Immobilisation of uranium-contaminated liquid waste in an alkali-activated material (AAM) and subsequent leaching behaviour
Evangelia D. Mooren (European Commission - Joint Research Centre, Universiteit Hasselt)
Walter Bonani (European Commission - Joint Research Centre)
Karin Popa (European Commission - Joint Research Centre)
Stefaan Van Winckel (European Commission - Joint Research Centre)
Rafael Alvarez-Sarandes (European Commission - Joint Research Centre)
Rudy J.M. Konings (European Commission - Joint Research Centre, TU Delft - RST/Reactor Physics and Nuclear Materials)
Glenn Beersaerts (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)
Sonja Schreurs (Universiteit Hasselt)
Wouter Schroeyers (Universiteit Hasselt)
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Abstract
We present a two-step procedure for treating contaminated liquid waste generated during the processing of uranium, specifically residual uranium-contaminated liquid after precipitation. After precipitating U(IV) as sodium diuranate under alkaline conditions, the resulting solution was solidified by immobilising it in an alkali-activated material. Static leaching tests indicated excellent material stability in water. Exposing the material to aggressive chemical conditions (nitric acid) resulted in slow and incomplete dissolution of uranium (and of structural elements) from a thin superficial layer with further passivation. Characterisation of the solid phase was performed to assess the stability of the alkali-activated material under the tested conditions.
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