Development of rapid and sensitive radionuclide analysis method by simultaneous analysis of , , and X-rays (Contract research); FY2021 Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project

Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science; Japan Chemical Analysis Center*

JAEA-Review 2022-037, 118 Pages, 2023/01

JAEA-Review-2022-037.pdf:6.92MB

The Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science (CLADS), Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), had been conducting the Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project (hereafter referred to "the Project") in FY2021. The Project aims to contribute to solving problems in the nuclear energy field represented by the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO). For this purpose, intelligence was collected from all over the world, and basic research and human resource development were promoted by closely integrating/collaborating knowledge and experiences in various fields beyond the barrier of conventional organizations and research fields. The sponsor of the Project was moved from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to JAEA since the newly adopted proposals in FY2018. On this occasion, JAEA constructed a new research system where JAEA-academia collaboration is reinforced and medium-to-long term research/development and human resource development contributing to the decommissioning are stably and consecutively implemented. Among the adopted proposals in FY2020, this report summarizes the research results of the "Development of rapid and sensitive radionuclide analysis method by simultaneous analysis of , , and X-rays" conducted in FY2021. The present study aims to enable rapid analysis of radionuclides in fuel debris and waste, we have established the latest measurement system, such as the multiple -ray detection methods, and the Spectral Determination Method (hereafter referred to "SDM") was developed. In the study, the -ray measuring device was installed, and the measurement system consisting of the Ge detector, CeBr detector, and NaI detector was completed in FY2021. In the SDM development, standard spectra of -ray singles, multiple -ray measurements, …

spectrometry of terrestrial gamma rays using portable germanium detectors in area of 80 km radius around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

Mikami, Satoshi; Tanaka, Hiroyuki*; Okuda, Naotoshi*; Sakamoto, Ryuichi*; Ochi, Kotaro; Uno, Kiichiro*; Matsuda, Norihiro; Saito, Kimiaki

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi, 20(4), p.159 - 178, 2021/12

https://doi.org/10.3327/taesj.J20.010

In order to know the background radiation level where the area affected by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011, terrestrial gamma rays had been measured by using portable germanium detectors repeatedly from 2013 through 2019, at 370 locations within 80 km radius area centered on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Radioactive concentrations of Uranium 238, Thorium 232, Potassium 40 and kerma rates in air due to terrestrial gamma rays were obtained at those locations based on the method of ICRU report 53. Averaged concentrations of U, Th and K were 18.8, 22.7, 428 Bq/kg, respectively, and kerma rate in air over the area was found to be 0.0402 Gy/h. The obtained kerma rates in air were compared to those reported in literatures. It was confirmed that the data were correlated with each other, and were agreed within the range of their uncertainty. This is because the kerma rate in air due to terrestrial gamma rays is depend on geology. The similar trend to previous findings was observed that the kerma rate in air at locations geologically classified as Mesozoic era, Granite and Rhyolite were statistically significantly higher than the others.

Delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy inverse Monte Carlo analysis method for nuclear safeguards nondestructive assay applications

Rodriguez, D.; Rossi, F.; Seya, Michio; Koizumi, Mitsuo

Proceedings of 2017 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference (NSS/MIC 2017) (Internet), 3 Pages, 2018/11

Effects of -ray polarization in NRF-based nondestructive assay of nuclear materials

Omer, M.; Hajima, Ryoichi*; Shizuma, Toshiyuki*; Koizumi, Mitsuo

Proceedings of INMM 58th Annual Meeting (Internet), 7 Pages, 2017/07

Nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF) is a process in which the electric and/or the magnetic dipole excitations of the nucleus take place. Since these excitations are unique signatures of each nucleus, the NRF provides a practical tool for a non-destructive detection and assay of nuclear materials. Using a polarized -ray beam, distinguishing the nature of the excitation is straightforward. At a scattering angle of 90, the electric dipole excitations are radiated normal to the polarization plane whereas the magnetic dipole excitations are radiated in the same plane as the incident beam polarization. By contrast, other -ray interactions with the atom may exhibit different responses regarding the polarization of the incident beam. For example, the elastic scattering is expected to give approximately 60% lower yield in the direction of the incident beam polarization than the other direction. This fact significantly affects the sensitivity of the NRF technique because it is not possible to separate the NRF and the elastic scattering on the basis of the photon energy. We report the results of a photon scattering experiment on U using a 100% linearly polarized -ray beam with an energy of 2.04 MeV. We demonstrate how the elastic scattering responds to the polarization of the incident beam. Accordingly, we are able to resolve the effects of the polarization of incident photon in an NRF measurement.

Simulation of the elastic scattering contributions to the NRF-based nondestructive assay of nuclear materials

Omer, M.; Hajima, Ryoichi*; Angell, C.*; Shizuma, Toshiyuki*; Hayakawa, Takehito*; Seya, Michio; Koizumi, Mitsuo

Proceedings of INMM 57th Annual Meeting (Internet), 9 Pages, 2016/07

Isotope-specific -rays emitted in the nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF) process provide a good technique for a non-destructive detection and assay of nuclear materials. We are developing technologies relevant to -ray nondestructive detection and assay utilizing NRF. A Monte Carlo code to simulate NRF process is necessary for design and evaluation of NDA systems. We are developing NRFGeant4, a Geant4-based simulation code, for this purpose. In NRF experiments, highly-enriched targets are generally used such that the NRF signals are dominant and easily measured. In contrast, a real situation may involve very small contents of isotopes of interest. This results in a difficulty in measuring NRF signals because of the interference with other interactions, e.g. elastic scattering. For example, a typical nuclear fuel pellet contains about 90% of U as a host material and less than 1% of Pu as an isotope of interest. When measuring NRF of Pu, there would be a huge background coming from the elastic scattering of U. Therefore, an estimation of the elastic scattering with the host material is essential for precise determination of isotope of interest. Satisfying estimation of elastic scattering is currently not available except for some calculations. In the present study, we upgrade our simulation code to include the calculation of elastic scattering events.

