Treatment Technology of Hazardous Water Contaminated with Radioisotopes with Paper Sludge Ash-Based Geopolymer—Stabilization of Immobilization of Strontium and Cesium by Mixing Seawater

Long-term immobilization ratios of strontium (Sr(2+)) and cesium (Cs(+)) in paper sludge ash-based geopolymer (PS-GP) were investigated in one year. PS-GP paste specimens were prepared in the conditions of 20 °C and 100% R.H., using two kinds of paper sludge ash (PS-ash). Two kinds of alkaline solution were used in the PS-GP as activator. One was prepared by diluting aqueous Na-disilicate (water glass) with seawater. Another was a mixture of this solution and caustic soda of 10 M concentration. When seawater was mixed into the alkaline solution, unstable fixations of Sr(2+) and Cs(+) were greatly improved, resulting stable and high immobilization ratios at any age up to one year, no matter what kind of PS-ash and alkaline solution were used. Element maps obtained by EPMA exhibited nearly even distribution of Cs(+). However Sr(2+) was biased, making domains so firmly related to Ca(2+) presence. The mechanism that seawater stabilizes immobilization of Sr(2+) and Cs(+) was discussed in this study, but still needs to further investigation. Chemical composition analyses of PS-GP were also conducted by SEM-EDS. Two categories of GP matrix were clearly observed, so called N-A-S-H and C-A-S-H gels, respectively. By plotting in ternary diagrams of SiO(2)-(CaO + Na(2)O)-Al(2)O(3) and Al(2)O(3)-CaO-Na(2)O, compositional trends were discussed in view of ‘plagioclase gels’ newly found in this study. As a result, it is suggested that the N-A-S-H and C-A-S-H gels should be strictly called Na-rich N-C-A-S-H and Ca-rich N-C-A-S-H gels, respectively.