Characterization of two types of cesium-bearing microparticles emitted from the Fukushima accident via multiple synchrotron radiation analyses

三浦 輝*; 栗原 雄一; 山本 政儀*; 坂口 綾*; 山口 紀子*; 関澤 央輝*; 新田 清文*; 桧垣 正吾*; 津旨 大輔*; 板井 啓明*; et al.

Scientific Reports (Internet), 10, p.11421_1 - 11421_9, 2020/07

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-68318-2

A part of radiocesium emitted during the Fukushima nuclear accident was incorporated in glassy microparticles. We tried to understand the radioactive particles systematically by analyzing a large number of particles. Micro-X-ray computed tomography combined with X-ray fluorescence analysis revealed the presence of many voids and iron-rich part within Type-B particles. The Cs concentration (Bq mm) of Type-A particles was 10,000 times higher than that of Type-B particles. Among the Type-B particles, the spherical ones had higher concentration of volatile elements than the non-spherical ones. These differences suggested that Type-A particles were formed through gas condensation, whereas Type-B particles were formed through melt solidification.