Preparation and properties of porous, biomorphic, ceria ceramics for immobilization of Sr isotopes

A new technology for radionuclide trapping which is based on bio-templating approach was proposed in this paper. Porous oxide ceramics was prepared by wet impregnation of biological template with water solution of cerium and strontium nitrates. The template was derived from linden wood (tilia amurensis). Repeated pressure impregnation, heat treatments and final calcination at 1000°C in air resulted in the template burnout and consolidation of the oxide layers. The obtained products had structure which corresponded to the negative replication of biological templates. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and porosimetry were employed to characterize the composition and structure of biomorphic ceramics. It was found that the wood impregnated with water solution of cerium and strontium nitrates was converted into oxide ceramics (Ce0.9Sr0.1O2−δ), while preserving the microstructural features of the biological preform.