• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.29-35
• /
• 1990

Uranium solubilities have been calculated for a range of conditions expected in a nuclear waste disposal repository. Variables taken into consideration include the pH and Eh range expected for deep groundeaters, the effect of the composition of groundwater. The model used in these calculations is based on the assumption of chemical equilibrium. Calculations show that the major variables influencing uranium solubility under the repository conditions are pH and Eh. The results of this study can be applied to an assessment of the nuclear waste disposal.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.135-143
• /
• 2004

An experimental study on the sorption of U(VI) onto a Korean granite was performed as a function of the geochemical parameters such as contact time, pH, ionic strength, and carbonate concentration using a batch procedure. The distribution coefficient,$K_d$, was about 1-200 mL/g depending on the experimental conditions. The sorption of U(VI) onto granite particles was greatly dependent upon the contact time, pH, and carbonate concentration, but insignificantly dependent on the ionic strength. It was noticed that the sorption of U(VI) onto granite particles was highly correlated with the uranium speciation in the solution, which was dependent on the pH and carbonate concentrations. It was deduced from the kinetic sorption experiment that a two-step first-order kinetic behavior could dominate the kinetic sorption of U(VI) onto granite particles. In the alkaline range of a pH above 7, U(VI) sorption was greatly decreased and this might be due to the formation of anionic U(VI)-carbonate aqueous complexes as predicted by the speciation calculations.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.221-244
• /
• 2014

We suggested several implications by examining geochemical properties of sediments in Simjeok, Jangdo, and Hwaeomneup mountain wetlands which are natural preservation areas. Geochemical properties of wetland sediments show that all wetlands were included in the type of fens, but their distribution patterns were different from one another. We classified three sub-groups of sediments using the two step cluster analysis on the ratio of exchangeable cations. Wetland sediments can be grouped into Ca-dominated, Mg-dominated, and K-dominated types. Simjeok wetland have Ca-dominated sediments, while the sediments of Jangdo wetland indicate the Mg-dominated and Ca-dominated characteristics. Hwaeomneup wetland is composed of K-dominated sediment mainly. Different properties in the ratio are affected by various environmental factors such as geological, pedological, and vegetational settings. Because these geochemical properties will be affected by climate change and human impacts, these will be environmental indicator in mountain wetlands and be used in wetland management. This scheme can be used for classification of mountain wetlands. Therefore, we should work on geochemical properties of wetland sediments and classification schemes based on geochemical properties not only to widen understanding in geomorphic system or ecosystem of mountain wetlands but to conserve mountain wetlands properly.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.371-380
• /
• 2016

This study aims to identify the mineraloical and petrographical characteristics of caprock from drilling cores of Pohang basin as a potential $CO_2$ storage site. Experiments and modeling were conducted in order to investigate the geochemical and mineralogical caprock effects of carbon dioxide. A series of autoclave experiments were conducted to simulate the interaction in the $scCO_2$-caprock-brine using a high pressure and temperature cell at $50^{\circ}C$ and 100 bar. Geochemical and mineralogical alterations after 15 days of $scCO_2$-caprock-brine sample reactions were quantitatively examined by XRD, XRF, ICP-OES investigation. Results of mineralogical studies, together with petrographic data of caprock and data on the physicochemical parameters of brine were used for geochemical modeling. Modelling was carried out using the The Geochemist's Workbench 11.0.4 geochemical simulator. Results from XRD analysis for caprock sample showed that major compositional minerals are quartz, plagioclase, and K-feldspar, and muscovite, pyrite, siderite, calcite, kaolinite and montnorillonite were included on a small scale. Results from ICP-OES analysis for brine showed that concentration of $Ca^{2+}$, $Na^+$, $K^+$ and $Mg^{2+}$ increased due to dissolution of plagioclase, K-feldspar and muscovite. Results of modeling for the period of 100 years showed that the recrystallization of kaolinite, dawsonite and beidellite, at the expense of plagioclase and K-feldspar is characteristic. Volumes of newly precipitation minerals and minerals passing into brine were balanced, so the porosity remained nearly unchanged. Experimental and modeling results indicate the interaction between caprock and $scCO_2$ during geologic carbon sequestration can exert significant impacts in brine pH and solubility/stability of minerals.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.69-76
• /
• 2021

