Evaluation of the remaining spent extraction solvent in vermiculite after leaching tests via PIXE analysis

荒井 陽一; 渡部 創; 長谷川 健太; 岡村 信生; 渡部 雅之; 武田 啓佑*; 福元 博基*; 吾郷 友宏*; 羽倉 尚人*; 塚原 剛彦*

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 542, p.206 - 213, 2023/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2023.07.003

Spent PUREX solvent, which mainly consists of tributyl phosphate (TBP) and normal dodecane, is generated by solvent extraction of Plutonium and Uranium in the spent nuclear fuel reprocessing. One of the treatment options for storage of the spent solvent is adsorption of the liquid into vermiculite. The organic liquid is considered to be trapped between layers of the vermiculite. Our previous experiments on the adsorption of spent solvent into the vermiculite have shown that some parts of loaded solvent gradually leaked out from the vermiculite. In order to investigate the adsorption mechanism and capacity, elution behavior of the loaded solvent into organic diluents were evaluated. A part of the loaded solvent was easily leaked into the diluent, while some solvent remained inside the particle even after the leaching test. In this study, the adsorption capacity of the vermiculite was evaluated through amount of remaining solvent after washing with diluents. The amount of the remaining solvent was analyzed by Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) on P contained in TBP. Peak intensity of P-K line depended on the washing condition, and the behavior of the amount of change in adsorbed P atom qualitatively agreed with the results of the leaching test.

Investigation of adsorption mechanism of Mo(VI) by baker's yeast and applicability to the uranium liquid waste treatment process

荒井 陽一; 長谷川 健太; 渡部 創; 渡部 雅之; 箕輪 一希*; 松浦 治明*; 羽倉 尚人*; 勝木 健太*; 新井 剛*; 小西 康裕*

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 9 Pages, 2023/00

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-09278-5

Radioactive aqueous and organic liquid wastes contaminated by U are generated by solvent extraction of nuclear fuel materials in experiments of reprocessing technologies. Although incineration and denitrification/conversion processes are promising for treating such liquid waste, the installation of large equipment is essential. To give appropriate treatment procedures for radioactive liquid waste generated in nuclear facilities, STRAD (Systematic Treatments of RAdioactive liquid wastes for Decommissioning) project was started by Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) with several organizations. We are focusing on baker's yeasts for their excellent metal ions adsorption characteristics, easy handling and low prices. In order to optimize adsorption performance and operation procedures as the liquid waste treatment technology, adsorption performance of U has to be precisely investigated. In this study, adsorption performance of U and anion from nitric acid solution was investigated by batch-wise adsorption experiments.

有機物含有核燃料物質の安定化処理

先崎 達也; 荒井 陽一; 矢野 公彦; 佐藤 大輔; 多田 康平; 小木 浩通*; 川野邊 崇之*; 大野 真平; 中村 雅弘; 北脇 慎一; et al.

JAEA-Testing 2022-001, 28 Pages, 2022/05

JAEA-Testing-2022-001.pdf:2.33MB

核燃料サイクル工学研究所B棟における試験、分析の実施により発生し、長期間グローブボックス内に保管していた核燃料物質について、当該施設の廃止措置の決定に伴い、高レベル放射性物質研究施設(CPF)の貯蔵庫においてポリ塩化ビニル製の袋(PVCバッグ)で密封して保管していた。CPF安全作業基準に基づく貯蔵物の定期点検においてPVCバッグが徐々に膨らむ状況が確認されたことから、当該試料中から放射線分解によると思われる何らかのガスが発生していると考えられた。ガスが滞留した状態で放置すると、PVCバッグの破裂・破損に繋がるため、ガスが発生しない状態に安定化する必要があると考えた。安定化処理までの処理フローを確立するため、当該核燃料物質の性状を調査した。また、その結果から模擬物質を選定してモックアップ試験を実施した。性状調査においては放射能分析や成分分析、熱分析を実施した。放射性物質濃度及び組成を明らかにするため、線スペクトロメトリーによる定性分析及び試料溶解による成分分析を実施した。次に、加熱処理による発熱反応を確認するため、酸素をコントロールした条件下で熱分析を実施した。熱分析の結果から有機物含有核燃料物質の組成を推定し、700Cの熱処理により安定化が可能と判断できたことから、全量を熱処理し安定化処理作業を完了した。核燃料物質の熱処理においては、まずは少量の試料により安全性を確認した後、処理規模をスケールアップした。熱分解処理後の重量減少量の測定により、核燃料物質に混合する有機物が完全に分解できたことを確認した。安定化処理後の核燃料物質はSUS製貯蔵容器に収納してバッグアウトし、CPFの貯蔵庫に貯蔵することで一連の安定化処理作業を完了した。今後の廃止措置においても、性状不明な核燃料物質の安定化処理が必要なケースが想定されることから、安定化処理において得られた知見について報告書にまとめる。

