Fundamental study on multistage extraction using TDdDGA for separation of lanthanides present in Nd magnets

Sasaki, Yuji; Morita, Keisuke; Matsumiya, Masahiko*; Ono, Ryoma*; Shiroishi, Hidenobu*

JOM, 73(4), p.1037 - 1043, 2021/04

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-021-04586-1

The separation of Dy from Nd is studied from the viewpoint of recycling Dy from Nd magnets. Both metals are lanthanide elements, which means their mutual separation is difficult because of their similar chemical behaviors. All lanthanide elements can be extracted easily by using tetradodecyl-diglycolamide (TDdDGA) extractants, and it has a relatively high separation factor (SF) between Dy and Nd (SF over 10). In the present study, by performing eight extraction steps with the organic phase (0.1M TDdDGA in dodecane), ten steps with an aqueous phase (0.7 M HNO with metals), and six steps with another aqueous phase (0.7 M HNO without metals), approximately 99% Dy was recovered into the organic phase with 1% co-extraction of Nd.

Feasibility study of PGAA for boride identification in simulated melted core materials

Tsuchikawa, Yusuke; Abe, Yuta; Oishi, Yuji*; Kai, Tetsuya; Toh, Yosuke; Segawa, Mariko; Maeda, Makoto; Kimura, Atsushi; Nakamura, Shoji; Harada, Masahide; et al.

JPS Conference Proceedings (Internet), 33, p.011074_1 - 011074_6, 2021/03

https://doi.org/10.7566/JPSCP.33.011074

In the decommissioning of the Fukushima-Daiichi (1F) Nuclear Power Plant, it is essential to understand characteristics of the melted core materials. The estimation of boride in the real debris is of great importance to develop safe debris removal plans. Hence, it is required to investigate the amount of boron in the melted core materials with nondestructive methods. Prompt gamma-ray activation analysis (PGAA) is one of the useful techniques to determine the amount of borides by means of the 478 keV prompt gamma-ray from neutron absorption reaction of boron. Moreover, it is well known that the width of the 478 keV gamma-ray peak is typically broadened due to the Doppler effect. The degree of the broadening is affected by coexisting materials, and can be recognized by the width of the prompt gamma-ray peak. As a feasibility study, the prompt gamma-ray from boride samples were measured using the ANNRI, NOBORU, and RADEN beamlines at the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) of Japan Proton Accelerator Complex (J-PARC).

Mechanical and thermal properties of Zr-B and Fe-B alloys

Sun, Y.*; Abe, Yuta; Muta, Hiroaki*; Oishi, Yuji*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 57(8), p.917 - 925, 2020/08

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2020.1736201

Low temperature heat capacity of CsSiO

Suzuki, Eriko; Nakajima, Kunihisa; Osaka, Masahiko; Oishi, Yuji*; Muta, Hiroaki*; Kurosaki, Ken*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 57(7), p.852 - 857, 2020/07

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2020.1727374

The low temperature heat capacity of CsSiO, which is one of the cesium chemisorbed compounds onto stainless steel during severe accident of the light water nuclear reactor, was experimentally determined for the first time in the temperature range of 1.9 - 302 K. The experimentally determined heat capacity, (298.15K), and the standard entropy, (298.15K), were 249.4 1.1 J K mol and 322.1 1.3 J K mol, respectively. The standard Gibbs energy of formation of CsSiO at high temperatures, (), were reevaluated by using the presently obtained (298.15K) and the previously reported experimental results of the standard enthalpy of formation, (298.15K), and the standard enthalpy increments at high temperatures, ()- (298.15K).

Chemical trapping of Sr vapor species by Zircaloy cladding under a specific chemical condition

Mohamad, A.*; Nakajima, Kunihisa; Suzuki, Eriko; Miwa, Shuhei; Osaka, Masahiko; Oishi, Yuji*; Muta, Hiroaki*; Kurosaki, Ken*

Proceedings of International Topical Workshop on Fukushima Decommissioning Research (FDR 2019) (Internet), 4 Pages, 2019/05

In the accident of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, formation of a volatile SrCl could have occurred by the sea-water injection into the core. This can cause the release of non-volatile group Sr from the fuel to induce chemical reactions with reactor structural materials, such as stainless steel and Zircaloy (Zry) cladding. Such reactions could cause the changes in distribution of Sr in the reactor. Chemical reactions between Sr species and Zry were therefore investigated experimentally. As the result, it can be said that Sr vapor species were chemically trapped right after the release from fuel. This trapping effect of Sr by Zry-cladding implies a possibility of preferable Sr retention in the oxide phase of debris.

