Sequestration of cesium and strontium by tobermorite synthesized from fly ashes

Tobermorites were synthesized from oxides and from fly ashes under mild hydrothermal conditions. The bulk compositions of the ash-based formulations were adjusted to give the same [Ca]/[Si + Al] ratio as for the oxides. Selective Cs and Sr exchange with these tobermorites was measured. Compared to those prepared from the oxides and from class C fly ash, the tobermorites obtained from class F fly ash exhibited superior Cs and Sr selective properties. This is apparently a result of more extensive Al incorporation with class F fly ash. For example, tobermorite synthesized from class F fly ash exhibited a cesium K_d (mL/g) of 3826 while those prepared from oxides and from class C fly ash showed K_d values of 1112 and 796, respectively, under the same conditions. These results suggest that fly ash waste materials can be converted into tobermorite, which can serve as a resource in the separation, immobilization, and disposal of radioactive species such as Cs and Sr.