The Laboratory Operation Based on ISO/IEC 17025; Radioactivity analysis of environmental samples by germanium semiconductor detectors

Urushidate, Tadayuki*; Yoda, Tomoyuki; Otani, Shuichi*; Yamaguchi, Toshio*; Kunii, Nobuaki*; Kuriki, Kazuki*; Fujiwara, Kenso; Niizato, Tadafumi; Kitamura, Akihiro; Iijima, Kazuki

JAEA-Review 2022-023, 8 Pages, 2022/09

JAEA-Review-2022-023.pdf:1.19MB

After the accident of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency has newly set up a laboratory in Fukushima and started measuring radioactivity concentrations of environmental samples. In October 2015, Fukushima Radiation Measurement Group has been accredited the ISO/IEC 17025 standard by the Japan Accreditation Board (JAB) as a testing laboratory for radioactivity analysis (Cs, Cs) based on Gamma-ray spectrometry with germanium semiconductor detectors. The laboratory has measured approximately 60,000 of various environmental samples at the end of March 2022. The laboratory quality control and measurement techniques have been accredited by regular surveillance of JAB. In September 2019, the laboratory renewed accreditation as a testing laboratory for radioactivity analysis.

Novel strain induces severe corrosion by retrieving electrons from Fe under a freshwater environment

Hirano, Shinichi*; Ihara, Sota*; Wakai, Satoshi*; Dotsuta, Yuma; Otani, Kyohei; Kitagaki, Toru; Ueno, Fumiyoshi; Okamoto, Akihiro*

Microorganisms (Internet), 10(2), p.270_1 - 270_12, 2022/02

https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10020270

To understand the role of methanogens in corrosion under anoxic conditions in freshwater, we investigated the corrosion activities of methanogens in samples collected from groundwater and rivers. We enriched microorganisms that can grow with CO/NaHCO and Fe as the sole carbon source and electron donor, respectively, in ground fresh water. Electrochemical analysis revealed that strain can uptake electrons from the cathode at lower than -0.61 V vs SHE and has a redox-active component with electrochemical potential different from those of other previously reported methanogens with extracellular electron transfer ability. This study indicated the corrosion risk by methanogens capable of taking up electrons from Fe in anoxic freshwater environments and the necessity of understanding the corrosion mechanism to contribute to risk diagnosis.

Measurement of cesium isotopic ratio by thermal ionization mass spectrometry for neutron capture reaction studies on Cs

Shibahara, Yuji*; Nakamura, Shoji; Uehara, Akihiro*; Fujii, Toshiyuki*; Fukutani, Satoshi*; Kimura, Atsushi; Iwamoto, Osamu

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 325(1), p.155 - 165, 2020/07

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07198-2

The measurements of isotopic ratios of Cs samples by thermal ionization mass spectrometry were performed for the analysis of their samples used to evaluate nuclear data obtained for Cs. To obtain a high intensity and stable ion beam, the effects of additive agents on the ionization of Cs were examined. The effect of silicotungstic acid on the ionization of Cs was the largest among the additive agents studied in the present study, while the silicotungstic acid also showed the largest isobaric interference of polyatomic ions. It was demonstrated that as small as 210 g of a Cs sample was sufficient to achieve the analytical precision required to measure the Cs/Cs ratio in the case where an additive agent of TaO/glucose was employed. After examining of the analytical conditions, such as the interference effect due to Ba, the measurements of the isotopic ratios of two Cs samples used in our study using TIMS were conducted, and it was discussed how much the ratios contributed to evaluation of the neutron capture cross-section of Cs.

Study on the evaluation method to determine the radioactivity concentration in radioactive waste generated from the dismantling of research reactors

Murakami, Masashi; Hoshino, Yuzuru; Nakatani, Takayoshi; Sugaya, Toshikatsu; Fukumura, Nobuo*; Sanda, Toshio*; Sakai, Akihiro

JAEA-Technology 2019-003, 50 Pages, 2019/06

JAEA-Technology-2019-003.pdf:4.42MB

Toward the establishment of a common approach to determine the radioactivity concentrations in dismantling wastes arising from research reactors, radionuclide concentrations in the reactor structure materials of aluminum, carbon steel, shield concrete, and graphite of TRIGA Mark II reactor at Rikkyo University, Japan, were evaluated with both radiochemical analysis and theoretical calculation. The measured nuclides by the radiochemical analysis were H, Co, and Ni in aluminum, H, Co, Ni, and Eu in carbon steel, H, Co, and Eu in shield concrete, and H, C, Co, Ni, and Eu in graphite. Neutron-flux distributions and neutron-induced activities were computed with DORT and ORIGEN-ARP codes, respectively. Using the results of material composition analysis, radioactivity concentrations were conservatively predicted with good accuracy except for graphite material.

Dry cleaning process test for fuel assembly of fast reactor plant system, 1; Pilot scale test for fuel pin bundle

Kudo, Hideyuki*; Otani, Yuichi*; Hara, Masahide*; Kato, Atsushi; Ishikawa, Nobuyuki; Otaka, Masahiko; Nagai, Keiichi; Saito, Junichi; Ara, Kuniaki; Ide, Akihiro*

Proceedings of 2019 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP 2019) (Internet), 10 Pages, 2019/05

A next generation SFR in Japan has adopted an advanced dry cleaning system which consists of the argon gas blowing process to reduce the amount of metallic residual sodium remaining on spent fuel assemblies. This paper describes experimental and analytical work focusing on the amount of residual sodium remaining on a fuel pin bundle before and after the argon gas blowing process. The experiments were conducted using a sodium test loop and a short specimen consisting of a 7 pin bundle. The effects of the blowing gas velocity and the blowing time were quantitatively analyzed in the experiments. On the basis of these experimental results, evaluation models predicting the amount of the residual sodium were constructed.

