Effect of calcium on niobium solubility in alkaline solutions

Ohira, Saki  ; Abe, Takeyasu  ; Iida, Yoshihisa 

The solubility of Nb in calcium alkaline solutions is one of the important parameters in safety assessment of intermediate-depth disposal which are assumed to use cementitious materials. Nb solubility and solubility-limiting solid phases of Nb in these systems remain unclear. The oversaturation solubility experiments were performed systematically in the 0.001-0.1 M CaCl solutions under alkali conditions, and the characterization of precipitated solid phase controlling Nb solubility was conducted. The negative dependence of Nb solubilities on pH and Ca concentration was observed in solubility experiments, the molar ratio of Nb to Ca of precipitated solid phase was 0.66. The pH and Ca dependence of Nb solubilities was reproduced by the reaction with Nb aqueous species Nb(OH) and Ca-Nb oxide with the molar ratio of Nb to Ca 0.66, e.g., CaNbO(am).