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BJRS
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL
OF
RADIATION SCIENCES
07-02A (2019) 01-12
ISSN: 2319-0612
Accept Submission: 2018-10-31
PRE-TREATMENT OF BITUMINIZED NPP WASTES
FOR DISPOSAL IN NEAR-SURFACE REPOSITORY
Vanessa Mota Vieiraa, Clédola Cássia Oliveira de Telloa
a Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear (CDTN / CNEN), Av. Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6.627
31270-901 - Campus da UFMG, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG. vanessamotavieira@gmail.com;
ABSTRACT
The implementation of the national repository is an important technical requirement, and a legal requirement for the
entry into operation of the nuclear power plant Angra 3. The Brazilian repository is being planned to be a near-surface
one. In Brazil the low and intermediate level radioactive wastes are immobilized using cement and bitumen for Angra 1
and Angra 2 NPP, respectively. The main problems due to the disposal of bituminized wastes in repositories are sweling
of the waste products and their degradation in the long term. To accommodate the swelling of the bituminized wastes,
the drums are filled up to 70 - 90% of their volume, which reduces the structural the repository stability and the disposal
availability. Countries, which use bitumen in the solidification of NPP´s radioactive waste and have near-surface
repositories, need to immobilize this bituminized waste within other drums containing cement pastes or mortars to
disposal them. This study aims to find solutions for the storage in surface repository of bituminized radioactive waste
products, making them compatible with the acceptance criteria of cemented waste products. It was also performed a
modeling with the results obtained in the leaching test using the ALT program and defined the transport model of the
cesium leachate element and it was verified that in the early times the leaching was governed by the diffusion model
and later by the partition model. The results obtained in this study can be used in the evaluation of performance of
repositories.
Keywords: Radioactive wastes, bitumen, cement pastes, mortars, encapsulation.
1. INTRODUCTION
In Brazil, there are currently two nuclear power plants with PWR type in operation, located in
Itaorna, Rio de Janeiro: Angra 1, Angra 2 and Angra 3 under construction. Angra 1 has the capacity
Vieira, et. Al. ● Braz. J. Rad. Sci. ● 2019 2
to generate 640 MW and Angra 2, 1350 MW. Angra 3 is expected to generate 1405 MW (Figure 1)
[1].
In the Brazilian Nuclear Program, it was predicted the construction of, at least, four nuclear
power plants in the Northeastern and the Southeastern regions of Brazil, until 2030, to meet the in-
creased use of nuclear power to generate electricity [1, 2]. With this growth and the increased use of
radionuclides in different areas, the issue of radioactive waste deserves governmental actions that
are being taken to resolve issues related to their storage [3].
Figure 1: Brazilian Nuclear Power Plants: left below - Angra 1 and 2; right above: Angra 3
site
Source: eletronuclear, 2017
Brazilian Federal Law 10308 regulates the final destination of the radioactive waste pro-
duced in the country, including site selection, construction, licensing, operation, supervision, costs,
damages, liability and warranties related to the deposit of radioactive waste. The responsibility of
CNEN for the final destination of the waste is established in Article 2. According to this regulation,
it is not allowed to receive radioactive waste in liquid or gaseous forms in final repositories [4].
Therefore the solidification of the waste is required in order to meet three basic criteria to
ensure safe handling of radioactive waste in repositories, which are mechanical resistance, permea-
bility and stability. The matrices used can be cement polymers, glass and bitumen [5].
Vieira, et. Al. ● Braz. J. Rad. Sci. ● 2019 3
The immobilization and solidification of radioactive waste of low and intermediate radiation
levels (evaporator concentrates and spent ionexchange resins) from Angra 1 and Angra 2 are carried
out in cement and bitumen respectively [1].
There are also major problems due to the presence of bituminization products in reposito-
ries, which are swelling of the product and waste product long term degradation caused by fissures,
softening by temperature variations, creeping because of its viscoplastic material, attacked by mi-
cro-organisms and, under certain conditions, fire hazard. To accommodate swelling, the drum must
be filled in the range of 70 - 90% of its volume, which can decrease the structural stability of the
repository and increase the necessary disposal of this area [8, 10].
The "RBMN Project" was launched in November 2008 and aimed to implement the Brazili-
an Repository, from its conception to its construction. The concept adopted was a near-surface re-
pository designed constructed according to the inventory of radioactive wastes, including those
from the operation of nuclear facilities, from the facilities of the nuclear fuel cycle, and from the use
of radionuclides in medicine, industry and research activities in Brazil. The implementation of the
national repository was an important technical requirement and currently a legal requirement for the
entry into operation of the plant Angra 3 [2].
Most of the waste to be disposed in the repository will be from nuclear power plants. The
acceptance requirements for disposal of these wastes are directly linked to the safety of the entire
installation. Therefore, a solution for the storage of bituminized waste must be obtained to ensure
the performance expected by the safety analysis.
This study aims at looking for pretreatment solutions to dispose the bituminized waste products
in the repository, making them compatible with the facility’s waste acceptance criteria of cemented
waste products.
2. NPP WASTE BITUMINIZATION IN THE WORLD
The encapsulation of radioactive waste in bitumen is also used in Romania, Slovakia and the
Czech Republic and in a nuclear power plant in Switzerland. This process was first used in other
countries such as France, Belgium and Spain, and it was planned to be used in a new nuclear power
Vieira, et. Al. ● Braz. J. Rad. Sci. ● 2019 4
plant in Argentina. However, these countries abandoned and replaced it by other processes, after the
evaluation of the total cycle of waste from its generation to its disposal [7, 8].
In general, most of the waste generated has low and intermediate levels of radiation. The most
common method of final disposition (disposal) of this type of waste is its confinement in near sur-
face repositories (Figure 2). The proposal of the Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD / NEA) is to estab-
lish benchmarks and provide generic guidance on the methodology that can be used by national
authorities to establish acceptance of criteria for the specific location of the repository. Here are
described three types of criteria:
• Limits on the concentration of radionuclides in the waste;
• Limits on the total activity of radionuclides to be disposed in a given installation;
•Standard performance for packaged and packaging waste [9].
Authors must describe materials, data, and associated protocols in order to allow other research-
ers to replicate the study.
Figure 2: Near surface repository
Source: Tello, 2008.
Experiences from bituminized waste disposal on surface repository were reported in countries
like Romania, where ion exchange resins are encapsulated in bitumen in 60 liter drums, which are
then packed in 200L drums with intermediate concrete shielding. In Slovakia, radioactive wastes
are incorporated into bitumen and this mixture is stored in 200L drums coated with zinc (galvaniza-
tion), deposited in containers and transported to the Mochovce surface repository. In the Czech Re-
public, 100L waste drums are encapsulated by high strength concrete in 200L drums, plates and
Vieira, et. Al. ● Braz. J. Rad. Sci. ● 2019 5
galvanized corrosion-resistant paint, and then sent to the Dukovany repository. Other countries such
as France and Belgium have opted for bituminized waste disposal on deep geological repositories,
minimizing the risks associated with these wastes. Even for bituminized waste disposal on deep
geological repositories is carried out preliminary encapsulation process [9, 10].
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS
As options for disposal of the bitumenized waste in the surface repository, it was encapsulated in
pastes or mortars, generating a new product that meets the acceptance criteria of CNEN NN 6.09
and ensures safety and performance in the operating phases and closing the repository. For this, the
bitumen (VIT 70) and the pastes and mortars were initially studied. Then the final product formed
by the encapsulation of the bitumenized waste in pastes and mortars was evaluated [11].
The tests performed to evaluate the bitumen used in Angra 2 were: penetration, softening point,
flash point, water content, thermogravimetry and biodegradation [12,13,14,15]. The tests to evalu-
ate the cement pastes (cement and water) and mortars (cement, water and sand) that can be used in
the process of encapsulation of bituminized radioactive waste, were organized using the 23 factorial
design, in duplicate. The variables were: Formulation: pastes (-) (cement and water) and mortar (+)
(cement, water and sand), absence (-) or presence (+) of bentonite and with (+) or without (-) chem-
ical additive (plasticizer).
The tests performed on pastes and mortars were: viscosity, setting time, compressive strength at
28 days at age and density. To evaluate the bituminized product in pastes or mortars, the leaching
test was carried out [16].
The experiment was chosen to have the most cost benefit and had the proper amount of bentonite,
which will be important if there is contact with water to prevent the release of radionuclides. In this
study, cement and mortar pastes were evaluated and to selected the ideal mixture for the encapsula-
tion of the bituminized waste, based on the results of the leaching test.
3.1. Preparation of the samples of bitumen encapsulated in cement pastes or mortars
Based on the experiences of Romania and the Czech Republic, two options were selected for
conditioning the bituminized waste, encapsulating it in cement paste or in mortar. A factorial design
Vieira, et. Al. ● Braz. J. Rad. Sci. ● 2019 6
for the experiments was used the following factors: formulation, encapsulation diameter and
amount of cesium chloride per sample as shown in Table 1 [6].
Table 1: Planning the experiments
Variable
Test
Formulation
Diameter
Diameter
1
-
+
-
2
-
-
+
3
+
+
-
4
+
-
+
Formulation: cement paste (-); mortar (+)
Encapsulation diameter: 5 cm (-); 5,8 cm (+)
Amount of cesium chloride: 30 mg (-); 60 mg (+)
In Romania, 60 L drums are immobilized in cement within 200 L drums, that is, their volume is
increased by 3.3 times. In the Czech Republic, 100 L drums are immobilized in concrete in 200 L
drums, their volume being duplicated (Figure 3) [6].
Figure 3: Encapsulation of drums containing bituminized radioactive waste.
Source: Vieira, 2017.
To simulate the conditioning options, bitumen samples were prepared with 4 cm in diameter and
4 cm high (50.27 cm3 volume), which were encapsulated in cement paste and mortar with the fol-
lowing dimensions: 5 cm in diameter with 5 cm in height, obtaining a volume of 98.17 cm3 (volume
Vieira, et. Al. ● Braz. J. Rad. Sci. ● 2019 7
increase of 1.95 times) and 5.8 cm in diameter with 5.8 cm in height, resulting in a volume 153.2
cm3 (volume three times greater than the initial) (Figure 4).
Different amounts of inactive cesium chloride were added to the bitumen sample (30 mg and 60
mg) to verify the degree of retention of cesium chloride when in contact with water. The determina-
tion of the leachate exchange rates and their quantities were based on ISO 6961 [17].
Figure 4: The sample of bitumen (left) and bitumen encapsulation it in cement paste or in
mortar (right)
Source: Vieira, 2017.
3.2. Determination of Leaching
For the leaching test, the encapsulated samples were placed in 1,200 mL of deionized water.
The leachate exchanges were performed every day in the first week; twice a week, for the second
week; once a week in the third to sixth week, followed by monthly exchanges, over a period of one
year, in duplicates. The samples of the leachate were sent for determination of the amount of cesium
by atomic absorption. The results were expressed for each constituent by the leaching rate (TDL) of
the increment (Rn) as a function of time (t), as shown in equation (1). The TDL becomes constant
after a certain time of renewal of the leachate, which will be indicated in the graph Rn versus t.
(1)
Rn = incremental leaching rate (TDL) (kg/m2 .s),
an = mass of the constituent leached at each interval n (kg),
A0 = fraction by weight of the constituent at the beginning of the test,
F = exposed surface area of the specimen (m2),
tn = duration of the nth leaching interval (s),
n = time increment.
Vieira, et. Al. ● Braz. J. Rad. Sci. ● 2019 8
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
From these results the leaching rates (TDL) of the same composition were calculated, the results
in duplicates show similar values, demonstrating the reproducibility of the results. Table 3 shows
the TDL averages of each experiment and the results are presented in Figure 5.
Table 3: TDL calculation averages
Time (Days)
Experiment 1
TDL (kg/m2.s)
Experiment 2
TDL (kg/m2.s)
Experiment 3
TDL (kg/m2.s)
Experiment 4
TDL (kg/m2.s)
1
2.65E-06
1.65E-06
6.66E-06
5.53E-06
2
2.65E-06
1.65E-06
3.00E-06
2.89E-06
3
2.65E-06
1.65E-06
2.59E-06
2.15E-06
4
2.65E-06
1.65E-06
2.56E-06
1.67E-06
7
8.85E-07
5.49E-07
1.79E-06
1.39E-06
10
8.85E-07
5.49E-07
1.38E-06
1.11E-06
16
4.42E-07
2.75E-07
8.54E-07
6.43E-07
23
3.79E-07
2.35E-07
6.34E-07
5.00E-07
30
3.79E-07
2.35E-07
6.01E-07
4.51E-07
37
3.79E-07
2.35E-07
4.72E-07
3.34E-07
67
8.85E-08
5.49E-08
2.88E-07
9.82E-08
98
8.56E-08
5.32E-08
1.22E-07
7.12E-08
128
8.85E-08
5.49E-08
9.61E-08
7.37E-08
159
8.56E-08
5.32E-08
8.76E-08
5.39E-08
190
8.56E-08
5.32E-08
8.40E-08
5.39E-08
218
8.85E-08
5.49E-08
8.55E-08
5.57E-08
249
9.15E-08
5.68E-08
8.54E-08
5.77E-08
279
8.85E-08
5.49E-08
8.27E-08
5.39E-08
310
8.56E-08
5.32E-08
8.54E-08
5.26E-08
340
8.85E-08
5.49E-08
8.40E-08
5.09E-08
371
8.56E-08
5.46E-08
8.40E-08
5.09E-08
It is observed that each exchange showed a peak in the graph due to the accumulation of cesium
leached during the exchange periods (Figure 5) until the release of cesium at constant rate.
The graphs exhibit similar behavior in which there is a considerable decrease in the rate of
cesium leachate. The first changes showed higher leaching rates due to the leaching of a large part
of the cesium present on the sample surfaces and easy to remove. With the continuity of the ex-
Vieira, et. Al. ● Braz. J. Rad. Sci. ● 2019 9
change process, this rate decreases due to the difficulty of removing cesium chemically bonded to
the cement, which is found in the inner layers of the specimen.
Analyzing the leaching tests between the two groups of experiments (pastes, 1 and 2; mor-
tar, 3 and 4) it is seen that the cesium leach rate from the pastes samples was lower than those re-
leased by mortar. This may be due to the presence of sand in the composition, which increases the
number of pores in the sample, which results in greater ease of release of cesium.
According to PEREIRA and TELLO the results of pastes and mortars for the encapsulament
of bituminized radioactive waste the leaching test (TDL) of the pastes presented values between
5.68E-06 in the first exchanges and 1.62E-07 in the last exchanges. The mortars presented higher
values between 1.53E-05 and 1.67E-07 [18].
Figure 5: Leaching rate in relation to leaching time
Vieira, et. Al. ● Braz. J. Rad. Sci. ● 2019 10
Source: Vieira, 2017.
5. CONCLUSION
This study presented possible solutions for the deposition bituminized waste in a near-surface
repository, making it compatible with the facility’s waste acceptance criteria. For this purpose the
encapsulation of bitumen in paste or mortar was carried out and evaluated the properties of bitumen,
paste, mortar and encapsulated bitumen.
The results obtained in the leaching test (samples A and B) present similar results, verifying the
reproducibility of the results. Experiments using paste presented better results compared to mortar,
since these compositions were able to retain a greater amount of cesium in the sample.
Applied to the context of the repository, its use would be more satisfactory, since it would act to
retain part of the radionuclides present in the radioactive waste and would increase the safety in the
repositories of bituminized radioactive waste, delaying or decreasing the release of radionuclides
released into nature. Therefore, the proposal to encapsulate cement bitumen product allows its ac-
ceptance for the deposition of these wastes in the near-surface repository.
6. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This work was performed at the Laboratory of Cementation CDTN - LABCIM. The tests were
performed with the help from Maria Judite Afonso Haucz, Francisco Donizete Cândido, Sandro
Seles, Adair Generoso do Carno and Marina Gregório.
This research project is supported by the following Brazilian institutions: Nuclear Technology
Development Center (CDTN), Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN), Research Support
Foundation from the State of Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG), and The Brazilian Council for Scientific
and Technological Development (CNPq).
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