Mechanical and physicochemical evaluation of solidified dried submerged plants subjected to extreme climatic conditions to achieve an optimum waste containment

Abstract

Stabilization of hazardous wastes produced as a result of water purification or decontamination of radioactive or toxic liquids by using traditional or novel strategies like the promising biological remediation through phytoremediation and biomass adsorption is of utmost importance. The dried plants of Myriophyllum spicatum L was immobilized by using commercial cement as described in this study. The optimal amount of embedded dried plant waste was found to be 8% relative to cement; this solidified waste composite had a compressive strength of over 10 MPa. Mechanical, physical and chemical stabilities of the immobilized waste were evaluated through the impact of frost and water flooding by measuring the mechanical and chemical integrities associated with spectroscopic and scanning analyses. In both conditions, a negligible deterioration of mechanical integrity or morphological appearance of examined samples was detected after 90-day exposure comparing with control sample. Furthermore, chemical stability was evaluated by introducing other solidified samples contaminated with 137Cs to drastic event of flooding in various aqueous media and different surrounding temperatures with other environmental conditions. Hence, cement-dried waste composite has attained mechanical and chemical stability under flooding and freezing events.