Measurements of capture cross-section of Nb by activation method and half-life of Nb by mass analysis

Nakamura, Shoji; Shibahara, Yuji*; Endo, Shunsuke; Kimura, Atsushi

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 60(11), p.1361 - 1371, 2023/11

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2023.2198526

The thermal-neutron capture cross section () and resonance integral (I) for Nb among nuclides for decommissioning were measured by an activation method and the half-life of Nb by mass analysis. Niobium-93 samples were irradiated with a hydraulic conveyer installed in the research reactor in Institute for Integral Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University. Gold-aluminum, cobalt-aluminum alloy wires were used to monitor thermal-neutron fluxes and epi-thermal Westcott's indexes at an irradiation position. A 25-m-thick gadolinium foil was used to sort out reactions ascribe to thermal-and epi-thermal neutrons. Its thickness provided a cut-off energy of 0.133 eV. In order to attenuate radioactivity of Ta due to impurities, the Nb samples were cooled for nearly 2 years. The induced radio activity in the monitors and Nb samples were measured by -ray spectroscopy. In analysis based on Westcott's convention, the and I values were derived as 1.110.04 barn and 10.50.6 barn, respectively. After the -ray measurements, mass analysis was applied to the Nb sample to obtain the reaction rate. By combining data obtained by both -ray spectroscopy and mass analysis, the half-life of Nb was derived as (2.000.15)10 years.

Sorption behavior of niobium onto clay minerals in the presence of Ca

Ohira, Saki; Iida, Yoshihisa

Proceedings of Waste Management Symposia 2023 (WM2023) (Internet), 10 Pages, 2023/02

The sorption distribution coefficient (d) of niobium-94 (Nb-94) on minerals is one of the important parameters in safety assessment of radioactive waste disposal. In a previous study, the d values of Nb under alkali condition in the presence of Ca, were two orders of magnitude higher than those in the presence of Na. In this study, Nb sorption experiments were performed to reexamine the effect of Ca on Nb sorption on clay minerals, and blank tests were performed to check for precipitation formation. The results showed that the Nb sorption onto montmorillonite and illite, did not depend on the Ca concentration, and d values obtained in the presence of Ca were the same as those in the absence of Ca. A sorption model assuming sorption by complexation on the mineral surface was developed and then calculated using the geochemical calculation code. The model with the surface species X_ONb(OH) and X_ONb(OH) represented trends in the data obtained.

Safe, efficient cementation of challenging radioactive wastes using alkali activated materials with high-flowability and high-anion retention capacity (Contract research); FY2020 Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project

Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science; Hokkaido University*

JAEA-Review 2021-036, 95 Pages, 2021/12

JAEA-Review-2021-036.pdf:5.13MB

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 FY2020. 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 FY2019, this report summarizes the research results of the "Safe, efficient cementation of challenging radioactive wastes using alkali activated materials with high-flowability and high-anion retention capacity" conducted in FY2020. For safe storage and disposal of iron sludge generated from contaminated water treatment, the present study aims to 1) explore alkali activated materials (AAM) with high-flowability and high-anion retention capacity and its recipe, 2) try mock-up manufacture and evaluation for one-tenth the size of real waste and propose the concept of the manufacturing equipment for a real plant, 3) show potential of AAM as the material for the solidification of waste with various physicochemical properties and radioactive nuclide compositions from the result ...

Safe, efficient cementation of challenging radioactive wastes using alkali activated materials with high-flowability and high-anion retention capacity (Contract research); FY2019 Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project

Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science; Hokkaido University*

JAEA-Review 2020-054, 72 Pages, 2021/01

JAEA-Review-2020-054.pdf:5.62MB

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 FY2019. 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 FY2019, this report summarizes the research results of the "Safe, efficient cementation of challenging radioactive wastes using alkali activated materials with high-flowability and high-anion retention capacity". The purpose of this study is to find safe, efficient cementation of challenging radioactive wastes using alkali activated materials with high-flowability and high-anion retention capacity, and to propose the concept of a manufacturing apparatus that is established as an actual plant. As a result of study in this year, it was revealed that the K-based alkali activated material has high-flowability and quick curing, and that high-iodine retention capacity is achieved by incorporating silver ions during manufacturing of solidified waste.

