Innovation in concrete design for hazardous waste management applications

About this project

<p>The aim of the project is to create novel types of concrete and study materials properties, using oil shale ash as an additional cementing material. Among the Baltic States, the most cement is produced in Latvia. Addition of oil shale ash (waste from the energy sector in Estonia) to the standard cement leads to lower natural resource and energy consumption, reducing pollution and raw materials expanses, as well as CO2 emissions. All above allows development of specialized concrete for a very important application - long-term storage of hazardous waste, which can be immobilized in concrete containers or directly in the concrete mass. There are several sources of hazardous waste in the Baltic and Nordic countries, from highly radioactive waste directly related to the use of nuclear energy as well as from specific medical equipment to toxic substances or metals with negligible radioactivity that can occur in various tasks such as the extraction and recycling of metals. An example of a large-scale source of radioactive waste of all levels of radioactivity is decommissioning of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Most of the Iganlina NPP radioactive waste is still in the temporary storage sites and a long-term solution is still being sought. The lack of long-term &nbsp;hazardous waste storage solutions and technologies may be a general problem for the entire Baltic region. During the project, it is planned to create and study a specialized oil shale ash concrete with basalt fiber reinforcement for mechanical property improvement. &nbsp; The filtration properties, radioactivity shielding capabilities and mechanical properties of the concrete under development will be tested. Methods and technologies to improve some of these &nbsp;properties will be sought. The project promoter is Riga Technical University. Partners are the Arctic University of Norway, University of Tartu, Lithuanian Energy Institute.&nbsp;</p>

Bilateral cooperation results

The ICONDE project has significantly contributed to the achievement of the program’s objectives by fostering international cooperation between Baltic countries and establishing new connections with donor partners from Norway, specifically with the Arctic University of Norway (UiT). This collaboration has extended the possibilities for international cooperation, particularly in addressing hazardous waste management and the use of waste materials from the energy sector in Estonia and Lithuania. The partnership focused on sustainability and environmental solutions, aligning with innovative approaches to waste management. The research teams shared complementary skills, knowledge, and resources to collectively address project’s research challenges. Each partner brought specialized expertise, in areas such as radioactive waste management in nuclear power plant, concrete technology, and material testing for hazardous and radioactive waste storage. This multidisciplinary approach enabled a comprehensive understanding of the project’s challenges and facilitated effective solutions. Regular online meetings, held every two weeks, ensured continuous communication and collaboration, enabling partners to discuss scientific topics, plan experiments, and share results efficiently. And foster new contacts and future collaboration.

Project partners

• University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway Donor project partner· Norway
• Lithuanian Energy Institute Project partner· Lithuania
• University of Tartu Project partner· Estonia