Study on the relation between the crystal structure and thermal stability of FeUO and CrUO

Akiyama, Daisuke*; Kusaka, Ryoji; Kumagai, Yuta; Nakada, Masami; Watanabe, Masayuki; Okamoto, Yoshihiro; Nagai, Takayuki; Sato, Nobuaki*; Kirishima, Akira*

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 568, p.153847_1 - 153847_10, 2022/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2022.153847

FeUO, CrUO, and FeCrUO are monouranates containing pentavalent U. Even though these compounds have similar crystal structures, their formation conditions and thermal stability are significantly different. To determine the factors causing the difference in thermal stability between FeUO and CrUO, their crystal structures were evaluated in detail. A Raman band was observed at 700 cm in all the samples. This Raman band was derived from the stretching vibration of the O-U-O axis band, indicating that FeCrUO was composed of a uranyl-like structure in its lattice regardless of its "x"' value. Mssbauer measurements indicated that the Fe in FeUO and FeCrUO were trivalent. Furthermore, FeCrUO lost its symmetry around Fe with increasing electron densities around Fe, as the abundance of Cr increased. These results suggested no significant structural differences between FeUO and CrUO. Thermogravimetric measurements for UO, FeUO, and CrUO showed that the temperature at which FeUO decomposed under an oxidizing condition (approximately 800 C) was significantly lower than the temperature at which the decomposition of CrUO started (approximately 1250 C). Based on these results, we concluded that the decomposition of FeUO was triggered by an ``in-crystal'' redox reaction, i.e., Fe U Fe U, which would not occur in the CrUO lattice because Cr could never be reduced under the investigated condition. Finally, the existence of Cr in FexCrUO effectively suppressed the decomposition of the FeCrUO crystal, even at a very low Cr content.

Structural investigation of borosilicate glasses by using XAFS measurement in Soft X-ray region (Joint research)

Nagai, Takayuki; Okamoto, Yoshihiro; Yamagishi, Hirona*; Ota, Toshiaki*; Kojima, Kazuo*; Inose, Takehiko*; Sato, Seiichi*; Hatakeyama, Kiyoshi*

JAEA-Research 2021-010, 62 Pages, 2022/01

JAEA-Research-2021-010.pdf:6.05MB

The local structure of glass-forming elements and waste elements in borosilicate glasses varies with its chemical composition. In this study, borosilicate glass frit and simulated waste glass samples were prepared and the local structure and chemical state regarding boron(B), oxygen(O), silicon(Si) and waste elements of iron(Fe), cesium(Cs) were estimated by using XAFS measurement in soft X-ray region. Following results were obtained by XAFS measurements of prepared glass frit and simulated waste glass samples: (1) The effect of NaO concentration on B-O coordination structure is greater than that of the waste elements concentration. (2) The height of pre-edge by O K-edge spectrum depends on the concentration of first transition elements such as Fe in glass samples. Following results were obtained by XAFS measurements of simulated waste glass samples after immersion test to investigate the long chemical stability. (1) A new compound was formed on the sample surface after the immersion test, and changes in the surface state were confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. (2) Cs on the sample surface after immersion test dissolves into the leaching solution. The Si K-edge XANES spectra of borosilicate glass frits and simulated waste glass samples included lanthanides oxide were measured, and following was confirmed. (1) As the NaO concentration increases in borosilicate glass frit, the K-edge peak of Si shifts to the low energy side. (2) The peak height of the K-edge of Si differs depending on the kind of lanthanide.

XAFS analysis of ruthenium in simulated iron phosphate radioactive waste glass

Okamoto, Yoshihiro; Kobayashi, Hidekazu; Shiwaku, Hideaki; Sasage, Kenichi; Hatakeyama, Kiyoshi*; Nagai, Takayuki

Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 551, p.120393_1 - 120393_8, 2021/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2020.120393

The chemical state of ruthenium in simulated iron phosphate radioactive waste glass was investigated by conventional X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and imaging XAFS analyses. The EXAFS analysis suggested that ruthenium was contained as glass phase when content of the waste components was less than 10wt.% in 30 mol%FeO-PO base glass. In other samples, crystalline RuO was predominant. According to the imaging XAFS analysis, RuO particles in all samples had length smaller than 50m. Aggregations of RuO, which are found in nuclear waste borosilicate glass, were not seen in any of the iron phosphate glass samples.

Structural investigation of simulated waste glass samples by using XAFS measurement in soft X-ray region (Joint research)

Nagai, Takayuki; Okamoto, Yoshihiro; Yamagishi, Hirona*; Ota, Toshiaki*; Kojima, Kazuo*; Inose, Takehiko*; Sato, Seiichi*; Hatakeyama, Kiyoshi*

JAEA-Research 2020-009, 48 Pages, 2020/09

JAEA-Research-2020-009.pdf:4.53MB

The local structure of glass-forming elements and waste elements in waste glass varies with its chemical composition. In this study, borosilicate glass frit and simulated waste glass samples were prepared and the local structure and chemical state regarding boron (B), oxygen (O), and waste elements of cerium (Ce), cesium (Cs) were estimated by using XAFS measurement in soft X-ray region. Following results were obtained by XAFS measurements of prepared glass frit and simulated waste glass samples: (1) The existence ratio of four coordinate sp structure (BO) tends to increase with increasing NaO content in glass samples. (2) The height of a pre-edge which appears by K-edge XANES spectrum of O is so high that the Fe content in glass samples. Following results were obtained by XAFS measurements of simulated waste glass samples after immersion test to investigate long chemical stability. (1) The existence ratio of four coordinate sp structure (BO) increases by immersion test. (2) Ce which exists in the surface layer is oxidized by immersion test, and much of Cs in surface layer is lost after leach testing. Even if the glass frit form (fiber cartridge or beads) and manufacturing method were changed and a glass sample of the similar chemical composition was prepared, these observed Raman spectra of samples were different.

