High-temperature gaseous reaction of cesium with siliceous thermal insulation; The Potential implication to the provenance of enigmatic Fukushima cesium-bearing material

Rizaal, M.; Nakajima, Kunihisa; Saito, Takumi*; Osaka, Masahiko; Okamoto, Koji*

ACS Omega (Internet), 7(33), p.29326 - 29336, 2022/08

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c03525

Investigation of high-temperature chemical interaction of calcium silicate insulation and cesium hydroxide

Rizaal, M.; Nakajima, Kunihisa; Saito, Takumi*; Osaka, Masahiko; Okamoto, Koji*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 57(9), p.1062 - 1073, 2020/09

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2020.1755733

The interaction of cesium hydroxide and a calcium silicate insulation material was experimentally investigated at high temperature conditions. A thermogravimetry equipped with differential thermal analysis was used to analyze thermal events in the samples of mixed calcium silicate and cesium hydroxide under Ar-5%H and Ar-4%H-20%H0 with maximum temperature of 1100C. Prior being mixed with cesium hydroxide, a part of calcium silicate was pretreated at high temperature to evaluate the effect of possible structural changes of this material due to a preceding thermal history and also the sake of thermodynamic evaluation to those available ones. Based upon the initial condition (preliminary heat treatment) of calcium silicate, it was found that if the original material consisted of xonotlite (CaSi0(0H)), the endothermic reaction with cesium hydroxide occurred over the temperature range 575-730C meanwhile if the crystal phase of original material was changed to wollastonite (CaSi0), the interaction occurred over temperature range 700-1100C. Furthermore, the X-ray diffraction analyses have indicated on both type of pretreated calsils that regardless of Ar-5%H and Ar-4%H-20%H0 atmosphere, cesium aluminum silicate, CsAlSi0 was formed with aluminum in the samples as an impurity or adduct.

Retreat from stress; Rattling in a planar coordination

Suekuni, Koichiro*; Lee, C. H.*; Tanaka, Hiromi*; Nishibori, Eiji*; Nakamura, Atsushi*; Kasai, Hidetaka*; Mori, Hitoshi*; Usui, Hidetomo*; Ochi, Masayuki*; Hasegawa, Takumi*; et al.

Advanced Materials, 30(13), p.1706230_1 - 1706230_6, 2018/03

https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201706230

Thermoelectric materials for highly efficient devices must satisfy conflicting requirements of high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity. In this paper, we studied the crystal structure and phonon dynamics of tetrahedrites (Cu,Zn)(Sb,As)S. The results revealed that the Cu atoms in a planar coordination are rattling, which effectively scatter phonons. These findings provide a new strategy for the development of highly efficient thermoelectric materials with planar coordination.

Redistribution and export of contaminated sediment within eastern Fukushima Prefecture due to typhoon flooding

Kitamura, Akihiro; Kurikami, Hiroshi; Sakuma, Kazuyuki; Malins, A.; Okumura, Masahiko; Machida, Masahiko; Mori, Koji*; Tada, Kazuhiro*; Tawara, Yasuhiro*; Kobayashi, Takamaru*; et al.

Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 41(12), p.1708 - 1726, 2016/09

https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3944

Sediment erosion and transport processes that are considered to be important in predicting the future radioactive material distribution through sediment-sorbed form in Fukushima Prefecture are simulated. Since large portion of the sediment is considered to be supplied into the rivers, it is important to trace their migration process in terms of each river basin. We choose five river basins, namely the Odaka, the Ukedo, the Maeda, the Kuma, and the Tomioka, from north to south, because of their importance in contamination aspects and prediction studies. The results are summarized as comprehensive dataset of sediment migration for particular river basins in typical typhoon events that account for the most of annual soil erosion. Detail calculations implemented for the amount of sediment supplied in to the river, deposited on river and dam beds, and exported to the ocean.

Penetration behavior of water solution containing radioactive species into dried concrete/mortar and epoxy resin materials

Sato, Isamu; Maeda, Koji; Suto, Mitsuo; Osaka, Masahiko; Usuki, Toshiyuki; Koyama, Shinichi

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 52(4), p.580 - 587, 2015/04

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2014.963725

Penetration behavior of radionuclides such as Cs into dried concrete material, dried mortar material and epoxy paint for a few dozen days was observed using a solution containing fission products extracted from irradiated fuels to obtain fundamental information on the radionuclide penetration rate and depth. Hardly any radionuclides could penetrate into the epoxy paint. The radionuclide solution penetrated into concrete and mortar materials to a depth of a few millimeters for a few dozen days. The penetration behavior observed near the surface of concrete and mortar materials was similar to the diffusion of nuclides in media such as water-saturated concrete, bentonite and cement materials.

Distribution of radioactive nuclides of boring core samples extracted from concrete structures of reactor buildings in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

Maeda, Koji; Sasaki, Shinji; Kumai, Misaki; Sato, Isamu; Suto, Mitsuo; Osaka, Masahiko; Goto, Tetsuo*; Sakai, Hitoshi*; Chigira, Takayuki*; Murata, Hirotoshi*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 51(7-8), p.1006 - 1023, 2014/07

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2014.915769

Since the start of the severe accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in March 2011, concrete surfaces within the reactor buildings have been exposed to radioactive contaminants. Released radiation sources still remain too high to permit entry into some areas of the RBs to allow the damage to be assessed and to allow carrying out the restoration of lost safety functions, decommissioning activities, etc. In order to clarify the situation of this contamination in the RBs, 18 samples were subjected to analyses to determine the surface radionuclide concentrations and to characterize the radionuclide distributions in the samples. Decontamination tests on the sample of Unit 2 were conducted to reduce the levels of radioactivity present near the sample surface. As a result of the tests, the level of radioactivity of the sample was reduced with the removal of 97% of the contamination present near the sample surface.