Corrosion test of Fugen pressure tube (Zr-2.5wt%Nb alloy) under the sub-surface disposal environment, 2; Examination of long-term corrosion rate by 5 years keeping sample

Sugaya, Toshikatsu; Nakatani, Takayoshi; Sakai, Akihiro

JAEA-Technology 2017-032, 21 Pages, 2018/01

[The article has been found to have a problem about reliability of the corrosion data acquisition, and thus it is unavailable to download the full text in accordance with authors' intentions to retract the report.] For the purpose of the setting of the rate of nuclide elution necessary to safety assessment, we planned the gas-accumulating type corrosion test on Zr-2.5wt%Nb alloy in order to obtain long-term corrosion rate under low temperature, low oxygen and alkaline conditions assuming the disposal environment. A corrosion rate over a testing period of 5 years is acquired with the aim to grasp a long-term corrosion rate behavior in this report. This corrosion rate is compared with the same data that was previously acquired over a testing period of 2 years. As a result, it is confirmed that an evaluation method that is proportional to the minus cubic root of corrosion time squared can be applicable to the corrosion rate behavior acquired this time over a testing period of 5 years, which is the same result in evaluating the corrosion rate behavior acquired over a testing period of 2 years.

Protective effects of hot spring water drinking and radon inhalation on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in mice

Etani, Reo*; Kataoka, Takahiro*; Kanzaki, Norie*; Sakoda, Akihiro; Tanaka, Hiroshi; Ishimori, Yuu; Mitsunobu, Fumihiro*; Taguchi, Takehito*; Yamaoka, Kiyonori*

Journal of Radiation Research, 58(5), p.614 - 625, 2017/05

https://doi.org/10.1093/jrr/rrx021

Radon therapy using radon (Rn) gas is classified into two types of treatment: inhalation of radon gas and drinking water containing radon. Although short- or long-term intake of spa water is effective in increasing gastric mucosal blood flow, and spa water therapy is useful for treating chronic gastritis and gastric ulcer, the underlying mechanisms for and precise effects of radon protection against mucosal injury are unclear. In the present study, we examined the protective effects of hot spring water drinking and radon inhalation on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in mice. Mice inhaled radon at a concentration of 2000 Be/m for 24 h or were provided with hot spring water for 2 weeks. The activity density of Rn ranged from 663 Bq/l (start point of supplying) to 100 Bq/l (end point of supplying).Mice were then orally administered ethanol at three concentrations. The ulcer index (UI), an indicator of mucosal injury, increased in response to the administration of ethanol; however, treatment with either radon inhalation or hot spring water inhibited the elevation in the UI due to ethanol. Although no significant differences in antioxidative enzymes were observed between the radon-treated groups and the non-treated control groups, lipid peroxide levels were significantly lower in the stomachs of mice pre-treated with radon or hot spring water. These results suggest that hot spring water drinking and radon inhalation inhibit ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury.

Technological study about a disposal measures of low-level radioactive waste including uranium and long-half-life radionuclides

Sugaya, Toshikatsu; Nakatani, Takayoshi; Sasaki, Toshihisa*; Nakamura, Yasuo*; Sakai, Akihiro; Sakamoto, Yoshiaki

JAEA-Technology 2016-036, 126 Pages, 2017/02

JAEA-Technology-2016-036.pdf:7.28MB

At the Radioactive Waste Management and Disposal Project Department Sector of Decommissioning and Radioactive Waste Management, we performed the technological study about the disposal measures of the low-level radioactive waste targeted for uranium-bearing waste and intermediate depth disposal-based waste occurring from the process of the nuclear fuel cycle.

Disposal project for LLW and VLLW generated from research facilities in Japan; A Feasibility study for the near surface disposal of VLLW that includes uranium

Sakai, Akihiro; Hasegawa, Makoto; Sakamoto, Yoshiaki; Nakatani, Takayoshi

Proceedings of International Conference on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (Internet), p.98_1 - 98_4, 2016/11

The radioactivity of uranium-bearing waste contaminated by refined uranium increases with the production of its progeny on a long-term timescale. Therefore, the long-term safety concept of the near surface disposal of uranium-bearing waste is very important. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) examines disposal safety by controlling the average uranium radioactivity concentration in each section of disposal facility and performing safety assessment for very conservative assumptions.

Difference in the action mechanism of radon inhalation and radon hot spring water drinking in suppression of hyperuricemia in mice

Etani, Reo*; Kataoka, Takahiro*; Kanzaki, Norie*; Sakoda, Akihiro; Tanaka, Hiroshi; Ishimori, Yuu; Mitsunobu, Fumihiro*; Yamaoka, Kiyonori*

Journal of Radiation Research, 57(3), p.250 - 257, 2016/06

https://doi.org/10.1093/jrr/rrw014

Although radon therapy is indicated for hyperuricemia, the underlying mechanisms of action have not yet been elucidated in detail. Therefore, we herein examined the inhibitory effects of radon inhalation and hot spring water drinking on potassium oxonate (PO)-induced hyperuricemia in mice. After mice inhaled radon at a concentration of 2000 Bq/m for 24 h or were given hot spring water for 2 weeks, they were administrated PO. Radon inhalation or hot spring water drinking significantly inhibited elevations in serum uric acid levels through the suppression of xanthine oxidase activity in the liver. Radon inhalation activated anti-oxidative functions in the liver and kidney. These results suggest that radon inhalation inhibits PO-induced hyperuricemia by activating anti-oxidative functions, while hot spring water drinking may suppress PO-induced elevations in serum uric acid levels through the pharmacological effects of the chemical compositions dissolved in it.