ISSN: 0256-1115 (print version) ISSN: 1975-7220 (electronic version)
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Language
English
Conflict of Interest
In relation to this article, we declare that there is no conflict of interest.
Publication history
Received August 21, 2025
Revised October 1, 2025
Accepted October 16, 2025
Available online June 25, 2026
articles This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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Most Cited

Colloid-facilitated Radionuclide Transport in High-level Nuclear Waste Repository: A Review of Experimental Studies

Disposal Performance Demonstration R&D Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute 1Department of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology
Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, June 2026, 43(7), 1875-1887(13)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-025-00588-w

Abstract

This review highlights colloid-facilitated transport of radionuclides as a critical factor in evaluating the long-term safety 

of deep geological repositories (DGRs) for high-level radioactive waste (HLW). Colloids, originating from engineered 

barriers such as bentonite and from natural geological formations, can remain mobile under certain hydrogeochemical conditions

and act as carriers for strongly sorbing radionuclides. This review synthesizes understanding of colloid generation, 

stability, and transport mechanisms, drawing on laboratory- and field-scale studies. Laboratory investigations have elucidated

the roles of colloid size, water chemistry, and organic matter in governing stability and radionuclide interactions, 

while field observations provide direct evidence of colloid-mediated transport under repository conditions. Comparisons 

between controlled experiments and in-situ studies underscore the importance of fracture heterogeneity and transient geochemical

conditions in shaping transport behavior. Finally, key challenges are discussed, including extrapolating laboratory 

findings to repository timescales and integrating colloid processes into performance assessment models.

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