Chemical species of cesium and iodine in condensed vaporized microparticles formed by melting nuclear fuel components with concrete materials

Onuki, Toshihiko*; Ye, J.*; Kato, Tomoaki ; Liu, J. ; Takano, Masahide ; Kozai, Naofumi   ; Utsunomiya, Satoshi*

To elucidate chemical forms of Cs and I in microparticles produced via the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident and released into the atmosphere, we analyzed Cs and I in condensed vaporized particles (CVP) produced by melting experiments using nuclear fuel components containing CsI with concrete. CVPs consisted of many round particles containing Cs and I of diameters less than several tens of micrometers. Two kinds of particles were present: one containing large amounts of Cs and I, suggesting the presence of CsI, and the other containing small amounts of Cs and I with large Si contents. Most of CsI from both particles were dissolved in water. On the contrary, some fractions of Cs remained from the latter particles. These results suggest that Cs was incorporated in CVPs along with Si to form water low-soluble CVPs