Evidence of the Formation of Crystalline Aluminosilicate Phases in Glass-Ceramics by Calcination of Alkali-Brick Aggregates, Enabling Cs+, Rb+, Co2+, and Sr2+ Encapsulation
The feasibility of using brick aggregates for the preparation of aluminosilicate "glass-ceramic" forms as a novel cementitious composite capable of immobilizing radioactive elements was examined. Raw brick was initially activated with sodium hydroxide. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) confirmed zeolites (Na-A and Na-P), illite, and sand (quartz) as major phases. Thermal analysis showed several successive events: dehydration/dehydroxylation of illite, followed by degradation of illite and zeolites. Upon heating to 1000 degrees C, scanning electron microscopy and XRD provided evidence of the presence of novel crystalline aluminosilicate forms (analcime and leucite in the form of solid solutions). Then, upon heating to 1150 degrees C, the thermal process led to the additional formation of mullite and an amorphous silica-rich phase. The latter resulted from silica melting taking place, owing to the involvement of low-melting-point components on sand grains. Alkali-brick particles were then doped with Cs+, Rb+, Ca2+, and Sr2+ ions (individually) and subsequently heated at different temperatures. The corrosion resistance of the heated materials was examined in a hydrochloride acid solution. The aim was to highlight (i) the enhanced cationic-immobilization capacity of crystalline aluminosilicate phases embedded inside amorphous silica, and (ii) the role of sand in the creation of brick-based glass ceramics.