Reduction of leachability and solubility of radionuclides and radioactive substances in contaminated soils and materials

A process for treating soil that contains leachable radioactive substances, said process comprising the steps of:

• contacting a soil containing radioactive substances with a suspension comprising a first component and a second component to form a mixture, wherein said metal-bearing soil contains at least one leachable metal selected from the group consisting of lead, aluminum, arsenic (III), barium, bismuth, cadmium, chromium (III), copper, iron, nickel, selenium, silver and zinc, wherein said first component supplies at least one member selected from the group consisting of sulphates, hydroxides, chlorides, fluorides, magnesium, halites, halides, silicates and calcium oxide, and wherein said second component supplies at least one phosphate anion;
• and
• curing said mixture for a period of time to form a cured material;
• wherein the concentration of leachable radioactive substances in said soil so treated is decreased and non-leachable solid materials are formed.

A process for treating a waste matrix of metal-bearing material and soil that contains leachable radioactive substances, said process comprising the steps of:

• contacting said waste matrix with a suspension comprising a first component and a second component to form a mixture, wherein said metal-bearing material contains at least one leachable metal selected from the group consisting of lead, aluminum, arsenic (III), barium, bismuth, cadmium, chromium (III), copper, iron, nickel, selenium, silver and zinc, wherein said first component supplies at least one member selected from the group consisting of sulphates, hydroxides, chlorides, fluorides, magnesium, halites, halides, silicates and calcium oxide, and wherein said second component supplies at least one phosphate anion;
• and
• curing said mixture for a period of time to form a cured material;
• wherein the concentration of leachable radioactive substances in said material so treated is decreased and non-leachable solid materials are formed.