Scaling Geopolymers for Lower-Carbon Nuclear Waste Encapsulation: Lucideon MIDAR Technology
nsenergybusiness.comGeopolymers are emerging as an alternative to Portland cement for encapsulating radioactive waste. Lucideon's MIDAR technology uses a low-temperature chemical reaction to consolidate aluminosilicates, producing a stable matrix that immobilizes nuclear waste with a significantly lower carbon footprint than traditional cement. The process avoids the high heat generation and porous microstructure issues that make Portland cement less suitable for this application. Lucideon is scaling up this technology through the MALLET program, supported by Innovate UK and the Foundation Industries Sustainability Consortium. A dedicated geopolymer facility is being built under the EconoMISER project to accelerate formulation development and testing. The facility will centralize characterization capabilities, enabling rapid iteration and faster scale-up from lab to demonstration level for nuclear waste encapsulation and other industrial applications.