Engineered cementitious contaminant barriers and their method of manufacture

Abstract

Novel cementitious contaminant barriers are formed by positioning a hydraulic cement composition into a predetermined configuration and then hydrating the cement composition. The contaminant barriers of the present invention include at least one liquid, gas, or ion getter capable of binding with or absorbing liquids, ions, or gases which may penetrate the barrier. The contaminant barriers of the present invention may be engineered to include mixtures of different getters, single and multiple layers of different getters, multiple layers of cement and getters, and a host of different getter, cement, mixture, and layer combinations. Novel waste containers are advantageously prepared utilizing contaminant barriers within the scope of the present invention. The waste containers may be prepared by surrounding waste material with at least one getter and with a powdered hydraulic cement composition and then compressing the cement and getter around the waste material. Preformed waste containers may also be prepared within the scope of the present invention. Use of reinforcing fibers and aggregates to improve the mechanical properties of the hazardous waste container is disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.