Fixation of aqueous tritiated waste in polymer impregnated concrete and in polyacetylene

Abstract

Tritiated aqueous waste can be used to hydrate hydraulic cement producing a concrete that contains a network of interconnected porosity. Such a product is subject to water intrusion and subsequent tritium loss by leaching and exchange. Techniques have been developed to impregnate this porosity with styrene monomer which is then polymerized in situ, resulting in a concrete that is essentially impermeable while its strength, durability, and resistance to chemical attack are significantly improved. Tritium bulk leach rates as low as 1.68 x 10$sup -4$ g/(cm$sup 2$-day) have been measured for polymer-impregnated concrete in water. An adsorbent additive can be incorporated to increase the specific tritiated waste loading of the concrete. Depending upon the formulations, these composites incorporate 5.8 to 8.3 liters HTO per cubic foot. Tritiated aqueous waste can also be fixed in polymeric form as polyacetylene through reaction with calcium carbide to form tritiated acetylene which is subsequently polymerized. Acetylene polymerization is accomplished by either $sup 60$Co gamma irradiation or thermal catalysis over cupric oxide. The tritiated polyacetylene produced can contain up to 50 atomic percent tritium and is essentially non-leachable, insoluble, thermally stable to 325$sup 0$C, and chemically inert. The bulk leach rate of tritiated polyacetylene was determined to be of the order of 1.8 x 10$sup -8$ g/(cm$sup 2$-day). Radiolysis by $sup 60$Co gamma irradiation results in a G value for hydrogen production of 0.15 molecules/100 eV. Tritiated polyacetylene can be incorporated as an aggregate in concrete, polymer concrete, or polymer impregnated concrete to form a monolithic solid. (auth