Carleton Global Water Institute Talk with Dr. Magdalena Krol
Monday, November 16, 2026 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
- In-Person event
- 4494, Mackenzie, Carleton University
- 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6
Speaker
Dr. Magdalena Krol is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Lassonde School of Engineering, at York University. Her area of expertise is in contaminant hydrogeology specializing in numerical modelling of groundwater flow and contaminant transport. Her research activities include simulation of subsurface gas movement at contaminated sites that are under thermal remediation, optimizing groundwater remediation technologies, green roof design, as well as safe disposal of used nuclear fuels.
Presentation Summary: Geoenvironmental Processes in Used Nuclear Fuel Disposal
Canada, along with many other nations, is planning to dispose of used nuclear fuel in deep geological
repositories (DGRs). The safe containment depends on the use of durable engineered materials as well as the understanding of how those materials will interact with the surrounding subsurface environment over long timescales. In Canada’s planned DGR, copper-coated used fuel containers are surrounded by a bentonite buffer and backfill, forming a critical part of the engineered barrier system. However, the performance of this system is closely tied to geoenvironmental processes that control chemical transport and subsurface reactions. This presentation will outline the overall DGR design with a focus on mass transport through bentonite under a range of DGR conditions relevant to repository design, including variations in bentonite density, repository temperature, and porewater chemistry. Laboratory experiments are combined with numerical modeling to evaluate how diffusion, chemical reactions, and retention mechanisms interact within the barrier material. By integrating experimental observations with process-based models, the study shows how geoenvironmental understanding can be scaled from the laboratory to repository-relevant conditions, informing national strategies.