Characterisation and Decontamination of Cementitious Radioactive Wastes by Electrokinetic Methods

Title: Characterisation and Decontamination of Cementitious Radioactive Wastes by Electrokinetic Methods
Author(s): Castellote
Paper category : conference
Book title: International RILEM Conference on the Use of Recycled Materials in Building and Structures
Editor(s): E. Vázquez, Ch. F. Hendriks and G.M.T. Janssen
Print-ISBN: 2-912143-52-7
e-ISBN: 2912143756
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2004
Pages: 216 - 225
Total Pages: 10
Nb references: 34
Language: English

Abstract: Cement based matrixes are being increasingly used to confine toxic and radioactive wastes.
Therefore, determination of the diffusion coefficients of ionic contaminants becomes of strategic
importance in order to characterise the system in relation to the release of ionic wastes through
the cement. Until now, calculation of diffusion coefficients has been made by natural diffusion
tests, whose main inconvenient is that they are very time consuming. In the present paper,
calculation of steady-state diffusion coefficients of Cs + , Sr ++ , Co ++ and Fe +++ through concrete
have been done by an accelerated procedure based in the application of electrical fields
(migration experiments). The results have been compared with those obtained by natural
diffusion tests.
In addition, the need for the management of quite a large volume of radioactive contaminated
concrete coming from the dismantling of nuclear power plant arises, which, in most cases, was
not taken into account when the capacities of the low and medium activity repositories were
designed. Therefore, the decontamination of these structures would be of great interest in order
to declassify the wastes as radioactive and manage them as conventional ones. The results
presented in this paper establish the reliability of the application of electrical fields to
decontaminate radioactive contaminated concrete. This method of decontamination has been
patented by ENRESA (Spanish Company for the Management of Radioactive Wastes) in
association with the IETcc.

Online publication: 2004-09-29
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00
doi: 10.1617/2912143756.025