Research for spectroscopy of fuel debris using superconducting phase transition edge sensor microcalorimeter; Measurement experiment and simulated calculation (Joint research)

Takasaki, Koji; Yasumune, Takashi; Onishi, Takashi; Nakamura, Keisuke; Ishimi, Akihiro; Ito, Chikara; Osaka, Masahiko; Ono, Masashi*; Hatakeyama, Shuichi*; Takahashi, Hiroyuki*; et al.

JAEA-Research 2013-043, 33 Pages, 2014/01

JAEA-Research-2013-043.pdf:13.81MB

In the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, it is assumed that the core fuels melted partially or wholly, and the normal technique of accounting for a fuel assembly is not applicable. Therefore, it is necessary to develop the transparent and rational technique of accounting in the process of collection and storage of fuel debris. In this research, an application of the superconducting phase Transition Edge Sensor microcalorimeter (TES microcalorimeter) is studied for the accounting of nuclear materials in the fuel debris. It is expected that the detailed information of nuclear materials and fission products in fuel debris is obtained by using a high-resolution characteristic of TES microcalorimeter. In this report, the principle of TES microcalorimeter, the measurement experiment using TES in JAEA, and the simulated calculation using the EGS5 code system are summarized.

Studies on the reconstruction of the concept of rock mass around the tunnel; Fiscal year, 2012 (Contract research)

Kojima, Keiji*; Onishi, Yuzo*; Aoki, Kenji*; Tochiyama, Osamu*; Nishigaki, Makoto*; Tosaka, Hiroyuki*; Yoshida, Hidekazu*; Ogata, Nobuhisa

JAEA-Research 2013-015, 21 Pages, 2013/11

JAEA-Research-2013-015.pdf:10.41MB

This report is concerned with research to reconstruct more realistic near-field concept for the geological disposal. In chapter, we examined the realistic concept for near field, including rock around the tunnel, based on the nuclide migration scenario in particular. The time-series change of the field was divided into five stages of 0IV through the process of geological disposal (Excavation, Operation and Post-closure). Then, for each stage respectively, we examined interaction between environmental factors and extraction of those factors changing the "field". The Goal of this year is to set up the state in the realistic "field" exhaustively, by focusing on the scale-time cross-section of each stage, especially post-closure stage, and to present the assignment of the next fiscal year.

Interdisciplinary approach to improve and systematize the investigation and evaluation techniques on geological environment in relation to radioactive waste repository; Japanese fiscal year, 2010 (Contract research)

Kojima, Keiji*; Onishi, Yuzo*; Watanabe, Kunio*; Nishigaki, Makoto*; Tosaka, Hiroyuki*; Shimada, Jun*; Aoki, Kenji*; Tochiyama, Osamu*; Yoshida, Hidekazu*; Ogata, Nobuhisa; et al.

JAEA-Research 2011-033, 126 Pages, 2012/02

JAEA-Research-2011-033.pdf:31.33MB

The next advancements for the research of radioactive waste repository was started to improve and systematize the investigation and evaluation techniques on geological environment in consideration of intra-field of science and technology. Intra-field means the various fields among each study area of (a) geological environment, (b) design and engineering, (c) safety evaluation for radioactive waste repository, here. The following items were studied and discussed this year. (1) To Reconstruct Near Field (NF) Concept in consideration of coupled phenomena on geological environment. (2) To develop systematic investigation techniques on the geological environment in consideration of intra-field among each study area above mentioned (a), (b) and (c). Regarding (1), examination of NF concept focused on the realistic crystalline rock was carried out. Also through the overall discussion in the committee, comments from the all commissioners in relation to the intra-field of their study area were made to reflect on reconstruction of NF concept. Regarding (2), the research and development in consideration of NF and intra-field among each study area were conducted.

Study on systemizing of technology for investigation and analysis of the deep underground geological environment; Japanese fiscal year, 2009 (Contract research)

Kojima, Keiji*; Onishi, Yuzo*; Watanabe, Kunio*; Nishigaki, Makoto*; Tosaka, Hiroyuki*; Shimada, Jun*; Aoki, Kenji*; Tochiyama, Osamu*; Yoshida, Hidekazu*; Ogata, Nobuhisa; et al.

JAEA-Research 2010-049, 282 Pages, 2011/02

JAEA-Research-2010-049.pdf:29.88MB

This report summarizes studies that have been carried out with the aim of assessing and systemizing the technology used for the investigation and analysis of the deep underground geological environment in relation to the disposal of radioactive waste. The main studies were: (1) a study on the research and development (R&D) topics proven to have practical application for the investigation, and analysis and understanding of the deep underground geological environment, and, (2) a study on leading edge technology that can provide the advanced technical basis for the investigation, analysis and understanding of the deep underground geological environment. Regarding the R&D topics (1, above), specific investigations, measurements, numerical analyses and chemical analyses were performed and reviewed with respect to the topics, (a) Repository design, engineering technology (b) Geological environment and (c) Safety evaluation. Based on the result of the review, topics requiring collaboration research in overlapping research fields, including safety assessment, were identified. Also, the near field concept (NFC) was reconsidered in terms of its realistic construction model. Regarding advanced technology (2, above), based on the objectives of the JAEA (Japan Atomic Energy Agency) research project, the study was implemented considering previous R&D results and detailed research result at the research site and thus an assessment of the need for advanced technical basis for investigation and analysis. This study contributed to the R&D development and its practical application.