Leach Behavior of Hydrofracture Grout Incorporating Radioactive Wastes

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Abstract
The rates at which strontium, cesium, plutonium, and curium are leached from hydrofracture grout (a modified cement) were measured. These studies utilized the test method proposed by the International Atomic Energy Agency or a modification that exposed smaller specimens with a higher surface-to-volume ratio to a larger volume of leachant. The fraction of an isotope leached varied with the square root of time if the leachant was replaced more frequently than once per day, but was inhibited or depressed if replacement was made less often. The amount of strontium or cesium leached from the grout varied directly with the degree of drying during curing and inversely with the time of curing. Of the clay additives studied for enhancing cesium retention, Grundite (while satisfactory) was the least effective. In general, the isotope leach rate followed the order: Cs > Sr > Cm > Pu. The amount of an isotope leached as a function of time depended on the composition of the leachant and varied in the order: di...

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