Studies on complex reactions of actinides in solution and development of analytical methods for small amounts of samples

Ouchi, Kazuki

Hosha Kagaku, (49), p.3 - 7, 2024/03

I introduce the elucidation of the deposition following the oxidation state of uranium and the electrochemical behavior of uranium(IV) chloride in an ionic liquid-organic mixture, as a basic study of in-solution reactions. In addition, I introduce the development of separation methods for actinides using a microchemical chip and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, as an applied study for quantitative analytical methods for small amounts of samples.

Current location of fuel debris chemistry

Sato, Nobuaki*; Kirishima, Akira*; Sasaki, Takayuki*; Takano, Masahide; Kumagai, Yuta; Sato, Soichi; Tanaka, Kosuke

Current Location of Fuel Debris Chemistry, 178 Pages, 2023/11

Considerable efforts have been devoted to the decommissioning of the TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (1F) and now the retrieval of fuel debris is being proceeded on a trial basis. It can be said that the succession of science and technology related to debris, that is, human resource development, is important and indispensable. For that reason, we thought that a specific textbook on decommissioning is necessary. Regarding the 1F fuel debris, we still do not know enough, and it would be difficult to describe the details. However, 12 years have passed since the accident, and we have come to understand the situation of 1F to a certain extent. At this stage, it is essential for future development to organize the current situation by combining examples of past severe accidents. Therefore, we presented in this book the current state of fuel debris chemistry research from the perspectives of solid chemistry, solution chemistry, analytical chemistry, radiochemistry, and radiation chemistry.

Atomic bonding state of silicon oxide anodized in extremely diluted hydrofluoric solution

Arai, Taiki*; Yoshigoe, Akitaka; Motohashi, Mitsuya*

Zairyo No Kagaku To Kogaku, 60(5), p.153 - 158, 2023/10

Si oxide films are currently widely used as insulating materials in electronic devices and biomaterials. The atomic bonding state of these films significantly influences the properties of each device, thus it is particularly necessary to understand and control the chemical bonding state between Si and O in the films. In this study, the Si oxide films formed by anodic oxidation on Si substrate surfaces in extremely low concentrations of HF solutions were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy mainly focusing on Si2p and F1s spectra. Although the HF concentration is in the order of ppm, the films contain percent order of F atoms, suggesting the formation of Si-F and Si-O-F bonds in the films. It was also found that the different depth profiles for F and O atoms was observed, indicating that the surface reaction processes seem to be different depending on each element.

Automation of precise gas control for material-process researches; Application to synchrotron radiation real-time observation of surface reactions

Nakamura, Takafumi*; Yamamoto, Yukio*; Arakawa, Masakazu*; Maruyama, Akio*; Yoshigoe, Akitaka

Sangyo Oyo Kogakukai Rombunshi, 11(2), p.109 - 114, 2023/09

https://doi.org/10.12792/jjiiae.11.2.109

Surface chemistry experimental end-station at BL23SU in SPring-8 is widely used to study various surfaces and interfaces of functional materials by means of soft X-rays synchrotron radiation. To analyze surface chemical reactions between gas and solid surfaces, an accurate control of flow-rates of gases is essential. This paper describes a computerized automatic gas flow control system to improve the accuracy and reproducibility of gas-surface reaction experiments in the pressure range of ultra-high vacuum (molecular flow) conditions. The system uses feedback control to operate the slow-leak valve to control the gas-pressure. As a result, the system achieved results equivalent to those of a skilled experimenter.

