Immobilization of Cesium into Pollucite Structure by Hydrothermal Hot-Pressing

Abstract

In order to immobilize Cs into pollucite structure, hydrothermal reactions of Cs with amorphous aluminosilicate (siliceous sinter) and with mixtures of low-quartz (silicastone) and Al(OH)3, were performed. In both cases, pollucite was formed in 5-N NaOH solution above 200°C for 10 min. Synthesized pollucite was solid solution between pollucite and analcite. Waste forms in which Cs was immobilized in pollucite structure were successfully produced by the hydrothermal hot-pressing method using the silica matrix (mixture of low-quartz and amorphous aluminosilicate) containing Al(OH)3 and NaAlO2. Effect of hot-pressing conditions on leachability of the waste forms was investigated. The waste form containing 10w/o CsOH produced at 300°C and 49 MPa for 24 h, had Cs leach rate of 3.15 g/m2·d by Soxhlet leach tests for 7 d. The waste form was porous, but had high compressive strength and thermal stability.