ISRN Chemical Engineering
Volume 2012, Article ID 860459, 7 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.5402/2012/860459
Bitumen Coating as a Tool for Improving the Porosity and Chemical Stability of Simulated Cement-Waste Forms
Radioisotope Department, Nuclear Research Center, Atomic Energy Authority, Dokki, Giza 12311, Egypt
Received 7 October 2012; Accepted 1 November 2012
Academic Editors: A. Gervasini and Z. Wang
Copyright © 2012 H. M. Saleh. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Coating of simulated cement-based waste form was investigated by performing physical and chemical experimental tests. Moreover, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and electron microscope examination were applied on coated and noncoated simulated waste forms. Experimental results indicated that coating process improved the characterizations of cement-based waste form such as porosity and leachability. Diffusion coefficients and leach indecies of coated specimens were calculated and showed acceptable values. It could be stated that by coating cemented-waste form by bitumen emulsion, the radioactive contaminants were isolated, thus reducing the back release to surrounding environment during flooding by groundwater and consequently, saving the environment.