Effect of homogenization on the microstructure and exclusion of chloride in compacted bentonite

In the present work, the effect of homogenization on the microstructure and exclusion of chloride in compacted bentonite was studied. The experiments were performed with MX-80 bentonite, from which easily dissolving components, e.g. chlorides and gypsum, had been removed to ensure that the excess ions in the pore water came from the external solution alone. In the first case, the bentonite was homogenized by dispersing the clay powder in deionized water with ultrasound. The extra water was subsequently squeezed out in order to obtain the desired clay density. In the second case, the samples were compacted to the desired density at the outset and then saturated with deionized water. Thereafter, both sample types were equilibrated with 0.1 M NaCl solution through filter plates. In the third case, the compacted samples were equilibrated directly with 0.1 M NaCl solution. The concentrations in the pore water at the end of equilibration were determined by dispersing the bentonite samples in deionized water. The concentrations in the pore water of the samples saturated first with deionized water were clearly lower than those saturated directly with 0.1 M NaCl solution. This probably reflects the effect of homogenization and a smaller size of the external pores on the chloride concentrations. The model results calculated with the Donnan model by assuming a homogenous bentonite structure were lower than the measured values. Excellent agreement between experimental and model results could be obtained by assuming a dual-porosity structure.