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Table 3 Material specifications required for the raw bentonite used in the FE experiment

From: Implementation of the full-scale emplacement (FE) experiment at the Mont Terri rock laboratory

Criterion

Requirements

Material

Natural (non-activated) sodium bentonite

Smectite content by dried weight, measured by X-ray diffraction using a dried sample

>75%

Additives (magnetite, baryte, binders, etc.)

No additives allowed

CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity), measured by Cu(II)-triethylenetetramine method

>70 meq/100 g

Pyrite content by dried weight, measured by X-ray diffraction using a dried sample

<1%

Sulphur content by dried weight, measured by emission or mass spectroscopy

<0.5% (corresponds to ca. 1% of pyrite)

Organic carbon by dried weight, measured by emission or mass spectroscopy

<1%