µTRLFS: Spatially-resolved sorption studies of Eu(III) on Eibenstock granite with time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy

Finding a safe long-term repository for high-level nuclear waste is a highly relevant global issue. To that end, the interaction of radionuclides with mineral phases contained in possible host rocks and construction materials must be understood. On a time scale of up to one million years, especially the scenario of a water intrusion into the repository and thus dissolution of radionuclides has to be considered.

To investigate the sorption behaviour of actinides (e.g. Cm(III) and U(VI)O22+) and lanthanides (e.g. Eu(III)), time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) is a widely used method, because of its trace concentration sensitivity and capability to distinguish multiple species in complex systems. On the one hand this method gives the spectral information of the emitted fluorescence light, which allows determining the symmetry and the grade of complexation of the sorbed Ln/An. On the other hand the lifetimes of the excited electronic states provide information about the surrounding quenchers, mainly water. Typically, TRLFS investigations will focus on the interaction of an actinide with one relevant mineral phase. For a real rock formation, e.g. granite, sorption will however be a competitive process involving multiple mineral phases at the same time.

In this study a new method called µTRLFS is introduced, which will add a spatial dimension to TRLFS. By doing so, it is possible to separate the multi-phase system into discrete single-phase systems and therefore to make a step beyond model systems by investigating, for example whole natural granite rock with TRLFS. Because of its advantageous fluorescence properties, we use Eu(III) as an analogue for the trivalent actinides Am and Cm. Spatially resolved sorption experiments with Eu(III) on granite samples from Eibenstock, Germany are presented. These samples are excited by a focused laser beam at a wavelength of 394 nm, and scanned through the laser’s focal point by an XYZ-stage with a resolution of approximately 20 µm. Through this approach it becomes possible to characterize Eu(III) sorption on single grains of the complex material by mapping fluorescence intensity, F2/F1-band ratios, as well as fluorescence lifetimes.

A combination of spatially-resolved X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (µXRF) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) is used to reveal the mineral phase composition in each point of measurement which can then be correlated to the µTRLFS maps. In addition, these methods provide impurity distributions of e.g. Fe or Mn as additional quenchers. By doing so, µTRLFS mapping of sorption capacity, complexation strength and surrounding quenchers can be correlated to phase distribution mappings and thus provide information about the sorption behaviour of each phase within the complete multi-phase system. The µTRLFS data can be directly compared to single phase TRLFS data of the main granite components quartz, feldspar, and mica. For verification, the Eu(III) distribution obtained from µTRLFS data will be compared to autoradiography images.