Journal of Nuclear Chemistry

Volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 749505, 7 pages

http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/749505

Research Article

Immobilization of Simulated Borate Radioactive Waste Solution in Cement-Poly(methylmethacrylate) Composite: Mechanical and Chemical Characterizations

H. M. Saleh and H. A. Shatta

Radioisotope Department, Nuclear Research Center, Atomic Energy Authority, Dokki , Giza 12311, Egypt

Received 14 April 2013; Accepted 1 August 2013

Academic Editor: Doina Humelnicu

Copyright © 2013 H. M. Saleh and H. A. Shatta. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Solidified cured cement blocks containing different concentrations of the borate waste simulate were impregnated using methyl methacrylate monomer having 0.3% by weight benzoyl peroxide as initiator. Then, the polymerization process was completed by heating the impregnated blocks at ≈40°C. To define the suitability, range of applicability, and compatibility of the inert matrix used, relevant to the borate waste immobilized, the final radioactive borate waste forms are evaluated on the basis of their mechanical and chemical properties. Some factors that may affect the characterization of the obtained final waste form, for example, concentration of the incorporated borate waste solution simulate, aging of the solid waste form, before immersion, immersion in various leachants, and time of immersion, were followed systematically. It could be stated that cement-poly(methylmethacrylate) composite exhibited better mechanical and chemical characters compared to the cement as a unique matrix for immobilization of borate waste concentrates.

1. Introduction

The principle waste materials generated from the pressurized water reactors (PWRs) consist of hot (≈77°C) aqueous concentrates of boric acid. In this part of the work, cement-poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) composite was used for incorporation of these wastes to overcome the retarding effect of borate salts in case of their direct cementation.

Radioactive wastes generated from nuclear power plants are one of the main issues underlying the difficulties in developing a nuclear power program if not adequately treated and conditioned [1, 2].

Cement materials have been used on a large scale as immobilization matrices for radioactive wastes to minimize release of radionuclides [3, 4]. Among the disadvantages of cement waste forms is pronounced high porosity, which in aqueous medium leads to the release of radionuclides from the waste materials to the environment. Poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA), as an organic polymer, has been used as an effective additive to improve the properties of the cement waste forms [5, 6]. The polymer increases durability and strength and decreases capillary flow of water of the final waste forms.

The present study is part of a comprehensive research program, carried out in Radioisotope Department, Atomic Energy Authority, aiming at reducing the potential migration and dispersion of radionuclides from the solidified waste forms to the environment. The work deals with the impregnation of the cement blocks with methylmethacrylate monomer having 0.3% by weight benzoil peroxide as initiator, and the polymerization process is completed by heating at ≈40°C. Mechanical and chemical properties of the final waste form were evaluated under various experimental conditions.

2. Experimental Approach

2.1. Materials and Solutions Used

Cement Materials. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is the available local cement manufactured according to BSS [7]. The chemical analysis of the cement type used in the present study as well as the Bogue calculation [8] for its four major compounds are given in Table 1.

Table 1: Oxides (wt. %) and compounds compositions (%) of the cement used.

Oxides, wt. %
Compounds composition, %

SiO₂
19.84
C₃S
53.11

Al₂O₃
4.74

Fe₂O₃
4.0
C₂S
16.89

CaO
61.01

MgO
2.5
C₃A
5.81

K₂O
0.6

SO₃
2.4
C₄AF
12.16

Insoluble residue
0.95

Loss on ignition = 3.96%.

Lime saturation factor = 96% by wt.

Simulated Waste Solution. Borate waste concentrates generated from pressurized water reactors (PWRs) vary in their content, ratios, and amounts of their salts according to conditions of operation, pretreatment, and coolant constituents [9]. A simulated borate waste solution concentrate was used in the present study, representing its average chemical composition in g/L. Table 2. Part of this simulated waste solution was spiked with radioactive Cs-137 and was used to evaluate the chemical characterization, while a cold part was used for the mechanical properties measurements.

Table 2: Chemical composition of simulated borate waste solution concentrate (g/L).

NaOH
H₃BO₃
Na₂SO₄
Na₂HPO₄12H₂O
NaCl
Fe₂(SO₄)₃

29
180
30
5
5
5

Cement-Waste Form. Predetermined concentrations of the simulated borate waste solution were thoroughly mixed with OPC powder. The water/cement (w/c) ratio was kept constant at 35% (wt/wt) in all experiments. The homogenous cement-waste mixture was poured in standard closed molds and left to solidify in humid atmosphere. Free standing solid cylindrical blocks were obtained after 28 days having the dimensions of  cm height and  cm diameter. Borate-free cement blocks were also prepared at the same w/c ratio for the sake of comparison.

