Fixation of Copper Ferrocyanide Cake in the urea-formaldehyde matrix

Fixation of Copper Ferrocyanide Cake (CFC), which is generated from the chemical treatment plant of low-level radioactive liquid effluent in a urea-formaldehyde (UF) matrix, was carried out. Boric acid was used as a catalyst for the UF polymerization. The physical properties such as compressive strength and diffusion coefficient were evaluated for UF waste forms and were compared with those of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) waste forms. While the compressive strengths of UF and OPC waste forms were comparable, the former showed diffusion coefficients about two to three orders lower. Almost all the cesium was released from the OPC waste form that contained less than 18% of CFC by weight in the final waste form. The release of cesium from the OPC waste forms was high due to the presence of high alkalinity and calcium ions in the cement. To find out the temperature rise in the preparation of UF waste form, blocks having a size of about 5 1 were prepared; it was observed that there was no increase in peak center temperatures during the curing process.