Effect of hydrogenation conditions on the microstructure and mechanical properties of zirconium hydride

Muta, Hiroaki*; Nishikane, Ryoji*; Ando, Yusuke*; Matsunaga, Junji*; Sakamoto, Kan*; Harjo, S.; Kawasaki, Takuro; Oishi, Yuji*; Kurosaki, Ken*; Yamanaka, Shinsuke*

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 500, p.145 - 152, 2018/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.12.027

Formation and morphology of UO image crystal

Serizawa, Hiroyuki; Oishi, Yuji*; Kaji, Yoshiyuki; Yamanaka, Shinsuke*

New Research Trends of Fluorite-Based Oxide Materials, p.243 - 262, 2015/01

The image crystal is a shape controllable negative crystal which is sometimes reported by mineralogist. The negative crystals formed in a large single-crystal mass have attracted interest as expensive jewelry because of their mysterious appearance and rarity. Nonetheless, for many scientist, the cavity has been nothing else than a volume defect which occurs in a single crystal by chance. However, the authors found unexpectedly that the image crystal is formed in UO when helium is enclosed in the gas bubble. They also found that the shape of the image crystal changes dramatically with the conditions of helium precipitation, which implies that the shape of the cavity should change depending on the inner pressure. A truncated octahedron-type, an octa-triacontahedron-type and a pentacontahedron-type negative crystal were observed. Recent study clarified that the growth process of the image crystal can be explained by a step free energy model rather than an attachment energy.

Formation and growth of image crystals by helium precipitation

Serizawa, Hiroyuki; Matsunaga, Junji*; Haga, Yoshinori; Nakajima, Kunihisa; Akabori, Mitsuo; Tsuru, Tomohito; Kaji, Yoshiyuki; Kashibe, Shinji*; Oishi, Yuji*; Yamanaka, Shinsuke*

Crystal Growth & Design, 13(7), p.2815 - 2823, 2013/07

https://doi.org/10.1021/cg4001335

Since the shape of the negative crystal closely relates to the morphology of the crystal habits, the formation and the growth mechanism is important subject in a field of the physical science. Whereas, the negative crystal formed in a large single crystal mass has been arousing interest as an expensive jewelry because of its mysterious appearance and rarity. However, it is difficult to control the shape of this polyhedral cavity embedded in a solid medium arbitrary. Here we report the recent discovery on the growth process of the negative crystal. We found that precipitated helium forms the negative crystal in UO; the shape changes drastically with the condition of the helium precipitation. The transformation mechanism was discussed in this article. Our investigation implies that the shape of the negative crystal can be arbitrary controlled by controlling the precipitation condition.

Complementary characterization of radioactivity produced by repetitive laser-driven proton beam using shot-to-shot proton spectral measurement and direct activation measurement

Ogura, Koichi; Shizuma, Toshiyuki; Hayakawa, Takehito; Yogo, Akifumi; Nishiuchi, Mamiko; Orimo, Satoshi; Sagisaka, Akito; Pirozhkov, A. S.; Mori, Michiaki; Kiriyama, Hiromitsu; et al.

Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 51(4), p.048003_1 - 048003_2, 2012/04

https://doi.org/10.1143/JJAP.51.048003

A proton beam driven by a repetitive high-intensity-laser is utilized to induce a Li(p,n)Be nuclear reaction. The total activity of Be are evaluated by two different methods. The activity obtained measuring the decay -rays after 1912 shots at 1 Hz is 1.70.2 Bq. This is in good agreement with 1.60.3 Bq evaluated from the proton energy distribution measured using a time-of-flight detector and the nuclear reaction cross-sections. We conclude that the production of activity can be monitored in real time using the time-of-flight-detector placed inside a diverging proton beam coupled with a high-speed signal processing system.

Suppression of time-reversal symmetry breaking superconductivity in Pr(OsRu)Sb and PrLaOsSb

Shu, L.*; Higemoto, Wataru; Aoki, Yuji*; Hillier, A. D.*; Oishi, Kazuki*; Ishida, Kenji*; Kadono, Ryosuke*; Koda, Akihiro*; Bernal, O. O.*; MacLaughlin, D. E.*; et al.

Physical Review B, 83(10), p.100504_1 - 100504_4, 2011/03

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.83.100504

Zero-field muon spin relaxation experiments have been carried out in the Pr(OsRu)Sb and PrLaOsSb alloy systems to investigate broken time-reversal symmetry (TRS) in the superconducting state, signaled by the onset of a spontaneous static local magnetic field B. In both alloy series B initially decreases linearly with solute concentration. Ru doping is considerably more efficient than La doping, with a 50% faster initial decrease. The data suggest that broken TRS is suppressed for Ru concentration 0.6 but persists for essentially all La concentrations. Our data support a crystal-field excitonic cooper pairing mechanism for TRS-breaking superconductivity.