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Sorption mechanism of carbon-14 by hardened cement paste

Book ·
OSTI ID:264449
Carbon-14 sorption by cementitious materials should be enhanced to ensure the long term safety of radioactive waste repositories. The sorption mechanism of inorganic C-14 (CO{sub 3}{sup 2{minus}}) was investigated using batch sorption experiments and zeta potential measurements. The results suggested that C-14 was adsorbed onto the cement surface by an electrostatic force, due to the reaction between SiO{sub 2} and CaO contained in the cementitious composition. That is, SiO{sub 2} was originally negatively charged (SiO{sup {minus}}) in cement, but became positively charged through the interaction of Ca{sup 2+}. These positive sites on the SiO{sub 2} surface adsorbed inorganic C-14. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) did not contain enough SiO{sub 2} compared with its CaO content to produce sufficient numbers of C-14 adsorption sites. The C-14 distribution coefficient (Kd) was increased from 2,000 to 7,000 mL/g by adding SiO{sub 2} to OPC.
OSTI ID:
264449
Report Number(s):
CONF-951155--; ISBN 1-55899-315-0
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English