Estimation of Ra Concentration in High-level Radioactive Waste Disposal System

Concentrations of Ra in groundwater are thought to be affected by substitution reactions with alkaline earth elements contained in a mineral, because the concentration of Ra is less than the solubility of known Ra containing phases. The substitution reaction was simulated using a partition coefficient. Calcite ubiquitously exists in geological system and easy to access to react with Ra. Therefore, calcite is thought to be an important mineral for the substitution reaction. However, previous identification of reactive layers of calcite or reversibility of the substitution reaction has not been confirmed. A re-distribution experiment was therefore undertaken and it was found that an estimated 21±13 layers near the surface were reactive and within them substitution equilibrium was achieved. Using these results, a model to estimate Ra concentration was established and adopted to analyze Ra migration. The effects of substitution of Ra and Ca were reasonably simulated.