Improvement in the elution performance of an N,N,N',N-tetraoctyl diglycolamide impregnated extraction chromatography adsorbent using neodymium via micro-particle-induced X-ray emission analysis

Takahatake, Yoko; Watanabe, So; Arai, Tsuyoshi*; Sato, Takahiro*; Shibata, Atsuhiro

Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 196, p.110783_1 - 110783_5, 2023/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2023.110783

Release behaviors of elements from an Ag-In-Cd control rod alloy at temperatures up to 1673 K

Nagase, Fumihisa; Otomo, Takashi; Uetsuka, Hiroshi*

Nuclear Technology, 208(3), p.484 - 493, 2022/03

https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2021.1905472

An Ag-In-Cd control rod alloy was heated in argon or oxygen at 1073-1673 K for 60-3600 s and the release behavior of the elements was examined. Complete liquefaction of the alloy occurred between 1123 and 1173 K, and elemental release was quite limited below the liquefaction temperature. In argon, almost all of the Cd content was released within 3600 s at 1173 K and within 60 s at 1573 K, while the released fractions of Ag and In were 3% and 8%, respectively. In oxygen, the release of Cd, which was quite small at temperatures up to 1573 K, drastically increased to 30-50% at 1673 K for short periods. Releases of Ag and In were also small in oxygen under the examined conditions. Comparison with the experimental data suggests that conventional empirical release models may underestimate the Cd release at lower temperatures just after control rod failure in severe accidents.

Proceedings of Information and Opinion Exchange Conference on Geoscientific Study, 2019

Nishio, Kazuhisa*; Shimizu, Mayuko; Iyatomi, Yosuke; Hama, Katsuhiro

JAEA-Review 2020-013, 59 Pages, 2020/08

JAEA-Review-2020-013.pdf:19.64MB

The Tono Geoscience Center (TGC) of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been conducting geoscientific study in order to establish a scientific and technological basis for the geological disposal of HLW. Technical information of the result on the geoscientific study conducted at TGC is provided at the annual Information and Opinion Exchange Conference on Geoscientific Study of TGC for exchanging opinions among researchers and engineers from universities, research organizations and private companies. This document compiles the research presentations and posters of the conference in Mizunami on November 20, 2019.

Sample preparation method for measurement of in-situ belliyum-10 and allumium-26 in terrestrial quartz using accelerator mass spectrometry at Tono Geoscience Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency

Kokubu, Yoko; Matsushi, Yuki*; Ishizaka, Chika*; Hirao, Noriaki*; Yonaga, Yusuke; Yoshikawa, Kiyotaka*

JAEA-Testing 2019-002, 101 Pages, 2019/11

JAEA-Testing-2019-002.pdf:4.69MB

This report provides a description of sample preparation method for measurement of in-situ belliyum-10 (Be) and allumium-26 (Al) in terrestrial quartz using accelerator mass spectrometry at Tono Geoscience Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The report is based on the laboratory manual "Chemistry for in-situ Be and Al measurement for terrestrial quartz by AMS at MALT ver.1.3 and ver.2.2" prepared by ph.D Matsushi at Kyoto University.

Implementation of a low-activation Au-In-Cd decoupler into the J-PARC 1 MW short pulsed spallation neutron source

Teshigawara, Makoto; Ikeda, Yujiro; Oi, Motoki; Harada, Masahide; Takada, Hiroshi; Kakishiro, Masanori*; Noguchi, Gaku*; Shimada, Tsubasa*; Seita, Kyoichi*; Murashima, Daisuke*; et al.

Nuclear Materials and Energy (Internet), 14, p.14 - 21, 2018/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nme.2018.02.001

We developed an Au-In-Cd (AuIC) decoupler material to reduce induced radioactivity instead of Ag-In-Cd one, which has a cut off energy of 1eV. In order to implement it into an actual moderator-reflector assembly, a number of critical engineering issues need to be resolved with regard to large-sized bonding between AuIC and A5083 alloys by the hot isostatic pressing process. We investigated this process in terms of the surface conditions, sizes, and heat capacities of large AuIC alloys. We also show a successful implementation of an AuIC decoupler into a reflector assembly, resulting in a remarkable reduction of radioactivity by AuIC compared to AIC without sacrificing neutronic performance.

Project report on the construction phase at the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project

Nohara, Tsuyoshi; Saegusa, Hiromitsu*; Iwatsuki, Teruki; Hama, Katsuhiro; Matsui, Hiroya; Mikake, Shinichiro; Takeuchi, Ryuji; Onoe, Hironori; Sasao, Eiji

JAEA-Research 2015-026, 98 Pages, 2016/03

JAEA-Research-2015-026.pdf:32.97MB

Tono Geoscience Center (TGC) of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is being performed Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) Project, which is a broad scientific study of the deep geological environment as a basis of research and development for geological disposal of nuclear wastes, in order to establish comprehensive techniques for the investigation, analysis and assessment of the deep geological environment in fractured crystalline rock. The MIU Project has three overlapping phases: Surface-based Investigation phase (Phase I), Construction phase (Phase II), and Operation phase (Phase III). The project goals of the MIU Project from Phase I through to Phase III are: (1) to establish techniques for investigation, analysis and assessment of the deep geological environment, and (2) to develop a range of engineering for deep underground application. This report summarizes the results of geoscientific study on Phase II to 500m depth. During Construction phase, we have evaluated of adequacy of techniques for investigation, analysis and assessment of the deep geological environment on Surface-based Investigation phase, and have established systematic methodology for stepwise investigation and evaluation of the geological environment on Construction phase. Further, with respect to design and construction of underground facilities, it was confirmed the validity of the engineering involved in the construction, maintenance and management of underground facilities.

