Analysis of equivalent thickness of geological media for lab-scale study of radon exhalation

Abstract

Geological media are widely distributed in nature. Lab-scale tests are frequently employed in radon studies for these media. Thus, it is critical to find the thickness of the medium at an experimental scale that is equivalent to the medium thickness in a real geological system. Based on the diffusion-advection transport of radon, theoretical models of the surface radon exhalation rate for homogeneous semi-infinite and finite-thickness systems were derived (denoted as Jse and Jfi, respectively). Analysis of the equivalency of Jse and Jfi was subsequently carried out by introducing several dimensionless parameters, including the ratio of the exhalation rates for the semi-infinite and finite-thickness models, ε, and the number of diffusion lengths required to achieve a desired ε value, n. The results showed that when radon transport in geological media is dominantly driven by diffusion, if n > 3.6626, then ε > 95% (and if n > 5.9790, then ε > 99.5%).When radon migration is dominantly driven by advection, if n > 2.5002, then ε > 95% (and if n > 4.0152, then ε > 99.5%). Therefore, if the thickness of the geological media (x0) is greater than a certain n times the radon diffusion length of the media (L), the media can be modeled as semi-infinite. To validate the model, a pure radon diffusion experiment (no advection) was developed using uranium mill tailings, laterite, and radium-bearing rocklike material with different thicknesses (x0). The theoretical model was demonstrated to be reliable and valid. This study provides a basis for determining the appropriate thickness of geological media in lab-scale experiments of radon exhalation.

Temperature-humidity evolution and radon exhalation mechanism of red clay-bentonite covering layer in uranium mill tailings pond

“…The closed-loop radon measurement method is the most used one to measure the radon exhalation rate. The mathematical model for the increase of radon concentration in a concentrated radon cover is as follows 21 , 22 : where C is the concentration of radon accumulated during time, Bq·m −3 ; J is the radon exhalation rate, Bq·m −2 ·s −1 ; S is the measured area, m 2 ; V is the volume of the radon collector, m 3 ; t is the unit time, s; λ is the radioactive decay constant of radon (2.1 × 10 −6 s −1 ); and are the coefficients associated with radon leakage and anti-diffusion, s −1 . Anti-diffusion refers to the diffusion of the radon in the radon collector back into the medium.…”