Stable solidification of cesium with an allophane additive by a pressing/sintering method

- A pressing/sintering method was used to solidify AMP-Cs/SiO2-allophane.
- The volatility of Cs2O could be effectively restrained by allophane.
- Cs4Al4Si20O48 was formed for stable solidification of Cs.
- The leachability of Cs from sintered AMP-Cs/SiO2-allophane was relatively low.

Pyrolysis of AMP/SiO2 adsorbed Cs (AMP-Cs/SiO2) occurred at > 400 °C sintering temperature, and Cs immobilisation decreased from 100% to 40% after sintering at 1200 °C. To safely dispose radioactive Cs, allophane was immobilized with AMP-Cs/SiO2 to prepare a stable form by using a pressing/sintering method. The structure of AMP-Cs/SiO2 collapsed, and cesium aluminosilicate formed more easily under conditions of higher sintering temperature (>800 °C) or increasing mixing ratio of allophane (mass ratio = 1:3 AMP-Cs/SiO2-allophane). The decomposition products of AMP-Cs/SiO2 were Cs2O, MoO3 and P2O5 at 1200 °C. Cs2O volatilisation was depressed by allophane addition, and a stable immobilisation phase of Cs4Al4Si20O48 formed. An immobilisation ratio of Cs of approximately 100% was maintained. The leachability of Cs for AMP-Cs/SiO2-allophane (1:3, 1200 °C) in distilled water at 25 °C and 90 °C for 15 days was estimated as 0.174% and 1.55%, respectively.