Treatment of organic radioactive waste by stabilization/solidification into a cement/Alumina based mortar

Abstract

Radioactive organic wastes are produced as a result of nuclear fuel cycle operations, radioisotope production and use in medicine, research, and industry… A structured radioactive waste management technique should be used to guarantee that human health and the environment are protected from the dangers of these wastes. This work is directed by the Unit of management of radioactive waste, national center of nuclear energy, sciences and nuclear techniques “CNESTEN” in Morocco, to examine new studies that deal with the testing and use of various treatment alternatives as part of a comprehensive approach to managing radioactive waste. The main objective from this study is to highlight a new technique to immobilize radioactive organic oil wastes. Taking into account, the formulations and processes already explored in earlier studies. The solidification/stabilization of liquid oil waste in cement-based mortar with an add of Alumina particles was studied in the present work. The process consists of obtaining a stabilized emulsion of oil in a water solution using an emulsification with HLB = 16.7, and then adding 12% of Alumina powder, with an average size of 88 am, for the absorption step. Cement/oil composites with varied oil fractions have been prepared (5, 10 and 15 vol%). Compressive strength testing revealed high mechanical properties at 7, 14 and 28 days.