Investigation of chemical state of simulated waste glasses by using XAFS measurement

Nagai, Takayuki; Shimoyama, Iwao; Okamoto, Yoshihiro; Akiyama, Daisuke*; Arima, Tatsumi*

Photon Factory Activity Report 2019 (Internet), 3 Pages, 2020/00

http://pfwww.kek.jp/acr/2019pdf/u_reports/pf19b0042.pdf

no abstracts in English

Structural change of borosilicate glass by neutron irradiation

Nagai, Takayuki; Kobayashi, Hidekazu; Okamoto, Yoshihiro; Akiyama, Daisuke*; Sato, Nobuaki*; Uehara, Akihiro*; Fujii, Toshiyuki*; Sekimoto, Shun*

KURNS Progress Report 2018, P. 105, 2019/08

http://www.rri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/PUB/report/PR/ProgRep2018/KURNS_Progress_Report2018_web.pdf

To understand this structural change of a borosilicate glass by a neutron irradiation in detail, the irradiation test was carried out in KUR in 2017FY. The glass structure was estimated by using Raman spectrometry in 2018FY. Comparing with the Raman spectra of glass samples before and after irradiation, it could be observed the change of peak height of Si-O bridging structure by the irradiation.

Synchrotron radiation based XAFS analysis of the simulated nuclear waste glass samples prepared by bottom drain test in the full-scale mock-up melter (KMOC) (Contract research)

Okamoto, Yoshihiro; Nagai, Takayuki; Shiwaku, Hideaki; Kano, Shigeru; Himeno, Haruyuki*; Kobayashi, Hiroshi*; Nakatani, Mikio*

JAEA-Research 2018-013, 18 Pages, 2019/03

JAEA-Research-2018-013.pdf:1.98MB

The chemical state and local structure of some elements in the simulated nuclear waste glass samples (20 batches) prepared by bottom drain test in the full scale mock-up tests using KMOC melter were investigated by synchrotron radiation based X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis. As a result of the analysis of cerium element, it was confirmed that the oxidation proceeds gently as the batch advanced. For manganese, iron, and zinc, there was almost no difference between batches, which seemed to be stabilized by getting into the frame structure of the borosilicate glass. There were no elements that seemed to be clearly crystalline except for platinum group elements. Remarkable precipitation was hardly observed in zirconium and molybdenum with the imaging analysis.

Evaluation of uranium chemical state in borosilicate glasses by using XAFS measurement

Nagai, Takayuki; Okamoto, Yoshihiro; Akiyama, Daisuke*; Sato, Nobuaki*

Photon Factory Activity Report 2018 (Internet), 2 Pages, 2019/00

http://pfwww.kek.jp/acr/2018pdf/u_reports/pf18b0060.pdf

no abstracts in English

XAFS measurement of simulated waste glass samples prepared from borosilicate glass frit including phosphorus pentaoxide (Joint research)

Nagai, Takayuki; Kobayashi, Hidekazu; Shimamura, Keisuke; Oyama, Koichi; Sasage, Kenichi; Okamoto, Yoshihiro; Shiwaku, Hideaki; Yamanaka, Keisuke*; Ota, Toshiaki*

JAEA-Research 2018-005, 72 Pages, 2018/09

JAEA-Research-2018-005.pdf:28.2MB

Addition of radioactive waste to a borosilicate glass frit affects the local structures of glass-forming elements and waste elements in a waste glass produced in a vitrification process. In this study, simulated waste glass samples were prepared from borosilicate glass frit including phosphorus pentaoxide, and we investigated local structures of sodium (Na), boron (B), and waste elements in these glass samples by using synchrotron XAFS measurements in soft and hard X ray region.

Synchrotron radiation based X-ray absorption study for upgrade of nuclear waste vitrification technique

Okamoto, Yoshihiro; Nagai, Takayuki; Shiwaku, Hideaki

Hoshako, 31(4), p.274 - 280, 2018/07

As a method for disposal of nuclear waste, the use of vitrification technique is very promising. In this technique, many kinds of elements should be involved stably in the glass and chemical state of these elements in the glass must be confirmed in order to guarantee stability of the glass. We have used synchrotron based X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) technique, in which the element selectivity is utilized, to obtain the chemical state of each element in many kinds of simulated glass samples. In addition, imaging XAFS technique has been used to clarify correlation between constituent elements. We are going to contribute to research and development of the vitrification technique by using synchrotron radiation based XAFS analyses. In this article, we introduce results of the high energy XAFS of high temperature slag samples, the imaging study of high temperature borosilicate glass samples and the imaging XAFS analysis of platinum group metals in the borosilicate glass samples.