Advances in the interfacial interactions and decontamination strategies of radionuclides on cement surfaces: a review

Cement, as essential building material, is extensively applied in constructing facilities of nuclear industries. Rapid decontamination of cement surfaces contaminated by radionuclides is critical for nuclear emergency accidents and decommissioning of nuclear facilities. Investigating the interfacial dynamics and microscopic mechanisms of radionuclide interactions with cement is vital for refining decontamination strategies of cement surfaces contaminated by radionuclides. The roughness and permeability of cement are favorable for the adsorption of radionuclides on the surface of facilitates and the diffusion of radionuclides into the pore structure of cement, posing significant challenges for decontamination from the deep internal part of cement facilitates. This review provides an overview of the forms of radionuclides present in cement media, as well as the binding mechanism at the solid-liquid interface, and the diffusion behavior of radionuclides in the deep regions of cement. Additionally, we explore advancements in decontamination techniques guided by adsorption and diffusion mechanism, offering valuable insights for optimizing decontamination strategies in nuclear facility decommissioning and emergency response scenarios.