title: Conceptual and numerical modeling of radionuclide transport and retention in near-surface systems.
abstract: Scenarios of barrier failure and radionuclide release to the near-surface environment are important to consider within performance and safety assessments of repositories for nuclear waste. A geological repository for spent nuclear fuel is planned at Forsmark, Sweden. Conceptual and numerical reactive transport models were developed in order to assess the retention capacity of the Quaternary till and clay deposits for selected radionuclides, in the event of an activity release from the repository. The elements considered were carbon (C), chlorine (Cl), cesium (Cs), iodine (I), molybdenum (Mo), niobium (Nb), nickel (Ni), radium (Ra), selenium (Se), strontium (Sr), technetium (Tc), thorium (Th), and uranium (U). According to the numerical predictions, the repository-derived nuclides that would be most significantly retained are Th, Ni, and Cs, mainly through sorption onto clays, followed by U, C, Sr, and Ra, trapped by sorption and/or incorporation into mineral phases.
authors.affiliation: CAT ENVIRO Geochemical Consultancy, Pl. Catalunya 4, 08810, Sant Pere de Ribes, Barcelona, Spain. angels.pique@catenviro.com
authors.forename: Àngels
authors.initials: À
authors.lastname: Piqué
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arcos
authors.forename: Fidel
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grandia
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Molinero
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duro
authors.forename: Sten
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berglund
mesh_terms: D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000737:chemistry*; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive