Ion-pairing extraction and their reaction modeling of anionic M-Cl species with cationic NTAamide(C6) extractant and comparison with density functional theory calculations

Kinoshita, Ryoma; Sasaki, Yuji; Kaneko, Masashi; Matsumiya, Masahiko*; Shinoku, Kota*; Shiroishi, Hidenobu*

Hydrometallurgy, 222, p.106159_1 - 106159_12, 2023/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2023.106159

Solvent extraction is conducted using a total of 20 metals revealing high stability constants with Cl and hexahexyl-nitrilotriacetamide (NTAamide(C6)) extractant. The metals used here may behave as anions at high Cl concentrations, and NTAamide(C6), which contains a tertiary N atom, is protonated under acidic conditions. Most of the metal ions in this study display higher distribution ratios (D(M)) from HCl than those from HNO, and exhibit 1:1 stoichiometries with NTAamide. Following the experimental results, the association constants and distribution coefficients of the group 12 elements are calculated via ion-pair extraction modeling using density functional theory calculations, and the simulations of D yield calculated values with the same trend as that of the measured values.

Thermophysical properties of molten (FeO)-(SiO) measured by aerodynamic levitation

Kondo, Toshiki; Toda, Taro*; Takeuchi, Junichi*; Kikuchi, Shin; Kargl, F.*; Muta, Hiroaki*; Oishi, Yuji*

High Temperatures-High Pressures, 52(3-4), p.307 - 321, 2023/06

https://doi.org/10.32908/hthp.v52.1405

In order to establish an evaluation method/numerical simulation for nuclear reactor safety under severe accidental conditions, it is necessary to obtain the physical properties, especially fluidity of the relevant molten materials at very high temperatures. In this study, thermophysical properties such as density and viscosity were obtained for (FeO)-(SiO), which is a representative composition in the early stage of severe accident. (FeO)-(SiO) is produced by the contact between the molten oxide of steel, which is the main component of the reactor, and SiO, which is the main component of concrete. As a result, the physical properties of the (FeO)-(SiO) mixture were almost the same as those of FeO obtained in previous studies, and it could be concluded that a small amount of SiO (about 5 mol.%) did not significantly affect the fluidity of FeO.

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

Projection imaging with directional electron and proton beams emitted from an ultrashort intense laser-driven thin foil target

Nishiuchi, Mamiko; Choi, I. W.*; Daido, Hiroyuki; Nakamura, Tatsufumi*; Pirozhkov, A. S.; Yogo, Akifumi*; Ogura, Koichi; Sagisaka, Akito; Orimo, Satoshi; Daito, Izuru*; et al.

Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 57(2), p.025001_1 - 025001_9, 2015/02

https://doi.org/10.1088/0741-3335/57/2/025001

Projection images of a metal mesh produced by directional MeV electron beam together with directional proton beam, emitted simultaneously from a thin foil target irradiated by an ultrashort intense laser. The mesh patterns are projected to each detector by the electron beam and the proton beam originated from tiny virtual sources of 20 micron meter and 10 micron meter diameters, respectively. Based on the observed quality and magnification of the projection images, we estimate sizes and locations of the virtual sources for both beams and characterize their directionalities. To carry out physical interpretation of the directional electron beam qualitatively, we perform 2D particle-in-cell simulation which reproduces a directional escaping electron component, together with a non-directional dragged-back electron component, the latter mainly contributes to building a sheath electric field for proton acceleration.

Thermophysical properties of BaUO

Tanaka, Kosuke; Tokushima, Kazuyuki*; Kurosaki, Ken*; Oishi, Yuji*; Muta, Hiroaki*; Yamanaka, Shinsuke*

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 443(1-3), p.218 - 221, 2013/11

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2013.07.033

Polycrystalline specimens of barium uranate, BaUO, were prepared and several properties such as the thermal expansion coefficient, elastic moduli, thermal conductivity, and Debye temperature were evaluated.