Effects of gamma-ray irradiation on spontaneous potential of stainless steel in zeolite-containing diluted artificial seawater

希釈人工海水を含むゼオライト中のステンレス鋼の定常自然浸漬電位に及ぼす線の影響

加藤 千明   ; 佐藤 智徳  ; 上野 文義  ; 山岸 功 

Kato, Chiaki; Sato, Tomonori; Ueno, Fumiyoshi; Yamagishi, Isao

福島第一原子力発電所事故の汚染水処理で発生する廃ゼオライト吸着塔の腐食評価の基礎的検討として、線照射下における人工海水を含んだゼオライト中のステンレス鋼(SUS316L)の電気化学試験を行った。ステンレス鋼の定常自然浸漬電位は線照射により貴化し、吸収線量率の増加に従い定常自然浸漬電位が上昇した。この電位上昇は、主に放射線分解で生じるHO濃度の増加によるものであることを明らにした。一方、ゼオライト共存系では線照射下の定常自然浸漬電位を低下させた。これは、ゼオライトによるHO濃度の低下によるものであり、ゼオライトの種類によりHO分解率が異なることを明らにした。線照射下におけるステンレス鋼の電位上昇機構は放射線により生じるHOがステンレス鋼のカソード反応を活性化するためであり、ゼオライトはHOの生成を抑制するために電位が低下することを明らかにした。ステンレス鋼の局部腐食発生電位は、照射の有無、ゼオライトの種類や接触により大きく変化しないことから、ゼオライト共存は線照射下において定常自然浸漬電位を低下させ、局部腐食発生リスクを低減できることが期待できることを明らにした。

With respect to the long-term storage of the zeolite-containing spent Cs adsorption vessels used at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, the corrosion of the vessel material is one of the most important issues. In this study, we performed electrochemical tests on stainless steel specimens in zeolite-containing artificial seawater under gamma-ray irradiation. The spontaneous potential ESP and critical pitting potential VC of the type 316L steel in systems in contact with various zeolites were measured in order to evaluate the corrosion resistance of the steel. In addition, the water sample was analyzed after being irradiated, in order to determine the concentrations of various dissolved oxidants such as oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, which can accelerate the corrosion process. The steady-state rest potential increased with an increase in the dose rate; however, the increase was suppressed in contact with the zeolites. The VC value of the steel when in contact with the zeolites was slightly smaller than the VC value in bulk water; however, the choice of the zeolite used as herschelite, IE96 and IE911 hardly affect the VC value. The concentration of HO in the bulk water under irradiation also increased with the increase in the dose rate. This increase was suppressed in the systems in contact with the zeolites, owing to the decomposition of the HO by the zeolites. A clear relationship was observed between ESP and the HO concentration. As contact with the zeolites caused the increase in ESP under irradiation to be suppressed, it can be concluded that the presence of zeolites in the spent Cs adsorption vessels can reduce the probability of the localized corrosion of the stainless steel in the vessels.