Immobilization of NPP evaporator bottom high salt-bearing liquid radioactive waste into struvite-based phosphate matrices

The high salt-bearing liquid radioactive waste (evaporator bottoms, EB) makes up the most voluminous NPP waste and needs solidification. In the paper presented, we introduce a novel formation process study of the struvite-based phosphate matrices ((K, NH4)MgPO4·6H2O) and the developed phosphate matrix compositions for the solidification of high salt-bearing solutions. The solutions simulate the EB of nuclear power plants with pressurized water reactors (NPP PWR). The effect of the EB's composition and salt content on the matrices' mechanical strength was investigated. The cesium-selective nickel-potassium ferrocyanide sorbent or 10–20% of MgO over the reaction stoichiometry, introduced at the matrix synthesis stage, allowed the production of matrices with the average 137Сs leach rate of less than 10-3 g cm-2 day-1 and the mechanical strength over 5 MPa. The matrices obtained completely satisfied the cemented radioactive waste requirements and contained up to 17–17.5 wt% of salts, which was 1.7–2.5 times higher compared to the Portland cement-based matrices. [Display omitted] •Borate salt-bearing NPP LRW demands a peculiar solidification technique.•The Struvite-based phosphate matrices were first-ever proposed for the purpose.•Compared to the PC-based matrix, Struvite is superior in every particular.