Chemical species of cesium and iodine in condensed vaporized microparticles formed by melting nuclear fuel components with concrete materials
Journal
Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts
Journal Volume
25
Journal Issue
7
Start Page
1204
End Page
1212
ISSN
2050-7887
2050-7895
Date Issued
2023
Author(s)
Abstract
In this study, we report chemical species of Cs and I in condensed vaporized particles (CVPs) produced by melting experiments using nuclear fuel components containing CsI with concrete. Analyses of CVPs by SEM with EDX showed the formation of many round particles containing Cs and I of diameters less than ∼20 μm. X-ray absorption near-edge-structure and SEM-EDX analyses showed two kinds of particles: one containing large amounts of Cs and I, suggesting the presence of CsI, and the other containing small amounts of Cs and I with large Si content. When CVSs were placed in contact with deionized water, most of the CsI from both particles was dissolved. In contrast, some fractions of Cs remained from the latter particles and possessed different chemical species from CsI. In addition, the remaining Cs was concomitantly present with Si, resembling chemical components in the highly radioactive cesium-rich microparticles (CsMPs) released by nuclear plant accidents into the surrounding environments. These results strongly suggest that Cs was incorporated in CVSs along with Si by melting nuclear fuel components to form sparingly-soluble CVMPs.
Subjects
Cesium
Cesium Radioisotopes
Fukushima Nuclear Accident
Iodine
Japan
Nuclear Power Plants
Radiation Monitoring
Cesium iodide
Concretes
Deionized water
Nuclear fuels
Nuclear reactor accidents
Silicon
X ray absorption
cesium
chemical compound
chromium
concrete
deionized water
iodine
iron
nickel
nuclear fuel
zinc ion
Chemical component
Chemical species
Concrete materials
Deionised waters
Fuel components
Large amounts
Micro particles
SEM-EDX
Si content
X-ray absorption near-edge structure
Article
chemical composition
melting point
nuclear power plant
scanning electron microscopy
vaporization
X ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy
Fukushima nuclear accident
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Type
journal article