자원환경지질 (Economic and Environmental Geology)

  • 제56권5호
  • /
  • Pages.547-555
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  • 2023
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  • 1225-7281(pISSN)
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  • 2288-7962(eISSN)
대한자원환경지질학회 (The Korean Society of Economic and Environmental Geology)
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우라늄 동위원소의 분석과 활용에 대한 고찰

A Review on Analysis of Natural Uranium Isotopes and Their Application

  • 김영민 (한국기초과학지원연구원 환경분석연구부)
  • 투고 : 2023.09.06
  • 심사 : 2023.10.11
  • 발행 : 2023.10.30
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⟨ 이전 논문 다음 논문 ⟩

초록

분석 기기의 발달과 더불어 자연 우라늄 동위원소 비(238U/235U)와 분별작용에 대한 연구가 점차 증가하고 있다. MC-ICP-MS을 이용한 우라늄 동위원소의 정밀한 분석이 가능해지면서 137.88의 고정된 값으로 여겨졌던 자연 물질의 238U/235U 비가 우라늄 동위원소 분별작용에 의해 최대 수 퍼밀까지 변화할 수 있다는 것이 밝혀졌다. 본 고찰에서는 우라늄 동위원소의 분석과 표기에 대해 간략하게 설명한 후, 지구 상 주요 물질들의 우라늄 동위원소 값(δ238U)의 변화와 지구화학적 특징을 살펴본다. 특히, 우라늄 광상의 유형과 특징에 따른 우라늄 동위원소 조성 연구 사례를 소개하고, 상대적으로 큰 δ238U 범위를 야기하는 우라늄 동위원소 분별작용에 대해 논의한다. 이를 바탕으로 고준위 방사성 폐기물 처분장의 모의 실험을 위한 자연 유사 모델로서 우라늄 광상이 갖는 연구 의의에 대해 고찰한다.

Due to enhanced precision in uranium isotope measurements with MC-ICP-MS, there has been a surge in studies concerning the naturally occurring uranium isotope ratio (238U/235U) and its associated fractionation processes. Several researchers have highlighted that the 238U/235U ratio, previously assumed to be constant, can vary by several per mil depending on different natural fractionation processes. This review paper outlines the uranium isotope values (δ238U) for major terrestrial reservoirs and their variations. It discusses the range of δ238U values and uranium isotope fractionation seen in uranium ore deposits, based on deposit type and ore-forming conditions. In conclusion, this paper emphasizes the importance of studies on uranium ore deposits. Such deposits serve as natural simulation models vital for designing high-level radioactive waste repository sites.

키워드

과제정보

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (2020R1C1C1008859) and a KBSI grant (C330120). We appreciated two anonymous reviewers for improving the manuscript.

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