Results of borehole investigation in -500m access/research gallery-north (13MI3813MI44 Boreholes)

Hasegawa, Takashi; Kawamoto, Koji; Yamada, Nobuto; Onuki, Kenji; Omori, Kazuaki; Takeuchi, Ryuji; Iwatsuki, Teruki; Sato, Toshinori

JAEA-Technology 2015-011, 135 Pages, 2015/07

JAEA-Technology-2015-011.pdf:28.63MB
JAEA-Technology-2015-011-appendix(CD-ROM).zip:566.32MB

The geological, hydraulic and geochemical data such as rock mass classification, groundwater inflow points and the volume, water pressure, and hydraulic conductivity were obtained from boreholes (13MI3813MI44) in the -500m Access/Research Gallery-North of Mizunami Underground Research laboratory (MIU). In addition to data acquisition, monitoring systems were installed to observe hydrochemical changes in the groundwater, and rock strain during and after the groundwater recovery experiment.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for nuclear fuel material

Akaoka, Katsuaki; Miyabe, Masabumi; Otobe, Haruyoshi; Wakaida, Ikuo

Reza Kenkyu, 42(12), p.918 - 922, 2014/12

For the remote analysis of the next generation nuclear fuel material containing minor actinide (MA), Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) was applied to uranium oxide (UO) including a small amount of neodymium oxide (NdO) as a simulated sample of MA. By using deconvolution technique for the spectra of Nd in U, the complex, overlapped and confused spectra were separated and their actual intensities were determined. As a result, the calibration curve with good linearity and the detection limit of less than 700 ppm were demonstrated.

X-ray absorption fine structure spectra of rust layers on Fe-based binary alloys exposed to Cl-rich environment

Konishi, Hiroyuki; Yamashita, Masato*; Uchida, Hitoshi*; Mizuki, Junichiro

Proceedings of 16th International Corrosion Congress (CD-ROM), 6 Pages, 2005/09

XANES measurements of rust layers formed on Fe, Fe-Cr alloys and Fe-Ni alloys exposed to a Cl-rich atmosphere have been performed using synchrotron radiation in order to clarify the relation between the structural properties of the rust layer on weathering steel and anticorrosive alloying elements and/or chloride ions. The XANES spectra around Cl K-edge revealed that the rust layer on the Fe-based binary alloys contains unidentified chloride in addition to akaganiteite. The Fe K-edge XANES results indicated that the rust layers are composed mainly of well-known iron oxides, goethite, akaganite, lepidocrocite and magnetite. In particular, the mole ratio of akaganite in the rust layers on the Fe-Ni alloys is relatively higher than that of the Fe-Cr alloys. The Cr K-edge XANES spectra of the rust layers on the Fe-Cr alloys depends on the Cr alloy content. Therefore, the local structure of Cr in the rust layer is variable with the Cr density. In contrast, the Ni K-edge XANES results show that the local structure of Ni in the rust layer are unique in a certain Ni content range.

Characterization of rust layer formed on Fe, Fe-Ni and Fe-Cr alloys exposed to Cl-rich environment by Cl and Fe K-edge XANES measurements

Konishi, Hiroyuki; Yamashita, Masato*; Uchida, Hitoshi*; Mizuki, Junichiro

Materials Transactions, 46(2), p.329 - 336, 2005/02

https://doi.org/10.2320/matertrans.46.329

Chloride in atmosphere considerably reduces the corrosion resistance of conventional weathering steel containing a small amount of Cr. Ni is an effective anticorrosive element for improving the corrosion resistance of steel in a Cl-rich environment. In order to clarify the structure of the protective rust layer of weathering steel, Cl and Fe K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra of atmospheric corrosion products (rust) formed on Fe, Fe-Ni and Fe-Cr alloys exposed to Cl-rich atmosphere were measured. The Fe K-XANES measurements enable the characterization of a mixture of iron oxides such as rust. The chemical composition of the rust was determined by performing pattern fitting of the measured spectra. All the rust is composed mainly of goethite, akaganite, lepidocrocite and magnetite. Among these iron oxides, akaganite in particular is the major component in the rust. Additionally, the amount of akaganite in the rust of Fe-Ni alloy is much greater than that in rust of Fe-Cr alloy. Akaganite is generally considered to facilitate the corrosion of steel, but our results indicate that akaganite in the rust of Fe-Ni alloy is quantitatively different from that in rust of Fe-Cr alloy and does not facilitate the corrosion of steel. The shoulder peak observed in Cl K-XANES spectra reveals that the rust contains a chloride other than akaganite. The energy of the shoulder peak does not correspond to that of any well-known chlorides. In the measured spectra, there is no proof that Cl, by combining with the alloying element, inhibits the alloying element from acting in corrosion resistance. The shoulder peak appears only when the content of the alloying element is lower than a certain value. This suggests that the generation of the unidentified chloride is related to the corrosion rate of steel.