Abstract:
Buffer material was the last artificial barrier of high-level radioactive waste repository, and its retardation capability to radioactive nuclides would directly affect the security and stability of the repository system. Bentonite was a suitable mineral, which can be used to build an integrated buffer material because of low hydraulic conductivity, good swelling and sealing properties, plasticity and high sorption capacity. Bentonite-zeolite-pyrite type integrated buffer material was constituted by the bentonite-zeolite-pyrite weight ratio was 63∶27∶10 (abbreviated as B
7ZP), that zeolite and pyrite were chosen as mineral additives. Then constant source diffusion experiment was carried out to investigate strontium diffusibility in B
7ZP with initial dry density of 1.70 g/cm
3. The experimental results indicate that B
7ZP has good retardation capability for strontium, and the apparent diffusion coefficient of strontium is 3.3×10
-12 m
2/s, smaller in B
7ZP than in pure bentonite. The convection-diffusion-adsorption multi field coupling model for strontium migration was established based on the theory of porous media pollutant migration. MATLAB software was used to analyze migration distance of strontium in B
7ZP under the condition of different time scales, seepage velocity, apparent diffusion coefficient and retardation factor. These research results can supply reference for usage of barrier materials and assessment of long-term retardation capability.