Effect of sintering temperature on structure and properties of Nd2O3 and CeO2 co-doped zeolite waste

• Published in: Journal of industrial and engineering chemistry (Seoul, Korea) Vol. 124; pp. 502 - 509
• Main Authors: Yuan, Beilong, Luo, Fen, Miao, Yulong, Zhao, Yuanyuan, Lu, Xirui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 25.08.2023; 한국공업화학회
• Subjects: Chemical durability; Immobilization; Nuclear waste; Radioactive zeolite waste; 화학공학; Immobilization; Chemical durability; Radioactive zeolite waste; Nuclear waste
• ISSN: 1226-086X; 1876-794X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2023.05.005

Radioactive zeolite waste is a potential threat to human health and the living environment. Therefore, the treatment and disposal of radioactive zeolite waste is an urgent problem to be solved. In this work, the co-doped simulated radioactive contaminated zeolite has been successfully immobilized. The effect of sintering temperature on the microstructure, mechanical properties and chemical durability of co-doped zeolite sintered matrix was evaluated. Samples were sintered at 1400 °C and 1500 °C for 1 h. As the sintering temperature increases, the total solid solubility limit of sintered samples increased from 25 wt.% (Nd2O3: 15 wt.%, CeO2: 10 wt.%) to 55 wt.% (Nd2O3: 20 wt.%, CeO2: 35 wt.%,). The greater Vickers hardness (6.73 GPa) and density (2.93 g·cm−3) were achieved in sample No. 9 sintered at 1500 °C. The normalized leaching rates of Ce and Nd in sample No. 9 sintered at 1500 °C are 0.83 × 10-7 g·m−2·d-1 and 3.42 × 10-7 g·m−2·d-1, respectively.