Recovery of the electrical characteristics of SiC-MOSFETs irradiated with gamma-rays by thermal treatments

Yokoseki, Takashi; Abe, Hiroshi; Makino, Takahiro; Onoda, Shinobu; Tanaka, Yuki*; Kandori, Mikio*; Yoshie, Toru*; Hijikata, Yasuto*; Oshima, Takeshi

Materials Science Forum, 821-823, p.705 - 708, 2015/07

https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.821-823.705

LaCl(Ce) scintillation detector applications for environmental -ray measurements of low to high dose rates

Tsutsumi, Masahiro; Tanimura, Yoshihiko

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 557(2), p.554 - 560, 2006/02

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2005.11.117

A new cerium-doped LaCl(Ce) scintillator is evaluated with respect to the application in environmental -ray dosimetry and spectrometry. The scintillator is very attractive for -ray spectrometry in the case of high count rate, because it has excellent energy resolution and fast decay time. The performance characteristics of a scintillator with a 25.4 mm 25.4 mm LaCl(Ce) crystal are studied and compared to those of a NaI(Tl) scintillator with the same size crystal. Acquired pulse-height spectra are converted to dose rates by using the G(E) function method. Though the LaCl(Ce) crystal itself produces a rather high background in the crystal itself, the scintillator provides good energy information and dose-rate readings from low to high-level (several mGy/h) by subtracting the self-background. The properties of LaCl(Ce) scintillator suggest that the scintillator could be a promising candidate for monitoring at high-dose levels as in emergencies, as well as at ordinary levels of background radiation.

Decomposition of -nonylphenols in water and elimination of their estrogen activities by Co -ray irradiation

Kimura, Atsushi; Taguchi, Mitsumasa; Otani, Yoshimi*; Takigami, Machiko; Shimada, Yoshitaka*; Kojima, Takuji; Hiratsuka, Hiroshi*; Namba, Hideki

Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 75(1), p.61 - 69, 2006/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2005.05.016

Decomposition of -Nonylphenols (NPs) in water at 1 mol dm was decreased exponentially with absorbed dose when NPs were irradiated by Co-rays. Two products having molecular weight of 236, presumably OH adducts of NPs, were detected by LC-MS analyses. The elimination of estrogen activity of aqueous NPs solution including such irradiation products at 5000 Gy (J kg) was confirmed by the yeast two hybrid assay. These results should expand the application of ionizing radiation to the treatment of NPs.

Estimation methods of blood boron concentration and error evaluation during boron neutron capture therapy for malignant brain tumor

Shibata, Yasushi*; Yamamoto, Kazuyoshi; Matsumura, Akira*; Yamamoto, Tetsuya*; Hori, Naohiko; Kishi, Toshiaki; Kumada, Hiroaki; Akutsu, Hiroyoshi*; Yasuda, Susumu*; Nakai, Kei*; et al.

JAERI-Research 2005-009, 41 Pages, 2005/03

JAERI-Research-2005-009.pdf:1.99MB

The measurement of neutron flux and boron concentration in the blood during medical irradiation is indispensable in order to evaluate the radiation in boron neutron capture therapy. It is, however, difficult to measure the blood boron concentration during neutron irradiation because access to the patient is limited. Therefore we prospectively investigated the predictability of blood boron concentrations using the data obtained at the first craniotomy after infusion of a low dosage of BSH. When the test could not be carried out, the blood boron concentration during irradiation was also predicted by using the 2-compartment model. If the final boron concentration after the end of the infusion is within 95% confidence interval of the prediction, direct prediction from biexponential fit will reduce the error of blood boron concentrations during irradiation to around 6%. If the final boron concentration at 6 or 9 hours after the end of infusion is out of 95% confidence interval of the prediction, proportional adjustment will reduce error and expected error after adjustment to around 12%.

Development of elemental components in NDA systems for certifying radioactive wastes with the clearance level

Tsutsumi, Masahiro; Oishi, Tetsuya*; Yamasoto, Kotaro; Yoshida, Makoto

JAERI-Research 2004-021, 43 Pages, 2004/12

JAERI-Research-2004-021.pdf:8.55MB

We have designed and developed a measurement system to certify radioactive wastes below the clearance level. By advancing non-destructive -ray assay technology, it aims at quantitative determination of radionuclides contained in 200 litter drum/container wastes. Unlike the waste from a nuclear power plant, you have to assume that the waste originating from radioisotope usage and nuclear research laboratory have a variety of contents and a complex mixture of radionuclides, and furthermore the uniformity of activity concentration is unknown. To cope with the problems, we have developed the -ray measuring instruments (units) with effective improvement of capability against each problem. They are (1) germanium spectrometry unit for enhanced peak identification, (2) positioning detection unit for positioning of interactions and (3)high-efficiency detection unit for separation of low-energy component. This report summarizes the direction of the clearance level measuring system and the three developed measuring units with their performances.