Noble gas adsorption to tuff. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cantrell, Kirk J.; Wang, Guohui; Mitroshkov, Alexandre V.; Lowrey, Justin D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental radioactivity. Volume 243(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: Nuclear explosion monitong -- Noble gases -- Adsorption -- Tuff; Radioactivity -- Periodicals; Radiation, Background -- Periodicals; Radioecology -- Periodicals; Radioactive pollution -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollutants -- Periodicals; Radioactive Pollutants -- Periodicals; Radioactivity -- Periodicals; Radioécologie -- Périodiques; Pollution radioactive -- Périodiques; Fond de rayonnement -- Périodiques; 539.752
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106809
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0265-931X

Abstract

Abstract: A method was developed to measure trace noble gas element adsorption to the surfaces of geologic materials in the presence of a background gas that could potentially compete for surface adsorption sites. Adsorption of four noble gas elements (Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe) at a concentration of 100 ppm in helium and nitrogen were measured on a sample of crushed tuff at 0, 15, 30, and 45 °C. In addition, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe at 250 ppm and 500 ppm in nitrogen at 15 °C were measured. Noble gas adsorption was found to increase with increasing atomic mass and decreasing temperature. It was also observed that the relative increase in noble gas element adsorption with decreasing temperature tends to increase with increasing atomic mass. As the noble gas concentrations in nitrogen increased, adsorption increased in a slightly non-linear fashion which could be modeled using a Freundlich isotherm. For noble gas concentrations that were ≤100 ppm Henry's Law constant were calculated. Highlights: A method was developed to measure noble gas adsorption to natural materials. Noble gas adsorption increases with increasing atomic mass. Noble gas adsorption increases with decreasing temperature.