Ni(II) sorption on natural chlorite

Sorption of Ni(II) onto chlorite surfaces was studied as a function of pH (5–10), ionic strength (0.01–0.5 M) and Ni concentration (10−8–10−6 M) in an Ar atmosphere using batch sorption with radioactive 63Ni as tracer. Such studies are important since Ni(II) is one of the major activation products in spent nuclear fuel and sorption data on minerals such as chlorite are lacking. The sorption of Ni(II) onto chlorite was dependent on pH but not ionic strength, which indicates that the process primarily comprises sorption by surface complexation. The maximum sorption was at pH ∼ 8 (Kd = ∼10−3 cm3/g). Desorption studies over a period of 1–2 weeks involving replacement of the aqueous solution indicated a low degree of desorption. The acid–base properties of the chlorite mineral were determined by titration and described using a non-electrostatic surface complexation model in FITEQL. A 2-pK NEM model and three surface complexes, ChlOHNi2+, ChlOHNi(OH)+ and ChlOHNi(OH)2, gave the best fit to the sorption results using FITEQL. The high Kd values and low degree of desorption observed indicate that under expected groundwater conditions, a large fraction of Ni(II) that is potentially leachable from spent nuclear fuel may be prevented from migrating by sorption onto chlorite surfaces.