An Automotive intelligent catalyst that contributes to hydrogen safety for the Decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (1FD)

Tanaka, Hirohisa*; Masaki, Sayaka*; Aotani, Takuro*; Inagawa, Kohei*; Iwata, Sogo*; Aida, Tatsuya*; Yamamoto, Tadasuke*; Kita, Tomoaki*; Ono, Hitomi*; Takenaka, Keisuke*; et al.

SAE Technical Paper 2022-01-0534 (Internet), 10 Pages, 2022/03

https://doi.org/10.4271/2022-01-0534

Performance tests of catalysts for the safe conversion of hydrogen inside the nuclear waste containers in Fukushima Daiichi

Reinecke, E.-A.*; Takenaka, Keisuke*; Ono, Hitomi*; Kita, Tomoaki*; Taniguchi, Masashi*; Nishihata, Yasuo; Hino, Ryutaro; Tanaka, Hirohisa*

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 46(23), p.12511 - 12521, 2021/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.08.262

The safe decommissioning as well as decontamination of the radioactive waste resulting from the nuclear accident in Fukushima Daiichi represents a huge task for the next decade. At present, research and development on long-term safe storage containers has become an urgent task with international cooperation in Japan. One challenge is the generation of hydrogen and oxygen in significant amounts by means of radiolysis inside the containers, as the nuclear waste contains a large portion of sea water. The generation of radiolysis gases may lead to a significant pressure build-up inside the containers and to the formation of flammable gases with the risk of ignition and the loss of integrity. In the framework of the project "R&D on technology for reducing concentration of flammable gases generated in long-term waste storage containers" funded by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT), the potential application of catalytic recombiner devices inside the storage containers is investigated. In this context, a suitable catalyst based on the so-called intelligent automotive catalyst for use in a recombiner is under consideration. The catalyst is originally developed and mass-produced for automotive exhaust gas purification, and is characterized by having a self-healing function of precious metals (Pd, Pt and Rh) dissolved as a solid solution in the perovskite type oxides. The basic features of this catalyst have been tested in an experimental program. The test series in the REKO-4 facility has revealed the basic characteristics of the catalyst required for designing the recombiner system.

Author correction; Radionuclides from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in terrestrial systems

Onda, Yuichi*; Taniguchi, Keisuke*; Yoshimura, Kazuya; Kato, Hiroaki*; Takahashi, Junko*; Wakiyama, Yoshifumi*; Coppin, F.*; Smith, H.*

Nature Reviews Earth & Environment (Internet), 1(12), P. 694_1, 2020/12

https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-00119-7

Factors controlling dissolved Cs concentrations in east Japanese rivers

Tsuji, Hideki*; Ishii, Yumiko*; Shin, M.*; Taniguchi, Keisuke*; Arai, Hirotsugu*; Kurihara, Momo*; Yasutaka, Tetsuo*; Kuramoto, Takayuki*; Nakanishi, Takahiro; Lee, S*; et al.

Science of the Total Environment, 697, p.134093_1 - 134093_11, 2019/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134093

To investigate the main factors that control the dissolved radiocesium concentration in river water in the area affected by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, the correlations between the dissolved Cs concentrations at 66 sites normalized to the average Cs inventories for the watersheds with the land use, soil components, topography, and water quality factors were assessed. We found that the topographic wetness index is significantly and positively correlated with the normalized dissolved Cs concentration. Similar positive correlations have been found for European rivers because wetland areas with boggy organic soils that weakly retain Cs are mainly found on plains. However, for small Japanese river watersheds, the building area ratio in the watershed strongly affected the dissolved Cs concentration.

Repeatability and reproducibility of measurements of low dissolved radiocesium concentrations in freshwater using different pre-concentration methods

Kurihara, Momo*; Yasutaka, Tetsuo*; Aono, Tatsuo*; Ashikawa, Nobuo*; Ebina, Hiroyuki*; Iijima, Takeshi*; Ishimaru, Kei*; Kanai, Ramon*; Karube, Jinichi*; Konnai, Yae*; et al.

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 322(2), p.477 - 485, 2019/11

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06696-2

We assessed the repeatability and reproducibility of methods for determining low dissolved radiocesium concentrations in freshwater in Fukushima. Twenty-one laboratories pre-concentrated three of 10 L samples by five different pre-concentration methods (prussian-blue-impregnated filter cartridges, coprecipitation with ammonium phosphomolybdate, evaporation, solid-phase extraction disks, and ion-exchange resin columns), and activity of radiocesium was measured. The z-scores for all of the Cs results were within 2, indicating that the methods were accurate. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) indicating the variability in the results from different laboratories were larger than the RSDs indicating the variability in the results from each separate laboratory.

