Leaching Study in Immobilization of Cesium and Cobalt Radionuclides In Fly Ash-Zeolite Cement

ABSTRACT Fly ash-zeolite cement was synthesized from industrial by-product fly ash obtained from the thermal electric power station. The synthesis process is based on the hydrothermal-calcination-route of the fly ash. The microstructure of fly ash-zeolite cement was characterized by X-ray diffraction, FT infrared spectroscopy and surface area (BET-N2). The efficiency of innovative matrices for immobilizing cesium and cobalt radionuclides is presented in this work. The aim of the present study is to investigate the possibility of solidifying 137 Cs and 60 Co radionuclides in synthetic fly ash zeolite cement. Leaching behavior of the radionuclides have been studied. The leachability index measured indicated that fly ash zeolite cement matrix can be utilized as an efficient material for immobilizing cesium and cobalt radionuclides than portland cement