IMMOBILIZATION OF CESIUM IN MATRICES BASED ON THE BLAST-FURNACE SLAG INCORPORATING ZEOLITIC ADDITIVES

Radioactive cesium and cobalt were sorbed from chloride solutions onto chemically treated granular zeolitic tuff. The granular active (10 or 20 wt.%) and the disperse non active tuffs (10 wt.%) were incorporate d into cement slurries based on the blast furnace slag and water glass solution before their casting into rectangular moulds (1 x 1 x 3 cm). The compressive strength of specimens after their placement for 42 da ys in humid atmosphere and subsequently for 42 days in corrosive alkal ine or acid water solutions was comparable or slightly higher than the compressive strength of specimens cured in humid atmosphere for 28 da ys. Leaching test in corrosive liquids showed good retention of radion uclides in observed matrices. A decrease of the radioactivity of speci mens was more pronounced only for samples placed in acid solutions.