Comparative Assessment of Cement and Geopolymer Immobilization Approaches: Short-Term Leaching Performance of Thermally Treated Ion Exchange Resin Waste Forms

Cementation using Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) remains the standard method for conditioning low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste, including Spent Ion Exchange Resins (SIERs). This work presents an integrated strategy involving thermal pretreatment to minimize waste volume and eliminate organic constituents, followed by encapsulation within three distinct binders: CEM I, CEM III, and a novel one-part geopolymer. The one-part geopolymer system represents a significant operational innovation, enabling safe and simple “just-add-water” processing and avoiding the need to handle alkaline solutions. The proposed geopolymer, synthesized from metakaolin, blast furnace slag, and solid sodium silicate, was systematically benchmarked against conventional OPC matrices (CEM I, CEM III) by assessing their capacity to immobilize thermally treated SIER ashes under accelerated leaching conditions. For benchmarking, leaching indices for Cs and Sr were determined following the ANSI/ANS 16.9 standard protocol in three representative environments simulating operational and long-term repository scenarios, providing a quantitative evaluation of radionuclide retention and matrix durability. Results indicate that the one-part geopolymer improved leaching indices for Cs and Sr compared to both cementitious binders and complied with regulatory waste acceptance criteria. The comparative results highlight the potential of geopolymer technology to increase waste loading efficiencies and improve long-term safety, establishing a robust framework for future radioactive waste management approaches.