Influence of γ-radiation on the reactivity of montmorillonite towards H2O2

Compacted and water saturated bentonite will be used as an engineered barrier in deep geological repositories for radioactive waste in many countries. Due to the high dose rate of ionizing radiation outside the canisters holding the nuclear waste, radiolysis of the interlayer and pore water in the compacted bentonite is unavoidable. Upon reaction with the oxidizing and reducing species formed by water radiolysis (OH•, e−(aq), H•, H2O2, H2, HO2•, H3O+), the overall redox properties in the bentonite barrier may change. In this study the influence of γ-radiation on the structural Fe(II)/FeTot ratio in montmorillonite and its reactivity towards hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was investigated in parallel experiments. The results show that under anoxic conditions the structural Fe(II)/FeTot ratio of dispersed Montmorillonite increased from ≤3 to 25–30% after γ-doses comparable to repository conditions. Furthermore, a strong correlation between the structural Fe(II)/FeTot ratio and the H2O2 decomposition rate in montmorillonite dispersions was found. This correlation was further verified in experiments with consecutive H2O2 additions, since the structural Fe(II)/FeTot ratio was seen to decrease concordantly. This work shows that the structural iron in montmorillonite could be a sink for one of the major oxidants formed upon water radiolysis in the bentonite barrier, H2O2.