Cement-Poly(methylmethacrylate) Composite Waste Forms (Heat-Suction Technique). Methylmethacrylate monomer (MMA) (AR grade) was freed from inhibitor by distillation under reduced pressure and was polymerized using benzoyl peroxide (BP) as initiator. Solidified cement-waste forms were dried in oven at ≈60°C for two hours, followed by suction (0.1 mm Hg) for another two hours. The blocks were then flooded with sufficient MMA monomer containing 0.3% by weight BP. After complete immersion, the system was allowed to return slowly back to atmospheric pressure, as shown in Figure 1. After 24 hours of immersion at room temperature (°C), samples were taken and allowed to polymerize at ≈40°C.

Figure 1: Schematic diagram of the apparatus used in impregnation process.

Leaching Solution. The ground water used as immersion media for the radionuclides release test is obtained from Abu-Zaabal (well no. 202), which is one of the nearest ground water wells to Inshas-Reactor site where storage and disposal facilities of radioactive wastes are found. The chemical composition of the ground water used is shown in Table 3.

Table 3: Chemical composition of ground water leachant.

Total dissolved salts (g/L)
pH
Soluble cations (ppm)
Soluble anions (ppm)

K⁺
Na⁺
Mg⁺⁺
Ca⁺⁺
Cl⁻

1.05
7.2
23
149
13
74
137
317
272

The prepared solidified waste specimens spiked with Cs-137 were suspended in leaching jars. The whole surface area of the specimen was exposed to the immersion water. Care was taken to keep the leaching solution surrounded the samples with equal depth from all sides.

Hespe’s leaching test [10] proposed by the International Atomic Energy Agency was chosen and followed in the present study. All leach data obtained were prepared by plotting the cumulative leach fraction (cm) versus square root of total leachant period, , where is the radioactivity initially in the specimen, is the radioactivity leached during the leachant renewal period , is the duration in days of leachant renewal period, is the exposed surface area of specimen (cm²) and is the volume of the specimen (cm³).

2.2. Characteristics of Solidified Waste Form

Mechanical properties were studied by measuring the compressive strength of cold solid samples. The compressive load required to cause failure (damage) was determined for 3–5 cylindrical blocks. Instron Universal Testing Instrument Mode 1178 (ASTM-D-695) was used for compressive strength measurements. Chemical tests were performed by subjecting spiked solidified specimens, having similar dimensions to those used for mechanical properties evaluation, either to the ground or distilled water. The Cs-137 contents in the leachant solutions were analyzed using Ortic-Single Channel Analyzer (USA). The leach coefficients (Lc) and leach indices (Li) of Cs-137 for cement-PMMA composite waste form and cement waste form were also calculated.

3. Results and Discussion

In order to improve the cement-waste form and reduce the potential migration and dispersion of radionuclides from this waste form to the environment, PMMA was used to impregnate the cement-waste form. The good understanding of the mechanical and chemical characterizations of the solidified waste form is based on the interpretation of the experimental results obtained as well as the long-term behavior and durability of polymer impregnated cement.

3.1. Mechanical Properties

Mechanical integrity of the waste form is an important consideration in the safe handling, transportation and disposal of radioactive wastes. Hence, the mechanical characters of the cement-PMMA composite waste form were evaluated under different borate concentrations, immersion in different leachants, and various periods of immersion.

3.1.1. Changing of Borate Waste Concentrations

Increasing borate content in cement and cement-PMMA composite waste forms decreased remarkably the compressive strength values (Table 4). Borate waste contains mainly boric acid (H₃BO₃) and some borate ions, for example, and , known as cementation inhibitors [11–13]. Boric acid and calcium hydroxide (produced during cementation process) react as follows:

Table 4: Compressive strength values of cement and cement-PMMA composite waste forms incorporating different concentrations of borate waste.

Borate waste concentrations, %
Compressive strength (kg/cm²)

Cement
Cement-PMMA composite

0
256
298

2
201
221

3
185
245

4
186
230

5
135
147

6
98
146

7
50
63

8
29
38

9
2
8

10
Brittle
Brittle

Calcium borate is fairly insoluble, so it acts as a barrier at the cement particles and solution interface. This barrier retards the diffusion of water and colloidal particles across the boundary, which was in good agreement with results obtained from X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis data previously published [14–16].

