Tertiary montmorillonite-rich clays from the Cheb basin (Czech Republic): alternative backfill material in the nuclear waste disposal

Detailed research of the composition of montmorillonite-rich clay and of its physical and sorption properties has shown that this material is comparable to bentonites. The favourable properties cover high cation exchange capacity (about 122 meq/100g) due to the high contents of smectites, sorption of selected radionuclides, micropore structure, and granulometry. As montmorillonite-rich clays represent a double-times cheaper alternative to bentonites, their application as a backfill material would be reasonable.