Consideration on modeling of Nb sorption onto clay minerals

Yamaguchi, Tetsuji; Ohira, Saki; Hemmi, Ko; Barr, L.; Shimada, Asako; Maeda, Toshikatsu; Iida, Yoshihisa

Radiochimica Acta, 108(11), p.873 - 877, 2020/11

https://doi.org/10.1515/ract-2020-0006

Lanthanide intra-series separation by a 1,10-phenanthroline derivative; Counterion effect

Simonnet, M.; Suzuki, Shinichi; Miyazaki, Yuji*; Kobayashi, Toru; Yokoyama, Keiichi; Yaita, Tsuyoshi

Solvent Extraction and Ion Exchange, 38(4), p.430 - 440, 2020/00

https://doi.org/10.1080/07366299.2020.1744806

Solvent extraction of metal ions using a new extractant, biuret(C8)

Sasaki, Yuji; Yoshimitsu, Ryo*; Nishihama, Shohei*; Shimbori, Yuma*; Shiroishi, Hidenobu*

Separation Science and Technology, 52(7), p.1186 - 1192, 2017/03

https://doi.org/10.1080/01496395.2017.1284863

The new extractant, biuret(C8), is synthesized and tested for the solvent extraction of hard acid metals like actinides and soft acid metals. This compound has the similar central frame to malonamide but with 2-NH introduced into the central frame, then both amidic oxygen and nitrogen atoms may bond with metals. From the present work, not only hard acid metals, but also soft acid metals can be extracted by biuret(C8) from nitric or perchloric acids to n-dodecane. The extractability for biuret(C8) is compared with other representative extractants, malonamide, TODGA and MIDOA. It is clear that the distribution ratio(D) of U and Pu by biuret(C8) is similar to those for malonamide, but with lower values than those for TODGA and MIDOA, and D for soft acid metals and oxonium anions show higher values than those for TODGA and malonamide and lower than those for MIDOA.

In situ X-ray diffraction study of the oxide formed on alloy 600 in borated and lithiated high-temperature water

Watanabe, Masashi*; Yonezawa, Toshio*; Shobu, Takahisa; Shiro, Ayumi; Shoji, Tetsuo*

Corrosion, 72(9), p.1155 - 1169, 2016/09

https://doi.org/10.5006/1994

Periodical public opinion survey on nuclear energy; Inhabitants living Tokyo metropolitan area

Shinoda, Yoshihiko; Tsuchida, Shoji*; Kimura, Hiroshi*

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi, 13(3), p.94 - 112, 2014/09

https://doi.org/10.3327/taesj.J13.018

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident (Fukushima accident) has brought about a great change in many people's perceptions about nuclear power plant safety. When discussing future energy options for Japan, it is important to have a full grasp of the attitude of a large number of people towards nuclear energy. The Atomic Energy Society of Japan has conducted annual questionnaire survey of 500 adults who live within 30 kilometers of Tokyo Station. The aim of this survey is to assess trends in public attitude towards nuclear energy. The authors that designed the questionnaire entries of this survey have been managing questionnaire data as members of the Data Management Working Group under the Social and Environmental Division of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan. We confirmed the change in public attitude towards nuclear energy through this periodical survey after the Fukushima accident. In particular, public concerns about the use of nuclear energy increased after the Fukushima accident, and many people have raised doubts over the use of nuclear energy in the future.

Synthesis and characterization of nickel-copper hydroxide acetate, NiCu(OH)(OCOCH) 0.9HO

Kozai, Naofumi; Mitamura, Hisayoshi; Fukuyama, Hiroyasu; Esaka, Fumitaka; Komarneni, S.*

Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 89(1-3), p.123 - 131, 2006/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micromeso.2005.10.015

Layered transition metal hydroxide salt (LTMHS) is a group of anion-exchangeable layered compounds. Although LTMHSs have recentely attracted attention of researches on anion exchange and intercalation, very limited numbers of reports have been published on their synthesis, characteristics, and applications. This paper describes basic characteristics of a new LTMHS, nickel-copper hydroxide acetate. Hydrothermal Heating of an aqueous solution containing nickel acetate, copper acetate, and hydrogen peroxide to 150C for 4h yielded a layered compound with an analytical composition of NiCu(OH)(OCOCH) 0.9HO. This compound does not take up Cl and NO in aqueous solution but takes up multivalent anions and shows high selectivity in uptake of toxic SeO and AsO. This compound may find applicarion in the removal of those toxic anions form natural water and wastewater rich in Cl and NO.