Since bentonite has a very good sorption capability for many radionuclides, the displacement of the clay might lead to a "clay-mediated" contaminant transport into the rock.
An experimental test carried out using a factorial design 23 indicated that pH and mass of bentonite have a positive effect, whereas temperature has negative effect.
An experimental test carried out using a factorial design 24 indicated that contact time, solid to liquid ratio and moisture of bentonite have a positive effect, whereas acid concentration has a negative effect.
The FEBEX bentonite has a high cation exchange capacity (∼1 eq/kg), high surface area (∼725 m2/g total surface area and 62 m2/g external surface area) and accessory minerals such as carbonates, sulphates, pyrite, etc.; and organic matter.
A colloidal clay marketed under the trade name 'Bentonite' has a flocculating effect from its sodium salt content, and also disperses to fine particles which have a sealing effect.
Hence, Ca-bentonite has a greater proportion of relatively large pores; this was confirmed by Hg intrusion porosimetry.
All extracts maintained an activity level at least 80% of GRFT purified by the previously published method [ 4], with GRFT purified by MgCl2 & bentonite having 100.8 ± 4.33% of the activity (Table 1).
The industrial and environmental applications of bentonite have showed an upsurge of interest in recent years; various abundant minerals and clay minerals have been utilized in manufacturing process of cement, and they included: kaolinite, goethite, dolomite, cristobalite, and palykorskite (Bojumueller et al. 2001; Taylor-Lange et al. 2012).
The transport of the soluble salts contained in a compacted bentonite has been studied in a hydration and heating experiment.
GMZ bentonite has been considered as a possible material for engineered barrier in the Chinese program of nuclear waste disposal at great depth.
