Recent Advances in Alternative Cementitious Materials for Nuclear Waste Immobilization: A Review

Abstract

Since the emergence of the problem of nuclear waste conditioning, cementation has become an important and developing part of the waste management system, owing to its simplicity and versatility. The continued development of the cementation technique is driven by the improvement and expansion of cementitious materials that are suitable and efficient for nuclear waste solidification. Advances in cement theory and technology have significantly impacted improvements in nuclear waste cementation technology, the quality of fresh and hardened waste forms, waste loading rates, and the reliability and sustainability of the nuclear industry. Modern mineral matrices for nuclear waste immobilization are a broad class of materials with diverse chemical–mineralogical compositions, high encapsulation capacities, and technological and engineering performance. These matrices include not only traditional Portland cement, but also non-Portland clinker inorganic binders. This review focuses on recent trends and achievements in the development of calcium aluminate, calcium sulfoaluminate, phosphate, magnesium silicate, and alkali-activated cements as cementitious matrices for nuclear waste stabilization/solidification.