Publications Details
Stopping clay colloid formation in engineered barrier systems for waste isolation
Clays have many positive attributes leading to their use in waste isolation scenarios. One negative of their use is the formation of clay colloids that can transmit otherwise strongly sorbing contaminants long distances. In this work, we introduce a material combining a layered double hydroxide and a montmorillonite clay. This material is functionally characterized in an advective column under conditions where clay colloid formation is extensive. The material is shown to retard clay colloids once formed, and to help limit the initial formation of clay colloids. Adding this material to a waste barrier will help to limit the erosion of the clays in the barrier and limit the colloidal transport of contaminants.