FIXATION OF COPPER FERROCYANIDE CAKE IN THE UREA-FORMALDEHYDE MATRIX

Fixation of Copper Ferrocyanide Cake (CFC), which is generated from th e chemical treatment plant of low-level radioactive liquid effluent in a urea-formaldehyde (UF) matrix, was carried out. Boric acid was used as a catalyst for the UF polymerization. The physical properties such as compressive strength and diffusion coefficient were evaluated for UF waste forms and were compared with those of Ordinary Portland Cemen t (OPC) waste forms. While the compressive strengths of UF and OPC was te forms were comparable, the former showed diffusion coefficients abo ut two to three orders lower. Almost all the cesium was released from the OPC waste form that contained less than 18% of CFC by weight in th e final waste form. The release of cesium from the OPC waste forms was high due to the presence of high alkalinity and calcium ions in the c ement. To find out the temperature rise in the preparation of UF waste form, blocks having a size of about 5 1 were prepared; it was observe d that there was no increase in peak center temperatures during the cu ring process. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd