Immobilization of Radioactive Wastes Using Geopolymers - 19483
- Department of Chemistry, Western University, London, Ontario (Canada)
- SAFESTORE Project/Nuclear Decommissioning - Ontario Power Generation (Canada)
This work explores an encapsulation and immobilization technology for spent radioactive ion exchange (IX) resins using geopolymer materials as a matrix. Geopolymer-IX resin composites with different IX resin loadings were prepared by mixing an aluminosilicate material (metakaolin), sodium hydroxide and inactive IX resin (Amberlite IRN 150) and curing the mixture at room temperature with or without γradiation applied using an external radiation source. The metakaolin and sodium hydroxide reacted to form a geopolymer framework encapsulating the IX resin beads. The IX resin loading capacity and the encapsulation efficiency of the geopolymer material were investigated by examining the morphology and distribution of resins within the geopolymer framework using optical microscopy, and by measuring the compressive strengths of the geopolymer-IX resin composites. These properties of the geopolymer-IX resin composites were compared with those of ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-IX resin composites. The geopolymer matrix allowed for a higher IX resin loading capacity than OPC. The geopolymer-IX resin composite was stable under γ-radiation for 28 d. In leaching tests performed with encapsulated Sr-loaded IX resins, the ability of the geopolymer to prevent leaching of Sr{sup 2+} into solution was greatly superior to that of OPC. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- WM Symposia, Inc., PO Box 27646, 85285-7646 Tempe, AZ (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 23005364
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US-21-WM-19483; TRN: US21V1291045698
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: WM2019: 45. Annual Waste Management Conference, Phoenix, AZ (United States), 3-7 Mar 2019; Other Information: Country of input: France; 17 refs.; available online at: https://www.xcdsystem.com/wmsym/2019/index.html
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CURING
EFFICIENCY
ENCAPSULATION
ION EXCHANGE
LEACHING
LOADING
MATRICES
MIXING
MORPHOLOGY
OPTICAL MICROSCOPY
ORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS
PORTLAND CEMENT
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RESINS
SODIUM HYDROXIDES
STRONTIUM IONS