This study is to identify the mineralogical properties of caprock samples from drilling cores of the Pohang basin, which is the research area for the demonstration-scale CO2 storage project in Korea. The interaction of water-rock-gas that can occur due to CO2 injection was identified using geochemical modeling. Results of mineralogical studies, together with petrographic data of caprock and data on the physicochemical parameters of pore water were used for geochemical modeling. Modelling was carried out using the The Geochemist's Workbench 14.0.1 geochemical simulator. Two steps of modeling enabled prediction of immediate changes in the caprocks impacted by the first stage of CO2 injection and the assessment of long-term effects of sequestration. Results of minerlaogical analysis showed that the caprock samples are mainly composed of quartz, K-feldspar, plagioclase and a small amount of pyrite, calcite, kaolinite and montmollonite. After the injection of carbon dioxide, the porosity of the caprock increased due to the dissolution of calcite, and dawsonite and chalcedony were precipitated as a result of the dissolution of albite and k-feldspar. In the second step after the injection was completed, the precipitation of dawsonite and chalcedony occurred as a result of dissolution of calcite and albite, and the pH was increased due to this reaction. Results of these studies are expected to be used as data to quantitatively evaluate the efficiency of mineral trapping capture in long-term storage of carbon dioxide.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.301-312
• /
• 2010

Geochemical data have been regarded as one of the important environmental variables in the environmental management. Since they are often sampled at sparse locations, it is important not only to predict attribute values at unsampled locations, but also to assess the uncertainty attached to the prediction for further analysis. The main objective of this paper is to exemplify how indicator geostatistics can be effectively applied to geochemical data processing for providing decision-supporting information as well as spatial distribution of the geochemical data. A whole geostatistical analysis framework, which includes probabilistic uncertainty modeling, classification and risk analysis, was illustrated through a case study of cadmium mapping. A conditional cumulative distribution function (ccdf) was first modeled by indicator kriging, and then e-type estimates and conditional variance were computed for spatial distribution of cadmium and quantitative uncertainty measures, respectively. Two different classification criteria such as a probability thresholding and an attribute thresholding were applied to delineate contaminated and safe areas. Finally, additional sampling locations were extracted from the coefficient of variation that accounts for both the conditional variance and the difference between attribute values and thresholding values. It is suggested that the indicator geostatistical framework illustrated in this study be a useful tool for analyzing any environmental variables including geochemical data for decision-making in the presence of uncertainty.

• Proceedings of the Mineralogical Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2001.06a
• /
• pp.132-132
• /
• 2001

옥천변성대의 충주-황강리 지역내 앰피볼라이트의 기원암은 염기성 화성암으로 쏠레이아이트 계열의 변이질암에 속한다. Fe $O^{*}$/MgO값의 변화에 대하여 분별작용에 의해 영향을 받는 주성분 원소와 미량원소들의 변화를 보게되면 Ti $O_2$, Fe $O^{*}$와 불호정성 원소(incompatible element)인 Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta, Th 등은 분별작용동안 증가하는 반면 호정성 원소(compatible element)인 MgO, $Al_2$ $O_3$, Ni, Cr 등은 감소하는 경향을 보여주고 있다. Fe $O^{*}$/MgO, Ti $O_2$ 그리고 Fe $O^{*}$는 심해성 쏠레이아이트 영역으로부터 분화된 경향을 나타내 주고 있다. Ni, Cr은 Fe $O^{*}$/MgO값의 증가에 따라 급속히 감소하며 안정한 대륙과 해저화산의 영역에 도시되고 있으며 칼크-알칼리(CA)와는 관계가 없고 쏠레이아이트의 영역에서 변화 패턴을 보여주어 앰피볼라이트가 활동적인 대륙연변부의 지구조 환경보다는 안정한 대륙이나 해저화산과 관계가 더 있음을 시사한다. 경휘토류 원소(LREE)는 중휘토류 원소(HREE)에 비해 더욱 부화된 특성을 띠고 원자번호가 증가하면서 표준화된 휘토류 원소패턴의 경사가 점차 감소하는 경향을 보여주고 있다. 대부분의 시료들은 큰 Eu이상치를 갖고 있지 않아 마그마 정출 과정동안 사장석의 분별작용이 거의 수반되지 않았음을 지시하고 전체적인 휘토류 원소의 패턴은 거의 평행하게 나타나므로 기원 마그마가 유사함을 의미하고 있다. 비유동성 원소를 이용한 여러 판별도표들을 통해서 본암은 대륙성 현무암질암으로서 판내부 환경에서 유래되었으며 대륙내부 열곡의 알칼리 현무암과 대륙성 현무암 영역에 속하는 것으로 보아서 대륙지각내 열곡작용과 같은 장력운동에 수반되어 생성된 것임을 시사해 주고 있다. 앰피볼라이트의 지각혼성화를 평가하기 위해 이에 필요한 몇 개의 지화학적 매개변수를 계산한 결과 La/Ta, La/Nb, Nb/Th들의 값이 오염 안된 마그마의 값을 지시해 주어 본암이 지각혼성화 작용을 받지 않은 것으로 나타났다. 대부분의 시료들은 P-타입 MORB의 영역에 속하며 소수의 시료가 T-타입 MORB의 영역에 도시되고 있어 본 앰피볼라이트의 생성에는 양적으로 다른 두 가지의 유사한 마그마가 수반된 것으로 추정된다. 것으로 추정된다.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.235-243
• /
• 2006

