Chemical and Mineralogical Aspects of Clay-salt Slimes of “Belaruskali” Using for the Preparation of Nanostructured Sorbents of Radionuclides

In the context of intensive nuclear-power engineering development there is an urgent need to solve a range of technological and environmental challenges associated with generation, treatment and disposal of radioactive waste. In this regards, the problems of radioactive waste safe management and rehabilitation of radioactively contaminated soils in the result of the radiation accidents at the Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi NPPs are especially significant. Concerning that, investigation of effective and low cost sorption materials for radionuclides immobilization has a special relevance.In order to solve the above mentioned problems, it is supposed to develop a resource-saving technology for production of multi-purpose nanostructured sorbents of radionuclides (137Cs, 90Sr) with predetermined physicochemical properties based on the waste of potash industry - clay-salt slimes (CSS) of the JSC “Belaruskali”.The performed research has shown that the CSS samples have a high fixing ability in relation to 137Cs. The main sorption-active minerals in CSS are illite and montmorillonite. The degree of sorption is 99.6%, Kd is 1.2 × 105 l/kg, RIP(K) is 6343 mmol/kg. The modification of the S-1 sample allows to enlarge the content of sorption-active minerals tentatively in 3.5 times, thereafter RIP(K) for the S-3 sample may be significantly increased.Based on the obtained experimental data, CSS of the JSC “Belaruskali” can be estimated as a perspective initial material for production of multi-purpose nanostructured sorbents of radionuclides.