Zeta-potential of concrete in presence of chelating agents

Abstract

Contamination of concrete surfaces at nuclear power plants (NPP) and reprocessing facilities by radionuclides/heavy metals is a significant and widespread problem throughout the world's Nuclear Power Industries. The current study of the zeta-potentials ( ζ) of concrete particles in the presence of various chelating agents such as: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), nitrilotrimethylenephosphonic acid (NTPH) and citric acid was conducted to examine and facilitate the use of electrokinetic techniques (EK) for the remediation of the contaminated concrete surfaces. The experimental data indicated significant enhancement and even a change of concrete surface charge from positive in distilled water (DI) to negative one in presence of 0.01 mol/L solutions of chelating agents.