Enhancement of the methodology of repository design and post-closure performance assessment for preliminary investigation stage; Progress report on NUMO-JAEA collaborative research in FY2011 (Joint research)

Shibata, Masahiro; Sawada, Atsushi; Tachi, Yukio; Makino, Hitoshi; Hayano, Akira; Mitsui, Seiichiro; Taniguchi, Naoki; Oda, Chie; Kitamura, Akira; Osawa, Hideaki; et al.

JAEA-Research 2012-032, 298 Pages, 2012/09

JAEA-Research-2012-032.pdf:33.68MB

JAEA and NUMO have conducted a collaborative research work which is designed to enhance the methodology of repository design and performance assessment in preliminary investigation phase. The topics and the conducted research are follows; (1) Study on selection of host rock: in terms of hydraulic properties, items for assessing rock property, and assessment methodology of groundwater travel time has been organized with interaction from site investigation. (2) Study on development of scenario: the existing approach has been embodied, in addition, the phenomenological understanding regarding dissolution of and nuclide release from vitrified waste, corrosion of the overpack, long-term performance of the buffer are summarized. (3) Study on setting nuclide migration parameters: the approach for parameter setting has been improved for sorption and diffusion coefficient of buffer/rock, and applied and tested for parameter setting of key radionuclides. (4) Study on ensuring quality of knowledge: framework for ensuring quality of knowledge has been studied and examined aimed at the likely disposal facility condition.

Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project; Synthesis of phase I investigation 2001 - 2005, Volume "Geological disposal research"

Fujita, Tomoo; Taniguchi, Naoki; Matsui, Hiroya; Tanai, Kenji; Maekawa, Keisuke; Sawada, Atsushi; Makino, Hitoshi; Sasamoto, Hiroshi; Yoshikawa, Hideki; Shibata, Masahiro; et al.

JAEA-Research 2011-001, 193 Pages, 2011/03

JAEA-Research-2011-001.pdf:5.23MB

This report summarizes the progress of research and development on geological disposal during the surface-based investigation phase (2001-2005) in the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory project, of which aims are to apply the design methods of geological disposal and mass transport analysis to actual geological conditions obtained from the surface-based investigations in the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory project as an example of actual geological environment.

X-ray magnetic circular dichroism and photoemission studies of ferromagnetism in CaMnRuO thin films

Terai, Kota*; Yoshii, Kenji; Takeda, Yukiharu; Fujimori, Shinichi; Saito, Yuji; Owada, Kenji; Inami, Toshiya; Okane, Tetsuo; Arita, Masashi*; Shimada, Kenya*; et al.

Physical Review B, 77(11), p.115128_1 - 115128_6, 2008/03

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.77.115128

Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory project synthesis of phase I investigation 2001-2005 volume "Geological Disposal Research"

Fujita, Tomoo; Taniguchi, Naoki; Matsui, Hiroya; Tanai, Kenji; Nishimura, Mayuka; Kobayashi, Yasushi; Hiramoto, Masayuki; Maekawa, Keisuke; Sawada, Atsushi; Makino, Hitoshi; et al.

JAEA-Research 2007-045, 140 Pages, 2007/03

JAEA-Research-2007-045-1.pdf:38.33MB
JAEA-Research-2007-045-2.pdf:44.62MB

This report summarizes the progress of research and development on geological disposal during the surface-based investigation phase (2001-2005) in the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory project (HOR), of which aims are to apply the design methods of geological disposal and mass transport analysis to actual geological environments and derive future subjects based on the results. The design methods of geological disposal were reviewed based on the recent knowledge and the advertences were identified. Then the parameters for virtual design of engineered barrier system, backfill deposition hole and tunnel were set up based on actual geological conditions obtained from the surface-based investigations in HOR as an example of actual geological environment. The conceptual structure from site investigation and evaluation to mass transport analysis was represented as a work flow at first. Then following this work flow a series of procedures for mass transport analysis were carried out based on actual geological conditions obtained from the surface-based investigations in HOR to illustrate the functioning of the work flow and the applicability of this methodology. Consequently, knowledge that will help follow-up or future execution and planning activities was obtained.

Electronic structure and magnetism of CaMnRuO thin films

Terai, Kota; Yoshii, Kenji; Takeda, Yukiharu; Fujimori, Shinichi; Saito, Yuji; Owada, Kenji; Inami, Toshiya; Okane, Tetsuo; Arita, Masashi*; Shimada, Kenya*; et al.

Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 310(2, Part2), p.1070 - 1072, 2007/03

We have studied the electronic and magnetic properties of epitaxially grown CaMnRuO (x = 1.0, 0.5) thin films by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) and hard X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (HXPES). The XMCD studies indicated that the spin moments of Mn and Ru are aligned in the opposite directions. The HXPES spectra indicated the Ru 4d states at around the Fermi edge (E) and the Mn 3d states below E. From these results, we propose that the localized Mn 3d t states and the itinerant Ru 4d t band are antiferromagnetically coupled and give rise to ferromagnetism, in analogy with the mechanism proposed for the double perovskite oxides such as SrFeMoO.