Table 4 indicates also that impregnation of cement with PMMA improves the mechanical properties of all cement borate waste form due to the decrease in the porosity of cement-PMMA composite waste forms [5, 17].

From the data obtained, the optimum amount of borate waste should not exceed 6% by weight as far as the mechanical integrity was concerned, and the value obtained is acceptable for transport, storage, and disposal requirements [18, 19].

3.1.2. Effect of Immersion

It is important to establish the behaviour of the solidified waste form under both storage and disposal conditions. Some samples were cured in closed molds, for one month and for 3 months. The obtained blocks were then immersed in distilled water and ground water for different immersion periods. The blocks were subjected to compressive strength measurements at the end of each immersion period, and the obtained data are represented in Tables 5 and 6.

Table 5: Compressive strength values of plain cement, cement-waste form, cement-PMMA composite, and cement-PMMA composite waste form immersed in distilled water.

(a) Solid blocks cured for one month before immersion

Immersion times, days
Compressive strength values (kg/cm²)

Plain cement
Cement waste forms*
Cement-PMMA composite
Cement-PMMA composite waste form*

3
262
177
276
248

7
268
196
305
275

30
270
201
301
250

90
274
206
314
258

365
276
190
301
266

Contains 4% by weight borate waste simulate.

(b) Solid blocks cured for 3 months before immersion

Immersion times, days
Compressive strength values (kg/cm²)

Plain cement
Cement waste forms*
Cement-PMMA composite
Cement-PMMA composite waste form*

3
269
181
291
262

7
272
200
319
281

30
272
211
310
276

90
274
210
321
253

365
281
188
299
262

Contains 4% by weight borate waste simulate.

Table 6: Compressive strength values of plain cement, cement-waste form, cement-PMMA composite, and cement-PMMA composite waste form immersed in ground water.

(a) Samples cured for one month before immersion

Immersion times, days
Compressive strength values (kg/cm²)

Plain cement
Cement waste forms*
Cement-PMMA composite
Cement-PMMA composite waste form*

3
275
185
304
236

7
286
190
317
231

30
290
219
290
291

90
295
210
300
278

365
296
216
301
281

Containing 4% by weight borate waste simulate.

(b) Samples cured for 3 months before immersion

Immersion times, days
Compressive strength values (kg/cm²)

Plain cement
Cement waste forms*
Cement-PMMA composite
Cement-PMMA composite waste form*

3
280
192
318
250

7
290
202
324
242

30
292
226
293
300

90
295
216
302
275

365
298
213
299
291

Containing 4% by weight borate waste simulate.

It could be stated from the experimental results that all the samples immersed in both distilled water or ground water show slight increase in compressive strength values compared with that of non-immersed samples, in Table 4. Also, increasing the time of immersion resulted a slight improvement of compressive strength values. Increasing rate of compressive strength values reached the maximum value at early ages due to the increase in the rate of hydration.

The rate of increase in the compressive strength values was decreased with time, due to the low rate of hydration, until a stage was reached when virtually no further hydration takes place [20]. This behavior may be attributed to the formation of a dense layer of calcium sulphate hydrate (CSH) gel around the cement grains [21], but not due to the complete consumption of untreated cement.

Clearly, it could be stated that in case of using cement-PMMA composite and cement-PMMA composite waste form, no deterioration in the final product was observed with increasing time of immersion, but on the contrary, a slight improvement in mechanical properties was observed (Tables 5 and 6). The obtained results were in favour of using cement-PMMA composite materials as immobilization matrices for radioactive borate waste. For the sake of comparison, samples similar to these previously mentioned were prepared, cured for different ages, and then subjected to compressive strength measurements without being immersed in water, and the data obtained are represented in Table 7. The results of compressive strength values show a similar trend to those immersed in water.

Table 7: Compressive strength values of plain cement, cement-waste form, cement-PMMA composite, and cement-PMMA composite waste form aged for different periods.

(a)  Cement without PMMA

Aging time, month
Compressive strength (kg/cm²)

Plain cement
Cement waste form*

1
260
164

3
266
187

4
268
186

7
271
197

12
282
194

Containing 4% by weight borate waste simulate.

