Characteristic test of 'SIAL^®' of alkali-activated materials

At the present time, liquid or granular low-level radioactive waste has to be treated and disposed after solidifying into a waste body container in Japan. As a solidification method, a cementation method has been adapts in many cases from the viewpoint of easy handling and so on. However, it has been confirmed that the elution of radioactive elements such as cesium is large in a cement solidified body. Further, in the radioactive waste containing sulfates or borates, there is a concern of a decrease in strength due to the occurrence of chemical corrosion or coagulation inhibition in the solidification with cement. As a solution to the above problems, Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. has been looking into a solidifying material with an alkali-activated material (Geopolymer) as a base material and has been promoting research and development related to SIAL^®, a geopolymer solidifying material developed by Amec Foster Wheeler which has resulted in actual use in plants. This report describes a summary of SIAL^® and test results by using simulated waste. (author)