Going underground A new market for Czech bentonite in nuclear waste disposal

摘要

Smectite-rich materials have found many industrial applications over the last century, such as the foundry industry, iron ore pelletisation, well drilling, and absorbents. All these uses are wll established for Czech bentonites and montmorillonite clays. However, use as engineered barriers in the disposal of high level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel opens the possibility of a new market for these industrial minerals. This feature reviews the sources of Czech smectite clays and explains how they can be used in underground nuclear waste repositories.