高レベル放射性物質研究施設における放射性廃液の安定化処理

小木 浩通*; 荒井 陽一; 粟飯原 はるか; 渡部 創; 柴田 淳広; 野村 和則

JAEA-Technology 2021-007, 27 Pages, 2021/06

JAEA-Technology-2021-007.pdf:2.43MB

放射性物質取扱施設である高レベル放射性物質研究施設(CPF: Chemical Processing Facility)では、過去の試験や分析で発生した多種の廃液をホットセル及びグローブボックス内で保管してきた。2015年7月より、保管されている放射性廃液について、管理方法の適正化を図るべく、実廃液の安定化処理を進めている。また、分析廃液等の多種多様な試薬が混在する廃液については安定化処理が非常に困難であるため、大学等と共同でSTRAD(Systematic Treatments of Radioactive liquid wastes for Decommissioning)プロジェクトを発足させ、処理技術の研究開発を進めている。これらの実績は、他の放射性物質取り扱い施設においても保管する廃液の処理をより効率的かつ安全に進められることが期待できる。本書は、CPFで安定化処理を実施した実廃液の処理方法及び処理状況に関して報告するものである。

Microscopic analyses on Zr adsorbed IDA chelating resin by PIXE and EXAFS

荒井 陽一; 渡部 創; 大野 真平; 野村 和則; 中村 文也*; 新井 剛*; 瀬古 典明*; 保科 宏行*; 羽倉 尚人*; 久保田 俊夫*

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 477, p.54 - 59, 2020/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2019.10.028

Used PUREX process solvent generated from reprocessing process of spent nuclear fuel contains a small amount of U and Pu complexed with tributyl phosphate (TBP) or dibutyl phosphate (DBP). The radioactive nuclides should be removed from the solvent for safety storage or disposal. The iminodiacetic acid (IDA) type chelating resin was proposed as promising procedures for efficient recovery of the trapped cations in the solvent. In order to reveal the distribution and amount of Zr in the particle and local structure of Zr complex formed in the adsorbent, PIXE and EXAFS analyses on the Zr adsorbed chelating resin were carried out. Micro-PIXE analysis proved that it is an effectual method for quantitative analysis of trace adsorbed elements. Moreover, some of the adsorption sites were possibly occupied by the molecules. On the other hand, Zr-K edge EXAFS analysis suggested that extraction mechanism of Zr from the aqueous solution and the solvent was different.

STRAD project for systematic treatments of radioactive liquid wastes generated in nuclear facilities

渡部 創; 小木 浩通*; 荒井 陽一; 粟飯原 はるか; 高畠 容子; 柴田 淳広; 野村 和則; 神谷 裕一*; 浅沼 徳子*; 松浦 治明*; et al.

Progress in Nuclear Energy, 117, p.103090_1 - 103090_8, 2019/11

AA2019-0193.pdf:1.29MB

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2019.103090

A new collaborative research project for systematic treatments of radioactive liquid wastes containing various reagents generating in nuclear facilities was started from 2018 initiated by Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The project was named as STRAD (Systematic Treatments of RAdioactive liquid wastes for Decommissioning) project. Tentative targets to be studied under the project are aqueous and organic liquid wastes which have been generated by experiments and analyses in a reprocessing experimental laboratory of JAEA. Currently fundamental studies for treatments of the liquid wastes with complicated compositions are underway. In the STRAD project, process flow for treatment of ammonium ion involved in aqueous waste was designed though the inactive experiments, and decomposition of ammonium ion using catalysis will be carried out soon. Adsorbents for recovery of U and Pu from spent solvent were also developed. Demonstration experiments on genuine spent solvent is under planning.

