Application of mixture design to optimize cementation of simulated spent radioactive ion exchange resins
Application of mixture design to optimize cementation of simulated spent radioactive ion exchange resins
The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of a mixture design for spent resin immobilization in cement as well as to examine the cement-slag-ash system for spent resin solidification. Eighteen distinct combinations, consisting of Portland cement, blast furnace slag, fly ash, organic ion exchange resins and water, were selected by a mixture design computer procedure to compose representative experiment points. The measured properties of solidified forms resulting from the combinations included 28-day compressive strength, 42-day immersion strength, 42-day immersion weight and slump. These data were fit to a mathematic model with the aid of Scheffé quadratic polynomial, and the effects of each ingredient on the measured properties were identified through an analysis of the response trace plots and contour plots. Utilization of an optimality function singled out an optimal combination comprising water=0.16(wt/wt), slag=0.21, ash=0.10, cement=0.27 and resin=0.26 from which the resulting response was 11MPa for the 28-day strength, 110mm for the slump and 5.4% for the 42-day increase in strength.