Sodium Sulphate Activated GGBS/PFA and its Potential as a Nuclear Waste Immobilisation Matrix

摘要

The UK currently uses Portland cement composite blends to immobilise/encapsulate intermediate and low level radioactive wastes (ILW and LLW).However,among other things,the high pH of these systems causes the corrosion of some metals,which can lead to expansion and excess generation of hydrogen.Therefore,in order to immobilise nuclear waste where corrosion is an issue,a near neutral cementing system is desirable.Among the activators which can be used in the alkali-activated slag (AAS) systems,a solution of Na_2SO_4 is near neutral but the ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) itself has a pH about 11,increasing the pH within the Na_2SO_4 activated AAS.As low calcium Pulverized Fuel Ash (PFA) only has a pH about 9,using a GGBS/PFA blend activated by Na_2SO_4 offers the potential to develop a near neutral cementing system for nuclear waste immobilisation purposes.In this paper,the replacement of GGBS in the Na_2SO_4 activated AAS system with PFA at 0%,10%,20% and 30% by mass was examined.The pH and corrosion of Al were determined and used as primary criteria for judging the feasibility for further development of a Na_2SO_4 activated GGBS/PFA matrix for immobilising nuclear wastes.The microstructure of the matrices was studied by SEM.Leaching studies were carried out to examine the possibility of immobilising Cs~+within these Na_2SO_4 activated GGBS/PFA matrices.The potential of using Na_2SO_4 activated GGBS/PFA for immobilising nuclear wastes is discussed.