Mechanical properties of irradiated cement pastes for immobilization of evaporator concentrates

Toward Sustainable Cementitious Radioactive Waste Forms: Immobilization of Problematic Operational Wastes

“…Table 2 summarizes the additives widely used for evaporator concentrates immobilization and their effects on the hydration process and the stabilization of the radio-contaminants [23]. Blends of OPC and non-gypsum cements were investigated for their potential use to solidify-simulated evaporator concentrates [40,56,57]. In a comparative study on the effect of irradiation on a specific binder matrix designed to host evaporator concentrates marked as "NP", which was composed of 50%OPC and 50% non-gypsum cements, and OPC and NP loaded with simulated evaporator concentrates (NP-C) [56], it was found that the presence of the dissolved salts e.g., nitrates, affects the performance of the latter.…”

“…In a comparative study on the effect of irradiation on a specific binder matrix designed to host evaporator concentrates marked as "NP", which was composed of 50%OPC and 50% non-gypsum cements, and OPC and NP loaded with simulated evaporator concentrates (NP-C) [56], it was found that the presence of the dissolved salts e.g., nitrates, affects the performance of the latter. The compressive strengths of the samples were enhanced after irradiation, yet surface cracks were detected in NP and NP-C and were attributed to radiolysis drying [57]. Finally, the effect of wet-dry cycles on the durability of NP and 50% non-gypsum cement with 50% metakaolin (NM), with and without 5% zeolite additives in the presence of pure fine silica and calcium sulfo-aluminate cements (CSAC) containing simulated concentrates, was investigated [40].…”