Use of geopolymer for cesium sorption

Juniara Lopes Versieux; Carolina Braccini Freire; Fenando Soares Lameiras

doi:10.15392/2319-0612.2026.2999

Autores/as

Juniara Lopes Versieux Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear
Carolina Braccini Freire Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear
Fenando Soares Lameiras Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15392/2319-0612.2026.2999

Palabras clave:

waste, geopolymer, radioactive waste, cesium, sorption

Resumen

The sand extraction plays a crucial role in economic development and the construction industry. However, the fine waste generated during the extraction process brings environmental impacts on this activity. In order to promote the reuse of this waste, the synthesis of geopolymers was proposed. Geopolymers are a class of inorganic materials composed of aluminosilicates arranged in a three-dimensional network, originally developed by Joseph Davidovits in 1978. These are silica–alumina materials with an amorphous to semi-crystalline three-dimensional structure, obtained through alkaline activation. The raw materials used for their synthesis can consist of natural sources of aluminosilicates or by-products from industrial processes, which react through an alkaline activation route, generally using sodium or potassium hydroxide and silicate solutions as activating agents. These materials can be applied in the treatment of liquid radioactive waste through the sorption of cesium, which is commonly present in such waste. The study involved the characterization of mining waste, including quantitative (mineralogical) and qualitative (degree of amorphization) analyses, followed by the synthesis of the geopolymer. After 28 days of curing, the material was ground in a jaw mill and further reduced in a pulverizing mill. Cesium sorption tests with the prepared material were then carried out. The ground geopolymer was characterized by FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), XRD (X-ray Diffraction), XRF (X-ray Fluorescence), particle size analysis, and BET surface area measurement. Cesium sorption tests (using inactive CsCl) were performed using the batch equilibrium method, as described in the EPA Method 530. The results demonstrated that the grinding process was effective in adjusting grain size, enhancing the material’s surface area. Mineralogical characterization confirmed the presence of aluminosilicates such as kaolinite and muscovite, which have favorable sorption properties. Thermal analysis identified the temperature range at which the material reaches a stable chemical composition, as well as the regions associated with dehydration and dihydroxylation. The tests indicated that the geopolymer obtained from sand extraction waste showed high cesium sorption potential, as evidenced by the sorption isotherm results.

Descargas

Los datos de descarga aún no están disponibles.

Referencias

[1] DA GAMA, E. M. et al. Study of Potential Use of Iron Mining Tailings Calcined in a Flash Furnace as Pozzolanic Material. Current Innovations in Chemical and Materials Sciences. Vol. 2, p. 178-196, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/cicms/v2/7312A

[2] BUCHWALD, A.; DOMBROWSKI, K.; WEIL, M.. Development of Geopolymer Concrete Supported by System Analytical Tools. Proceedings of the 2nd Int. Synposiun of Non-tradition Cement and Concrete, ed. by Bilek and Kersner, 25-35, 2005.

[3] DAVIDOVITS, J. Environmentally driven geopolymer cement applications. In: Proceedings of 2002 Geopolymer Conference. Melbourne. Australia. 2002.

[4] DA ROCHA, G. G. N. Caracterização microestrutural do metacaulim de alta reatividade. Dissertação de mestrado. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 2005.

[5] SARTI, M. E. V. et al. Inertização de Resíduos Radioativos e Metais Pesados a partir da Imobilização Geopolimérica. Trabalho de Iniciação Científica. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Departamento de Engenharia Química e Alimentos. Graduação em Engenharia Química. 2023.

[6] PALMA, G. et al. Optimization of Geopolymers for Sustainable Management of Mine Tailings: Impact on Mechanical, Microstructural, and Toxicological Properties. Minerals, v. 14, n. 10, p. 997, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/min14100997

[7] PROVIS, J. L.; BERNAL, S. A. Geopolymers and related alkali-activated materials. Annual review of materials research, v. 44, n. 1, p. 299-327, 2014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-matsci-070813-113515

[8] PROVIS, J. L. Alkali-activated materials. Cement and concrete research, v. 114, p. 40-48, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2017.02.009

[9] IAEA– INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY. Selection of Technical Solutions for the Management of Radioactive Waste. Vienna: IAEA. (IAEA-TECDOC-1817).2017.

