Determination of the leaching rate of radionuclide 134Cs from the solidified radioactive wastes in Syrian Portland cement and cement-microsilica matrixes

The suitability of Syrian Portland cement for disposal of solidified low-level radioactive waste was assessed by measuring the leaching rate of 134Cs. In ordinary cement concrete, a leaching rate of 1.309 x 10-3 g/cm2 per day was measured. Mixing this concrete with microsilica reduced significantly the leaching rate to 3.106 x 10-4 g/cm2 per day for 1% mixing, and to 9.645 x 10-5 g/cm2 per day for 3% mixing. It was also found that the application of a latex paint reduced these leaching rates by about 10%. These results, along with mechanical strength tests (under radiation exposure, high temperature, long water immersion and freeze-thaw cycling) indicate that Syrian Portland cement is suited for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste. (author)