Key processes of long-term bentonite-water interaction at 90 °C: Mineralogical and chemical transformations

Bentonites are considered as an engineered barrier for a high-level radioactive waste (HLRW) repository. The Czech product Bentonite 75 is a potential candidate material to be used as a buffer and a backfill. The bentonite barrier is supposed to undergo alteration and transformation processes due to reaction with groundwater and heating originated from radionuclide decay. Detailed knowledge of the bentonite-water interaction is a crucial issue for the evaluation of the long-term stability of the bentonite barrier.