[10] EL-NAGGAR, M. R., & AMIN, M. (2018). Impact of alkali cations on properties of metakaolin and metakaolin/slag geopolymers: Microstructures in relation to sorption of 134Cs radionuclide. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 344, 913–924. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.11.049. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.11.049

[11] ABNT – BRAZILIAN ASSOCIATION OF TECHNICAL STANDARDS. NBR NM 52, 2009. Fine Aggregate – Determination of specific mass. Rio de Janeiro, ABNT, 2009, p.3.

[12] ABNT – BRAZILIAN ASSOCIATION OF TECHNICAL STANDARDS. Portland Cement – Determination of compressive strength of cylindrical specimens, 2019. Brazilian Technical Standard (NBR) 7215:2019.

[13] SILVA, F.G.P; LAMEIRAS, F.S. Desenvolvimento de argamassa geopolimérica com porosidade controlada. Dissertação de Mestrado, Ciência e Tecnologia da Radiação, Minerais e Materiais, CDTN, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 2023.

[14] ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, EPA/530 SW-87-006-F: Technical Resource Document: Batch-type Procedures for estimating soil adsorption of chemical, 1992.

[15] FREIRE, C. B. Estudo de Sorção de Césio e Estrôncio em Argilas Nacionais para sua utilização como barreira em Repositórios de Rejeitos Radioativos. 2007. Dissertação (Mestrado em Ciência e Tecnologia das Radiações, Minerais e Materiais). Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear (CDTN), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 2007.

[16] COLNAGO, L. R. L. et al. Preparation and characterization of geopolymers obtained from alkaline activated hollow brick waste. Materials Research, v. 27, n. Suppl 2, p. e20240203, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-5373-mr-2024-0203

[17] SPARKS, D. L.; SINGH, B.; SIEBECKER, M. G. Environmental soil chemistry. Elsevier, 2022.

[18] KUMAR, S. G. K. M. et al. Geopolymer Chemistry and Composition: A Comprehensive Review of Synthesis, Reaction Mechanisms, and Material Properties. Oriented with Sustainable Construction. Materials, v. 18, n. 16, p. 3823, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18163823

[19] GRIDI-BENNADJI, F. et al. Structural transformations of muscovite at high temperature by X-ray and neutron diffraction. Applied Clay Science, v. 38, n. 3-4, p. 259-267, 2008. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2007.03.003

[20] MANOSA, J. et al. Enhancing reactivity in muscovitic clays: Mechanical activation as a sustainable alternative to thermal activation for cement production. Applied Clay Science, v. 250, p. 107266, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2024.107266

[21] RRUFF. RRUFF Project – Mineral Database. Disponível em: https://rruff.info. Acesso em: 21 nov. 2024.

[22] BEN AMOR, A. et al. Clays-based geopolymers: a sustainable application as adsorbent of cytostatic drugs for water purification. Applied Water Science, v. 14, n. 11, p. 234, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-024-02273-5

[23] GENUA, F.; LANCELLOTTI, I.; LEONELLI, C. Geopolymer-based stabilization of heavy metals, the role of chemical agents in encapsulation and adsorption. Polymers, v. 17, n. 5, p. 670, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17050670

[24] DAVIDOVITS, J. Geopolymer Chemistry and Applications. 2. ed. Saint-Quentin, França: Institut Géopolymère, ISBN 978-2-9544531-1-8. 2008.

[25] LOEBENSTEIN, W. V. Adsorption, desorption, resorption. Journal of Research of the National Bureau of Standards. Section A, Physics and Chemistry, v. 67, n. 6, p. 615, 1963. DOI: https://doi.org/10.6028/jres.067A.061

[26] GUGGENHEIM, S.; CHANG, Y.; KOSTER VAN GROOS, A. F. Muscovite dehydroxylation; high-temperature studies. American Mineralogist, v. 72, n. 5-6, p. 537-550, 1987.

[27] COPAJA, S. V.; FERRER, D. Study of the adsorption-desorption process of the metals: Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn IN VOLCANIC SOILS. Journal of the Chilean Chemical Society, v. 69, n. 2, p. 6140-6148, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4067/s0717-97072024000206140

[28] SANTOS, D. M. M. dos et al. Transporte de césio através de bentonita brasileira para ser utilizada como material de referência para barreiras de repositórios de superfície. Tese de doutorado. Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear (CDTN/CNEN-MG), Belo Horizonte, MG (Brazil). 2021.