Bioavailability and Molecular Structure of Organic Carbon in Bentonite

加拿大核废物管理组织（NWMO）负责制定加拿大废核燃料长期储存计划。 这包括开发一种用于储存用过的燃料棒束的工程屏障系统，该系统包括在地下500米深的地质处置库（DGR）内用膨润土包装的用过的燃料容器。 膨润土粘土具有很高的膨胀亲和力，并保留任何可能泄漏的放射性同位素。 膨润土粘土还含有天然有机物质，其可支持DGR中的微生物活性并导致用过的燃料容器的腐蚀。 因此，需要对天然有机物化学和生物利用度进行详细的调查。 西北气象组织和多伦多大学的研究人员之间拟议的研究将调查膨润土中的有机物质如何随着压实、温度、盐度、辐射而改变，以及膨润土中的有机物质如何异质。 高度复杂的分析工具将被用来评估有机物化学如何通过这些模拟DGR条件改变。 这一信息将用于通报和进一步制定加拿大核废料储存的长期计划。 一项关于加拿大使用过的核燃料的长期和可持续计划将确保安全处置这些废物，并使所有加拿大人直接受益。

The Canadian Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is tasked with developing a plan for the long-term storage of Canada's used nuclear fuel. This includes the development of an engineered barrier system for the storage of used fuel bundles that consists of used fuel containers packed in bentonite clay within a deep geologic repository (DGR) 500m below ground. Bentonite clay has a high affinity to swell and to retain any radionucleotides that may leak. Bentonite clay also contains natural organic matter which may support microbial activity in a DGR and result in corrosion of the used fuel containers. Therefore, a detailed investigation of natural organic matter chemistry and bioavailability is needed. The proposed research between the NWMO and University of Toronto researchers will investigate how organic matter in bentonite may be altered with: compaction, temperature, salinity, radiation, and how heterogeneous organic matter in bentonite may be. Highly sophisticated analytical tools will be used to assess how organic matter chemistry may be altered through these simulated DGR conditions. This information will be used to inform and further develop the long-term plan for Canada's nuclear waste storage. A long-term and sustainable plan for Canada's used nuclear fuel will ensure the safe disposal of this waste and provide a direct benefit to all Canadians.