In situ diffusion experiments in bentonite clay have been carried out in the probe CHEMLAB, using the radioactive tracers Co-57, Sr-85 and Cs-134. The measured diffusion profiles for the radionuclides are in good agreement with predicted profiles obtained from modelling based on apparent diffusivities and sorption coefficients obtained in laboratory experiments with corresponding clay density and ground water composition.

Diffusion of Na+. Cs+, Co2+ and Sr2+ in bentonite compacted to a dry density of 1800 kg m(-3) and saturated with groundwaters and aqueous solutions of differing ionic strength have been studied experimentally using the through diffusion technique. Sorption experiments have been carried out under a wide range of pH and concentration of supporting electrolyte. The dependence of the apparent diffusivity of Na+, Cs+ and Sr2+, mainly sorbed by ion exchange, on the sorption intensity is accommodated by a model encompassing diffusion of the sorbed cations within the electrical double layer next to the mineral surface in addition to diffusion in the pore water. The apparent diffusivity of Co2+, sorbed by surface complexation reactions, corresponds to complete immobilization on sorption.