Leaching kinetics of ions from solidified radioactive wastes. Part of a coordinated programme on studies to determine the migration and dispersion of radionuclides from the storage of radioactive wastes under various conditions in the terrestrial environment

A study of the kinetics of leaching of Cs+ and Sr++ ions from simulated ''radioactive wastes'' embedded in asphalt or Portland cement is reported. Two types of asphalt (base and emulsified) and of cement (with and without added pozzolanic material) were employed. The elution tests were performed with inactive salts chosen so as to allow study of the same cation in water soluble and sparingly soluble form and mixtures of one soluble and one insoluble salt with a common anion. The object of the work was to study the mechanism of the leaching process (as far as the transport of the ions to the exposed surface of the block is concerned) as well as of any other concurrent processes likely to affect elution kinetics