Influence of Doping of NaNO3 on the Solid Phase Thermal Decomposition of Bitumen and Cement

The thermal stability of solidified NaNO₃ salts in bitumen and cement has been investigated for safety considerations in the field of solidification of radioactive waste. The thermal decomposition of bitumen and cement in presence of NaNO₃ in a temperature range 22–650°C has been studied. The fraction decomposed of the pure samples and mixtures showed slow linear reactions followed by acceleratory and decay stages. Data are analyzed according to both Freeman-Carroll and Coats-Redfern kinetics to evaluate the activation energy and the order of reactions of all mixtures. It is found that the activation energies of bitumen and cement were 594 and 203 kJ mol^-1, respectively. The order of reactions of bitumen and cement was 2 and 4, respectively. The addition of NaNO₃ shortens the duration of the induction period in all mixtures. It was concluded that solidification of radioactive waste containing NaNO3 in bitumen and cement should be applied in the temperature range 22–300°C. At temperature higher than300°C solidification should be in cement. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.