Geochemical Evolution of Mg-Bentonite Affected by the Contact of Carbon Steel and a Hydrothermal Gradient

Carbon steel and bentonite are materials selected as engineered barriers for high-level radioactive waste confinement. Their long-term interaction must be evaluated to confirm the barrier’s stability. Three laboratory experiments of the carbon steel—Mg-bentonite interaction were conducted for 1, 6, and 22 months under a hydrothermal gradient. Changes in bentonite’s water content, specific surface area, and cation exchange capacity were measured. Mineralogy was studied by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The redistribution of aqueous species and the redox state of iron were determined across the bentonite columns. Results indicated water saturation after 22 months. The specific surface area of bentonite was reduced near contact with the steel, while the cation exchange capacity mostly decreased at 3–6 mm from the steel interface. The corrosion rate decreased with time and bentonite enriched in Fe in the first 1.5 mm from the steel contact. The formation of new Fe-bearing minerals, such as di-tri ferri-sudoite, magnetite, hematite, maghemite, lepidocrocite, siderite and ankerite was observed. Aqueous species redistributed in the porewater of bentonite with decreasing concentrations of Fe and Cl as a function of time and increasing concentrations of Na, Ca and SO4 after 22 months. This occurs under conditions where the bentonite is saturated with Mg, which conditioned the formation and nature of iron clay minerals with time.