Characterization of PVA-Borax-fructose gel for the capture of radioactive wastes generated during nuclear decommissioning activities

Abstract

With the long-term objective of using polymer gels for the capture of solid, liquid and gaseous waste generated from decommissioning works, characterization of gel properties as well as the properties of the individual constituents of polymer gels has been completed. Characteristics of constituents were investigated over varied concentrations and environments. Preliminary thermal degradation characterization found no adverse hysteresis behaviour regarding the polymer constituent. Constituent chemistry as well as chemistry that enables crosslinking between constituents was examined, and the theory that most accurately describes the crosslinking of constituents was established. Understanding of chemistry and characterization results were employed to successfully manufacture varied gels, with varied applications. Variation of gels were achieved via adjustments, primarily to polymer concentrations.