms of aqueous Pu species, surface complexation model, sorption and retardation, and transport patterns. The results show that in the context of the pH evolution range (i.e. 8.1-10.3) in groundwater, Pu(Ⅳ) is the dominant oxidation state in aqueous phase, which is generally considered to be readily sorbed on solid surfaces and thus relatively insoluble and immobile in the environment. Meanwhile, Pu(OH)4(aq) species dominates in groundwater due to the formation of stable aqueous complexes, suggesting more sophisticated Pu transport mechanisms. According to the simulated Kd-pH curve of Pu in bentonite, the equivalent Kd can be as high as 16 500 mL/g and 14 500 mL/g, corresponding to the pH values of 8 and 9.5 respectively, indicating that the bentonite has a strong effect on retarding Pu migration. Due to the low permeability and strong sorption properties of bentonite in the normal scenario, the diffusive migration of Pu is less than 1 m in distance over long timescales (e.g. 500 000 years). However, in the conservative scenario, where the strong retardation caused by sorption is ignored and diffusion with hydrodynamic seepage becomes the dominant mechanism for Pu migration, Pu tends to penetrate the bentonite layer in a relatively short period of time (e.g. less than 10 000 years), implying a loss of barrier performance over time. In view of the inevitable uncertainties for longer timescales, it is suggested that more attention should be paid to the investigation of other processes and scenarios dominated by both water flow and molecular diffusion mechanisms. In these cases, the topics include bentonite/clay erosion, colloid mobility, colloid-facilitated radionuclide transport, and multi-field coupled processes, etc. In summary, the above achievements provide important insights into Pu transport behavior with the geochemical evolution of bentonite and groundwater properties.

     

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