Asphaltene or Polyvinylchloride Waste Blended with Cement to Produce a Sustainable Material Used in Nuclear Safety

Abstract

The current research uses sustainable methods to preserve the environment, such as exploiting municipal or industrial waste that may harm the environment. The wreckage of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes and asphaltene are used as additives to cement to improve its mechanical properties, while stabilizing the radioactive waste resulting from the peaceful uses of nuclear materials, or enhancing its radiation shielding efficiency. New composites of Portland cement with ground PVC or asphaltene up to 50% are investigated. Fast neutron removal cross-section (ƩR) and gamma shielding parameters, such as mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), half-value layer (HVL), effective atomic number (Zeff), and exposure build-up factor (EBF) at wide energy range and thickness, are determined. The compressive strength and apparent porosity of the examined composites are examined to test the durability of the prepared composites as stabilizers for radioactive waste. The obtained results show that the bulk density of hardened cementitious composites was slightly increased by increasing the additive amount of PVC or asphaltene. The compressive strength of cement composites reached more than 4.5 MP at 50 wt.% PVC and 8.8 MPa at 50 wt.% asphaltene. These values are significantly higher than those recommended by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (3.4 MPa). Additionally, the obtained results demonstrate that although the gamma MAC is slightly decreased by adding asphaltene or PVC, the neutron removal cross-section was highly increased, reaching 171% in the case of 50 wt.% asphaltene and 304% in the case of 50 wt.% PVC. We can conclude that cement composites with PVC or asphaltene have optimized radiation shielding properties and can stabilize radioactive waste.

Effective impact of nano-plastic-waste incorporated with nanotitina on the physical, mechanical and microstructural properties of white cement pastes composites for progressing towards sustainability

“…After hand homoprocessing, the patches were cast in stainless steel moulds measuring (25 mm × 25 mm × 25 mm), before being placed in cubes to hydrate at a temperature of ambient humidity of 955%. The next day, prisms were de-molded www.nature.com/scientificreports/ and immersed directly into water for 28 days of hydration 40,41 . In additions; the workability of MPxT blends, Ry, MCS, ST, and porosity, variations had been investigated 42,43 .…”

Enhancing PVCC beam performance through PVA fiber and basalt fabric in sustainable construction: ductility, strength, and energy absorption improvements

“…The sustainability of a material can be evaluated based on the life cycle of the structure. The life cycle can be assessed by proposing a framework [16]. This framework is applied to ECC used as a link slab in bridge decks.…”

Biosorption Capability of Chitosan for Removal of Cs-137 and/or Co-60 from Radioactive Waste Solution Simulates

“…Sorption has been demonstrated to be of a distinguished pattern because of its simple device and operation, cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and exceptional chelating performance; moreover, it can be regenerated using desorption processes [6]. This sorption process could be followed by stabilization using cement mixed with various additives, such as bitumen [7], asphaltene [8], glass [9], polymer [10], cement based-materials [11], and natural clay [12]. Chitosan (CS) can be a low-cost, natural, effective, and sustainable material candidate for the treatment of radioactive waste streams.…”