(b) Cement impregnated with PMMA

Aging time, month
Compressive strength (kg/cm²)

Cement-PMMA composite
Cement-PMMA composite waste form*

1
290
224

3
298
230

4
299
224

7
310
255

12
316
252

Containing 4% by weight borate waste simulate.

3.2. Chemical Properties

Leaching is generally considered as the basic criterion to evaluate the safety, acceptability, and chemical behavior of the final waste forms in the disposal sites [22]. Cement-PMMA composite matrices were used in the present study as inert chemical barriers, and chemical stability of immobilized waste forms in ground water and distilled water was studied using radioactive Cs-137 isotope as a tracer. Leaching tests were performed according to Hespe’s method [10].

By considering the previously obtained mechanical measurements data, different amounts of simulated radioactive borate waste (0.0%, 4.0%, and 6.6% by weight) spiked by Cs-137 were immobilized in cement and cement-PMMA composite. All the prepared samples were subjected to leaching test in ground water and distilled water, and the results obtained are shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 2: Effect of different borate waste concentrations on the release of Cs-137 from the cemented waste forms.

Figure 3: Effect of different borate concentrations on the release of Cs-137 from the cement-PMMA composite waste forms.

Increasing borate waste content from 4% to 6.6% lowered the chemical integrity of cement waste form, which was reflected in high cumulative leach fractions. Figure 3 shows that using PMMA as an additive polymer decreased cumulative leach fraction of cement and cement-waste forms. Borate compounds act as an inhibitor by retarding the hydration process of cement due to the formation of insoluble calcium borate, and creation of a barrier at the cement particles/solution interface [23].

It is worth mentioning that little bit significant differences were observed in the chemical behavior of cement-waste form containing 4% borate waste, compared with borate free plain cement specimen. Based on the results obtained from both chemical and mechanical properties, it could be concluded that cement-waste form can tolerate up to 4%.

Figure 4 shows that cumulative leach fraction of Cs-137 for cement and cement borate waste (4%) forms in ground water was lower than in distilled water. This may be due to the formation of an outer protective layer of insoluble compounds on the surface of solid blocks leached [18]. The presence of cement materials in ground water leachant creates an alkaline medium with relatively high pH-value favourable for fixation of different cations present in the ground water on the surface of the specimens studied [18]. The same results were obtained for cement-PMMA composite containing 4% borate waste forms (Figure 5).

Figure 4: Effect of leachant solution on the release of Cs-137 using cement and cement containing 4% borate.

Figure 5: Effect of leachant solution on the release of Cs-137 using cement-PMMA composite containing 4% borate waste form.

The leach coefficient (Lc) and leach indices (Li) of radioactive ceasium isotope incorporated in cement and cement-PMMA composite containing different percentages of borate wastes were calculated, and the values obtained were found to be within the limits given in the literature of similar cement waste forms [24]. It could be noticed that all leach indices calculated for cement-PMMA composite waste forms were higher than 6 (Table 8).

Table 8: The leach coefficient (Lc) and leach index (Li) of Cs-137 for cement and cement-PMMA composite containing different borate waste percentages immersed in distilled water and ground water.

Borate waste percentage
Caesium-137

Cement waste form
Cement-PMMA composite waste form

Lc
Li
Lc
Li

0.0 borate using distilled water
1.8 × 10⁻⁸
7.8
5.0 × 10⁻⁹
8.3

4.0 borate using distilled water
1.3 × 10⁻⁸
7.9
5.0 × 10⁻⁸
7.3

6.6 borate using distilled water
2.5 × 10⁻⁷
6.6
1.2 × 10⁻⁷
6.9

0.0 borate using ground water
2.8 × 10⁻⁸
7.6
7.6 × 10⁻⁸
7.1

4.0 borate using ground water
2.2 × 10⁻⁸
7.7
7.6 × 10⁻⁸
7.7

6.6 borate using ground water
2.9 × 10⁻⁷
6.8
1.5 × 10⁻⁷
7.1

4. Conclusion

According to both mechanical and chemical characterizations, it could be stated that using poly(methylmethacrylate) as an impregnating matrix, following the heat-suction technique, highly improves the tolerance of the cement matrix for incorporating the borate radioactive waste solution. The results obtained from calculating leach coefficients and leach indices for cement-PMMA composite waste form were optimal and in good agreement with the requirements for transport and disposal processes. Physical and thermal characterizations of solidifying simulated radioactive waste solution in cement-poly(methylmethacrylate) composite could be more attractive point for study.

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