Stabilization processing of hazardous and radioactive liquid wastes derived from advanced aqueous separation experiments for safety handling and management of waste

中原 将海; 渡部 創; 小木 浩通*; 荒井 陽一; 粟飯原 はるか; 本山 李沙; 柴田 淳広; 野村 和則; 梶並 昭彦*

Proceedings of International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Conference / Light Water Reactor Fuel Performance Conference (Global/Top Fuel 2019) (USB Flash Drive), p.66 - 70, 2019/09

高レベル放射性物質研究施設では、先進湿式分離試験に由来する多種多様な有害性及び放射性液体廃棄物が発生する。そのため、これらを安全に取り扱い及び管理するために安定化処理を行う必要がある。今回は、これらの溶液に含まれる有害物質の沈殿処理若しくは酸化処理、核物質回収のための溶媒抽出による分離、フリーズドライ法を用いた濃縮処理について報告する。

Characterization of the insoluble sludge from the dissolution of irradiated fast breeder reactor fuel

粟飯原 はるか; 荒井 陽一; 柴田 淳広; 野村 和則; 竹内 正行

Procedia Chemistry, 21, p.279 - 284, 2016/12

BB2015-3214.pdf:0.31MB

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proche.2016.10.039

Insoluble sludge is generated in reprocessing process. Actual sludge data, which had been obtained from the dissolution experiments of irradiated fuel of fast reactor "Joyo" were reevaluated especially from the view point of the characterization of sludge. The yields of sludge were calculated from the weight and there were less than 1%. Element concentrations of sludge were analyzed after decomposing by alkaline fusion. As the results, molybdenum, technetium, ruthenium, rhodium and palladium accounted for mostly of the sludge. From their chemical compositions and structure analyzed by XRD show good agree that main component of sludge is MoRuRhPdTc regardless of the experimental condition. At the condition of reprocessing fast breeder fuel, it is indicated that molybdenum and zirconium in dissolved solution is low, therefore zirconium molybdate hydrate may not produce abundant amount in the process.

Recent progress in the chopper spectrometer 4SEASONS at J-PARC

梶本 亮一; 中村 充孝; 稲村 泰弘; 蒲沢 和也*; 池内 和彦*; 飯田 一樹*; 石角 元志*; 中島 健次; 河村 聖子; 中谷 健; et al.

JAEA-Conf 2015-002, p.319 - 329, 2016/02

https://doi.org/10.11484/jaea-conf-2015-002

4SEASONS () is one of the three chopper spectrometers operating in MLF at J-PARC, and covers thermal neutron region ( - meV) with relaxed resolution and high flux. The repetition rate multiplication by the Fermi chopper on this short length (18 m between the source and the sample) spectrometer enables wide-band multiple-incident-energy (multi-) measurements, which proved to be useful in observing hierarchical structures in excitations over a large energy scale. On the other hand, the upgrading work of the spectrometer has been continued since the first inelastic scattering experiment in 2009. For examples, we took several measures to suppress background, installed new detectors recently, and are developing a new Fermi chopper now. In the presentation, we show examples of scientific outputs from the spectrometer which benefit from the multi- measurements, and recent or planned upgrades of the instrument.

Neutron scattering study of spin fluctuations in LaSrCuO by four-dimensional mapping of neutron cross-sections using the 4SEASONS chopper spectrometer

脇本 秀一; 池内 和彦*; 新井 正敏; 藤田 全基*; 梶本 亮一; 川村 奨*; 松浦 直人*; 中島 健次; 山田 和芳*

JPS Conference Proceedings (Internet), 8, p.034013_1 - 034013_6, 2015/09

https://doi.org/10.7566/JPSCP.8.034013

Previous neutron results of LaSrCuO (LSCO) by TOF measurements revealed that magnetic dynamical structure factor has a maximum at 18 meV. To clarify the origin of the maximum, we carried out 4 dimensional mapping of dynamical structure factor to see details of both magnons and phonons. We found that = 0 shows ordinary spin waves while = 0.08 shows a maximum at 18 meV where -independent phonon branch crosses. This imply that in superconducting compositions phonon may also indirectly related to the superconductivity.