Model validation and interpretation of the interaction between glass and cement in an integrated glass dissolution experiment

Abstract

This article presents the modeling results from the interaction between simulated nuclear waste glasses and ordinary Portland cement (OPC). In general, the modeling results are in good agreement with the experimental results. A diffusion-based glass dissolution model well describes the release of B and Li from the glass, and a reactive transport model well describes the profiles of dissolved glass elements in the cement. It is found that the effective diffusion coefficient of Li in the cement is much larger than that of B. Sorption of both Li and B onto the cement is required to better fit their measured diffusion profiles. For B profiles in the cement, one spatially uniform distribution coefficient is needed, while for Li, sorption needs to be linked to the gel-like secondary phase at the surface of the cement. The effective diffusion coefficients for both Li and B are relatively low and can be linked to the pore-filling effects of the gel-like secondary phase. Even though it is generally believed that nuclear waste glass will dissolve faster in cementitious environments, the results show that the gel-like secondary phase can both seal the cement and act as a strong sorbent for dissolved glass species, thus inhibiting the migration of dissolved glass species.