In this study, an experimental study on the sorption properties of uranium(VI) onto a bentonite colloid generated from Gyeongju bentonite which is a potential buffer material in a high-level radioactive waste repository was performed as a function of the pH and the ionic strength. The bentonite colloid prepared by separating a colloidal fraction was mainly composed of montmorillonite. The concentration and the size fraction of the prepared bentonite colloid measured using a gravitational filtration method was about 5100 ppm and 200-450 nm in diameter, respectively. The amount of uranium removed by the sorption reaction bottle walls, by precipitation, and by ultrafiltration was analyzed by carrying out some blank tests. The removed amount of uranium was found not to be significant except the case of ultrafiltration at 0.001 M $NaClO_4$. The ultrafiltration was significant in the lower ionic strength of 0.001 M $NaClO_4$ due to the cationic sorption onto the ultrafilter by a surface charge reversion. The distribution coefficient $K_d$ (or pseudo-colloid formation constant) of uranium(VI) for the bentonite colloid was about $10^4{\sim}10^7mL/g$ depending upon pH and ionic strength of $NaClO_4$ and the $K_d$ was highest in the neutral pH around 6.5. It is noted that the sorption of uranium(VI) onto the bentonite colloid is closely related with aqueous species of uranium depending upon geochemical parameters such as pH, ionic strength, and carbonate concentration. As a consequence, the bentonite colloids generated from a bentonite buffer can mobilize the uranium(VI) as a colloidal form through geological media due to their high sorption capacity.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.117-128
• /
• 2017

Occurrence characteristics and existing forms of U-Th containing minerals in KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) granite are investigated to understand long-term behavior of radionuclides in granite considered as a candidate rock for the geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. KURT granite primarily consists of quartz, feldspar and mica. zircon, REE(Rare Earth Element)-containing monazite and bastnaesite are also identified. Besides, secondary minerals such as sericite, microcline and chlorite including quartz vein and calcite vein are observed. These minerals are presumed to be accompanied by a post-hydrothermal process. U-Th containing minerals are mainly observed at the boundaries of quartz, feldspar and mica, mostly less than $30{\mu}m$ in size. Quantitative analysis results using EPMA (Electron Probe Micro-Analyzer) show that 74.2 ~ 96.5% of the U-Th containing minerals consist of $UO_2$ (3.39 ~ 33.19 wt.%), $ThO_2$ (41.61 ~ 50.24 wt.%) and $SiO_2$ (15.43 ~ 18.60 wt.%). Chemical structure of the minerals calculated using EPMA quantitative analysis shows that the U-Th minerals are silicate minerals determined as thorite and uranothorite. The U-Th containing silicate minerals are formed by a magmatic and hydrothermal process. Therefore, KURT granite formed by a magmatic differentiation is accompanied by an alteration and replacement owing to a hydrothermal process. U-Th containing silicate minerals in KURT granite are estimated to be recrystallized by geochemical factors and parameters such as temperature, pressure and pH owing to the hydrothermal process. By repeated dissolution/precipitation during the recrystallization process, U-Th containing silicate minerals such as thorite and uranothorite are formed according to the variation in the concentrated amount of U and Th.