Cesium immobilization in metakaolin-based geopolymers elucidated by 133Cs solid state NMR spectroscopy

M. Arbel-Haddad, Y. Harnik, Y. Schlosser, A. Goldbourt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Geopolymers are promising candidates for nuclear-waste immobilization, and more specifically for the immobilization of radioactive cesium. Low-Si metakaolin-based geopolymers cured at temperatures of 40 °C in the presence of Cs ions generate a mixture of amorphous and crystalline phases including a Cs-bearing zeolite F phase. Using a combination of 133Cs solid-state NMR and X-ray powder diffraction measurements we were able to show that Cs preferentially binds to zeolite F even when zeolite F is not the dominant phase in the matrix. Moreover, post-leaching NMR experiments indicate that zeolite F binds Cs more efficiently than the remaining crystalline or amorphous phases. Tailoring geopolymer formulations so that a large fraction of zeolite F is generated may therefore be a promising route for the production of immobilization matrices for cesium.

Original languageEnglish
Article number153570
JournalJournal of Nuclear Materials
Volume562
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Apr 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • 133Cs solid state NMR
  • Geopolymers
  • Nuclear waste immobilization
  • Radioactive cesium immobilization
  • Zeolite F

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
  • General Materials Science
  • Nuclear Energy and Engineering

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