Reaction of Np, Am, and Cm ions with CO and O in a reaction cell in triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Kazama, Hiroyuki; Konashi, Kenji*; Suzuki, Tatsuya*; Koyama, Shinichi; Maeda, Koji; Sekio, Yoshihiro; Onishi, Takashi; Abe, Chikage*; Shikamori, Yasuyuki*; Nagai, Yasuyoshi*

Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 38(8), p.1676 - 1681, 2023/07

https://doi.org/10.1039/D3JA00136A

Current status and prospects of technology development for hydrogen production using high temperature gas-cooled reactor

Kubo, Shinji

Suiso Enerugi Shisutemu, 48(2), p.126 - 132, 2023/06

no abstracts in English

Extreme chemistry of superheavy elements

Sato, Tetsuya; Nagame, Yuichiro*

Nihon Butsuri Gakkai-Shi, 78(2), p.64 - 72, 2023/02

https://doi.org/10.11316/butsuri.78.2_64

The study of the chemistry of superheavy elements, which are located in the heavy extremes of the periodic table, has made considerable progress over the past 20 years, and new approaches based on various ideas have recently been developed. Research groups in Japan have also made significant contributions to the development of research on superheavy elements. Recently, notable results have been reported for the transactinide elements rutherfordium (element 104), dubnium (element 105), and seaborgium (element 106), and the heavy actinides with atomic numbers exceeding 100. The review will focus on the recent main results of these elements. This review outlines the main recent results and touches on future prospects.

Chemistry of the elements at the end of the actinide series using their low-energy ion-beams

Sato, Tetsuya; Nagame, Yuichiro*

Radiochimica Acta, 110(6-9), p.441 - 451, 2022/07

https://doi.org/10.1515/ract-2022-0001

We describe our recent achievements in the effective production of low-energy ion-beams of the elements at the end of the actinide series, fermium (Fm, atomic number Z = 100), mendelevium (Md, Z = 101), nobelium (No, Z = 102), and lawrencium (Lr, Z = 103), using a surface ionization ion-source installed in the ISOL (Isotope Separator On-Line) at the Tandem accelerator facility of JAEA (Japan Atomic Energy Agency). Then the successful measurements of the first ionization potentials (IP) of these elements with the ISOL setup are reviewed. The measured IP values increased up to No via Fm and Md, while that of Lr was the lowest among the actinides. Based on the variation of the IP1 values of the heavy actinides with the atomic number in comparison with those of the heavy lanthanides, the results clearly demonstrated that the 5f orbitals are fully filled at No, and the actinide series ends with Lr. Furthermore, the IP value of Lr provoked controversy over its position in the Periodic Table, so a short introduction to this issue is presented. The feasibility of the extension of chemical studies to still heavier elements with their ion-beams generated by ISOL is briefly discussed.

Effects of a corrosion inhibitor on the corrosion of steels under thin solution layers

Momma, Yuichiro*; Sakairi, Masatoshi*; Ueno, Fumiyoshi; Otani, Kyohei

Zairyo To Kankyo, 71(5), p.133 - 137, 2022/05

https://doi.org/10.3323/jcorr.71.133

The effect of the corrosion inhibitor on the corrosion of steel under a thin solution layer was investigated. As a result of forming a thin solution layer with a thickness of 1.0-0.2 mm on the specimen, adding a mixed solution of sodium molybdate and aluminum lactate as a corrosion inhibitor, and performing electrochemical measurement, the corrosion inhibitor suppresses the anodic reaction. And in the thin solution layer, it was suggested that the morphology of the protective layer structure by the corrosion inhibitor changed according to the amount of liquid as compared with the bulk immersion.

Fully chelating NO-pentadentate planar ligands designed for the strongest and selective capture of uranium from seawater

Mizumachi, Takumi*; Sato, Minami*; Kaneko, Masashi; Takeyama, Tomoyuki*; Tsushima, Satoru*; Takao, Koichiro*

Inorganic Chemistry, 61(16), p.6175 - 6181, 2022/04

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c00306

Based on unique 5-fold equatorial coordination of UO, water-compatible pentadentate planar ligands, Hsaldian and its derivatives, were designed as strong and selective capture of UO in seawater. In the simulated seawater condition (0.5 M NaCl + 2.3 mM HCO/CO, pH 8), saldian shows the strongest complexation with UO to form UO(saldian) (log = 28.05 0.07), which is more than 10 order of magnitude greater than amidoxime-based or -inspired ligand systems most commonly employed for U capture from seawater. Good selectivity for UO from other metal ions coexisting in seawater was also demonstrated.