Safe trapping of Cs in heat-treated zeolite matrices. Part. 2

Safe trapping of cesium was investigated by heat-treating at various temperatures a Slovakian clinoptilolite-rich tuff sample, previously subjected to exhaustive exchange with Cs(+). The influence of temperature on the process effectiveness was studied and the mechanism of Cs(+) immobilization explained. Treating the Cs-exchanged material, at 1000 degrees C results in zeolite breakdown and the formation of an amorphous, likely glassy, phase, which safely encapsulates the polluting cation, as it has been demonstrated by standard leaching tests. This study indicates that clinoptilolite-rich tuff is a good candidate for immobilization of cesium, taken up by ion exchange