The effect of the addition of Alumina powder on the confinement properties of a cement mortar

¹ Laboratoires des matériaux, Electrochimie et environnement, Faculté des sciences, Université Ibn Tofail, BP 133, 14000 Kenitra, Maroc.
² Unité de gestion des déchets radioactifs, Centre National De L'énergie, Des Sciences Et Techniques Nucléaires (CNESTEN) PB 1382, 10001 Kenitra, Maroc.
³ Laboratoire des procédés de séparation, Faculté des Sciences, Université Ibn Tofail, BP 133, 14000 Kenitra, Maroc.

Abstract

Organic radioactive waste can occur in solid, liquid or rarely gaseous form. In general, organic components of radioactive waste Generally, the organic components of the radioactive waste have a contaminant effect stronger than most of the inorganic components, because of their low melting point, of their answer to the radiolyse or of their volatilitydu to their low melting point, to their answer to the radiolyse or to their volatility. This property can significantly affect the strategy adopted for their management. Organic radioactive waste results from the use of radioisotopes in the National Center for Energy, Nuclear Science and Technology (CNESTEN) and from medical applications. Organic radioactive waste requires management steps that take into account not only their radioactivity but also their chemical content. The aim of this study is the optimization of the stabilization of radioactive organic effluents in cementitious matrices. Thus, we study the effects of the addition of the alumina powder on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of the cement paste. The mortar was made by mixing Portland cement, sand, water and alumina powder (88 μm). The study showed that the addition of 12% alumina powder improves the compressive strength.