Use of Egyptian minerals in the treatment of low level radioactive waste

¹ Radiation Protection Department, Atomic Energy Establishment, Cairo, Egypt.
² Nuclear research center, Atomic energy establisment, Cairo, Egypte.

Abstract

The fixation of ¹⁴⁴Ce, ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr, ⁶⁰Co, ²³²Th, ²³³U, ²³⁷Np, ²³⁹Pu and ²⁴¹Am from aqueous and phosphate solutions on Egyptian red brick, Egyptian pumice stone and Egyptian ceramic was studied as a function of pH, phosphate concentration, age of the radioelement, its hydrolytic behaviour and rates. It was found that most of these variables play a considerable role in the fixation. There was a reduction in the fixation rate which appears to be associated with the expected formation of negatively charged colloids and the simultaneous reduction in the number of positively charged ionic and colloidal species. Egyptian red brick was selected as a local mineral to improve the storage and release of low radioactive liquid wastes to the environment.