Impact of alkali activated mortar incorporating different heavy metals on immobilization proficiency using gamma rays attenuation

• Published in: Progress in nuclear energy (New series) 2021-07, Vol.137, p.103729, Article 103729
• Main Authors: Khater, H.M., Ramadan, Wageeh, Gharieb, Mahmoud
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggregates; Attenuation coefficients; Barite; Barium sulfate; Blast furnace iron mixers; Blast furnace slags; Bulk density; Density; Dunes; Electric arc furnaces; Gamma rays; Geopolymer; Geopolymers; Hardening furnaces; Heavy metals; Lead; Linear attenuation coefficient (μ); Mortar; Mortars (material); Nuclear engineering; Portland cements; Radiation; Radiation shielding; Slag; Sodium hydroxide; Studies
• ISSN: 0149-1970; 1878-4224
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2021.103729

The target of the present paper is to investigate the heavy metals effect on the attenuation properties of the geopolymer mortar used as radiation shielding for nuclear facilities. Radiation shielding properties of geopolymer mortar mixtures prepared using different types of heavy metals such as lead phosphate, barium sulfate in addition to some industrial heavy iron metal wastes and lead metals such as electric arc furnace slag (EAFS) and lead slag as partial replacement of blast furnace slag were investigated comparatively with hardened Portland cement mortar. Fine aggregates used were local sand dunes, air cooled slag, and lead slag, while the used activator was 8% sodium hydroxide. The effect of fine heavy metals on the bulk density of geopolymer mortar was investigated, in addition to gamma linear attenuation coefficients for the studied mortar against Cs137 (662 keV) and Co60 (1173 and 1332 keV), also the most important gamma transmission parameters were measured as (half-value layer, HVL; tenth-value layer, TVL and mean free path, MFP). It was found that, the density of the blast furnace slag geopolymer mortar increases upon replacing sand dunes with fine lead slag aggregates as well as air cooled slag. In addition, the geopolymer mortars containing EAFS as fine materials have the highest density compared to lead slag, barium sulfate and lead phosphate, respectively. The results indicate that, blast furnace slag geopolymer mortar made of lead slag as a fine aggregate containing EAFS possess high gamma rays shielding properties compared the other mortars. [Display omitted] •Study the effect of heavy metals on the attenuation properties of the geopolymer mortar.•Density of blast furnace alkali activated slag mortar having fine aggregates of lead slag, air cooled slag are higher than that of control cement mortar.•Total linear attenuation coefficient (μ) of geopolymer mortar having fine aggregates of lead slag, air cooled slag and sand are higher than that of control mortar.•The produced mortars possess incorporating fine lead slag aggregate and EAFS have high gamma rays shielding.