Adsorption Properties of Cs(I) and Co(II) on GMZ Bentonite Colloids

The alteration of the morphology of bentonite, a key barrier to isolating high-level radioactive waste in deep geological repositories under long-term interaction with groundwater, was studied. Bentonite colloids were prepared from Gaomiaozi bentonite, and its various properties were analyzed by various characterization methods. The effects of various factors on the adsorption of Cs(I) and Co(II) on bentonite colloids were investigated by batch static adsorption experiments. The results showed that the colloids were mainly composed of montmorillonite and were lamellar in shape, with a zeta potential of −enton mV and an average size of approximately 209.10 nm. The adsorption of Cs(I) and Co(II) by the colloids was a rapid process, and 31.78 and 88.24 mg/g, respectively, were adsorbed at equilibrium. Pseudo-second-order kinetic fitting showed that chemisorption plays a dominant role and acid-base interactions affect adsorption by influencing the stability of colloids and the chemical form of simulated nuclides. This work can be helpful for evaluating the safety of waste repositories.