Determination of the leaching rate of radionuclide 134Cs from the solidified radioactive wastes in Syrian Portland cement and cement–microsilica matrixes

Abstract

The suitability of Syrian Portland cement for disposal of solidified low-level radioactive waste was assessed by measuring the leaching rate of 134Cs. In ordinary cement concrete, a leaching rate of 1.309 × 10−3 g/cm2 per day was measured. Mixing this concrete with microsilica reduced significantly the leaching rate to 3.106 × 10−4 g/cm2 per day for 1% mixing, and to 9.645 × 10−5 g/cm2 per day for 3% mixing. It was also found that the application of a latex paint reduced these leaching rates by about 10%. These results, along with mechanical strength tests (under radiation exposure, high temperature, long water immersion and freeze–thaw cycling) indicate that Syrian Portland cement is suited for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste.