Uranium (VI) sorption on illite under varying carbonate concentrations: Batch experiments, modeling, and cryogenic time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy study

Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) present in groundwaters can affect both the aqueous and surface species of hexavalent uranium (U(VI)) owing to its strong complexation ability with U(VI). However, the effect of DIC on U(VI) sorption on illite, which is a critical component of argillaceous rocks, is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the sorption of U(VI) on conditioned illite du Puy with varying DIC concentrations (up to 250 mM DIC) as a function of pH through batch sorption experiments, surface complexation modeling, and cryogenic time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). The distribution coefficients of U(VI) decreased with an increase in the DIC concentration. At relatively high DIC concentrations with respect to experimentally investigated range (≥100 mM DIC), no U(VI) sorption was observed. The U(VI) sorption on illite was modeled using the two-site protolysis non-electrostatic surface complexation and cation exchange model. Two ternary surface complexation reactions with carbonate were needed to depict the experimental sorption data in addition to binary and ternary hydroxo surface complexation reactions used to describe the U(VI) sorption to illite without carbonate. Cryogenic TRLFS data revealed that U(VI) did sorb to illite at high DIC concentrations (up to 10 mM DIC). The spectra were unchanged with varying DIC concentrations (2.0, 5.0, and 10 mM DIC) at pH ∼8.5, indicating that the surface speciation of U(VI) remained the same. The decay curves were biexponential, which further indicates that at least two surface species were responsible for the sorption. These results could improve the performance assessment of a deep geological disposal system in a sedimentary host rock. [Display omitted] •Sorption of U(VI) decreased obviously with increasing carbonate concentration.•The sorption data were well predicted by the 2SPNE SC/CE surface complexation model.•Two uranyl-carbonate surface complexes are needed to model the sorption data.