Application of surface complexation modeling on the leaching of radionuclides from fly ashes

Surface complexation modeling based on diffuse double layer model (DDLM) has been employed to simulate the leaching behaviors of radionuclides (i.e., Co-60(2+), Ni-63(2+), Cu-64(2+) and UO2 (2+)) on fly ashes from hospital wastes. The fly ashes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), potentiometric acid-base titration, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of pH, the ratio of solid-to-liquid (RSL), and particle size on the leaching of radionuclides was also conducted under the batch techniques. According to XRD patterns analysis, the main components of fly ashes was determined to be quartz and clay minerals such as kaolinite, illite and smectite. The site density and pH(PNZC) (pH at point of net zero charge) of fly ashes calculated from potentiometric titration data was found to be 4.53 x 10(-4) mol/g and 7.4, respectively. One can see that the small amount of metal oxides attached on the surface of fly ashes by SEM images, corrosion surface of fly ashes was observed after leaching experiments. Results of the batch leaching experiments indicated that the leaching amount of radionuclides in fly ashes significantly depended on pH, the ratio of solid-to-liquid, and particle size. It is found that the leaching amount of radionuclides decreased in the order of Cu-64(2+) a parts per thousand << Ni-63(2+) > Co-60(2+) > UO2 (2+) under the different pH, the RSL or particle size conditions. In this paper, DDLM has successfully been applied to describe the leaching behaviors of radionuclides from fly ashes. This research provides critical information for application of surface complexation modeling on the simulation of radionuclides leaching from fly ashes, which would clarify the leaching mechanism of radionuclides from fly ashes.