A Transmission Electron Microscopic Study of Solidified/Stabilized Organics

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Abstract
An understanding of the structure of solidified/stabilized hazardous wastes is important if better stabilized systems are to be designed. Microscopic studies can give information about the mechanisms of waste/ solidification matrix interactions. The interactions between organics and Type I Portland cement were studied using transmission electron microscopy. Specimens were prepared from solidified mixtures of cement, water, and either ethylene glycol or p-bromophenol. Using extraction replica methods, weakly embedded, microscopically sized particles were removed from the calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) phase of solidified samples and characterized by electron diffraction. There was evidence of interaction between the organics and C-S-H. The amount of tobermoritic material decreased with the addition of either organic; the amount of amorphous material increased. Organics were observed to interact weakly with the highly crystalline Ca(OH)2 and Mg(OH)2 crystals forming a surface phase or coating; the coating produced diffuse diffraction spots. In several cases crystalline compounds were observed with d-spacings not corresponding to those normally found in hydrated Portland cement.

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