Effect of super-absorbent polymer on swelling pressure of compacted bentonite infiltrated by alkaline solutions

The application of bentonite in geological disposal of radioactive waste is still under evaluation, especially concerning the decreased swelling pressure of pure bentonite exposed to alkaline groundwater. In this paper, in order to improve the chemical resistance of bentonite to alkaline solutions, super-absorbent polymer (SAP), a hydrophilic polymer with much higher swelling ability than that of bentonite, was dry-blended with Gaomiaozi (GMZ) bentonite and compacted into blocks of different dry densities. Swelling pressure of the bentonite-SAP composites infiltrated with deionized water, NaOH and KOH alkaline solutions were tested, accompanied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) tests conducted on the selected specimens. Results showed that, for the specimens hydrated by deionized water, the swelling pressure increased with increasing SAP content, dry density and concentration of NaOH solutions. With increasing concentration of KOH solutions, however, the swelling pressure decreased obviously and tended to undergo a slow long-term degradation. Results of SEM, MIP and XRD indicate that the SAP hydrogels swell extensively to clog the inter-aggregate pores and coat the aggregates (for high density specimens) or montmorillonite stacks (for low density specimens), while do not insert into the interlayer spaces. The swelling pressure was therefore mainly contributed by the crystalline swelling of montmorillonite and the osmotic swelling of SAP. The SAP chains could be associated with the montmorillonite crystallites, protecting them from chemical attack and thus improving the chemical resistance of bentonite to alkaline solutions.