• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.547-555
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• 2023

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.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.659-669
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to elucidate the relationship between occurrence of natural radioactive materials such as ²³⁸U and ²²²Rn and original mixing ratio of helium isotope of groundwater from various geology, and to suggest the underground aquifer environment from helium original mixing data. 9 groundwater samples were collected from five study areas, and ²³⁸U, Rn-222 and helium isotope were analyzed. A high ²³⁸U content of the range of 218~477 ㎍ /L in the groundwater occurs in the twomica granite. ⁴He air-crust mixing ratio and the Rn-222 content show a rough relation, that is, Rn-222 content increases according to the increase of ⁴He crust mixing ratio. Because of helium and radon are an inert gas, their behavior in underground environment is assumed as an analogous. The ²³⁸U content and He isotope in groundwater does not show any distinct correlation. The groundwater can be classified as three groups (air, air-crust mixing, crust-mantle mixing origin) on the diagram of ³He/⁴He vs ⁴He/²⁰Ne, which is composed of original mixing line from air-crust-mantle end members. This original mixing of helium can provide the information of underground aquifer characteristic such as the connection with surface environment or isolation condition from air environment.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.407-417
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• 2004

This study is to verify radiation detection method by using $\alpha$-spectroscopy and ${\gamma}$-spectroscopy for concretes and components which will be generated during the decommissioning of the uranium conversion plant. Components and inside walls of the building were contaminated with natural uranium materials. Some parts of the stainless steel pipes and concretes of the walls were sampled and analyzed their alpha and gamma activities respectively. Alpha and gamma activities are well matched each other in the range of high activity region to 0.01 Bq/g and gamma activities are over estimated comparing alpha activities corresponded in below 0.005 Bq/g region for the natural uranium of AUC sample. The $^{238}U$ originated from natural products of conversion process could be distinguished by measuring $^{214}Pb$ or $^{214}Bi$ and $^{234}Th$ or $^{234m}Pa$. Uranium contaminations mainly are in the wall surface of the plant. Decontamination process of generating wastes which can be reached tp background level gamma activities measured by gamma spectroscopy can also be used to conservative assessment data.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.03a
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• pp.238-238
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• 2003

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.347-352
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• 2005

This research was focused on the distribution of Uranium-238 concentration in the Han River. Also, six water treatment plants in Seoul have been investigated to find out the behaviour and the removal capability of uranium. The uranium concentrations were ranged $0.02{\sim}0.54{\mu}g/L$ in the Han River. The relationship between conductivity and total dissolved solids shows that uranium concentration is positively related with conductivity and total dissolved solids. In addition, it has been founded that there was no relevance between uranium concentration and geological structure, because most of the sampling area are Banded Gneiss. The average uranium concentration in six water treatment plants was determined to $0.134\;{\mu}g/L$ in raw water, $0.050\;{\mu}g/L$ in coagulated water, $0.029\;{\mu}g/L$ in settled water, $0.020\;{\mu}g/L$ in filtered water, $0.019\;{\mu}g/L$ in finished water. After filtration in the treatment process, uranium concentration level was maintained lower than $0.029\;{\mu}g/L$. The average uranium removal efficiency compared to the raw water was 63% after coagulation, 15% after sedimentation, 8% after filtration and disinfection. The analysis shows that 78% of uranium in the raw water was removed during coagulation and sedimentation processes. However, 8% of that was removed through filtration and chlorination processes.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2012

An analytical method was developed for the measurement of uranium isotope in ground water using the liquid scintillation counting technique. A LKB Wallac Quantulus 1220 liquid scintillation counter (LSC) equipped with pulse shape analyzer (PSA) and a solvent extraction method were used for the measurement of uranium isotope in ground water samples. The effect of solution volume on the extraction efficiency was evaluated for 100 to 1000 mL solutions using a NIST standard reference material (NIST SRM 4321C). The effect of groundwater pH on the extraction efficiency was also investigated for pH ranging from 0.5 to 10. It was found that the extraction efficiency had a strong dependence on pH showing a maximum at pH 2. In contrast, the effect of groundwater volume on the extraction efficiency was negligible in the range investigated. According to the method, the extraction efficiency of uranium isotopes was near 96% and the lower detection limit for uranium was 0.018 Bq/L with the counting time of 300 min. The result of this study was also verified by the conventional ICP-MS measurement. It is demonstrated that the suggested method is valuable to the determination of the optimum extraction and measurement conditions for uranium in ground water. The method was successfully applied to the ground water at four locations near the Daejeon province. It was found that the uranium content and the isotopic ratio of $^{234}U/^{238}U$ at the locations ranged 0.59~6.69 Bq/L and 0.72~1.40, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2016.05a
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• pp.237-238
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• 2016

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.237-238
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• 2012

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.238-238
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• 2004

우라늄 변환시설은 중수로용 $UO_2$ 분말 제조 시설로서 2001년도부터 제염 해체를 통한 변환시설 환경복원사업을 시작하였다. 변환 공정의 운전 중 발생하여 라군(lagoon)에 저장되어 있는 방사성 슬러지 폐액의 처리는 시설의 해체과정에서 매우 중요한 업무중의 하나이다. 라군 슬러지의 주성분은 $NH_4NO_3$, $NaNO_3$, $Ca(NO_3)_3$, $CaCO_3$ 및 U 화합물과 소량의 Fe, Mg, Al, Si 및 P 화합물로 구성되어 있다.(중략)

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.237-238
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• 2001

라돈(Rn-222)은 우라늄(U-238) 방사능계열의 원소로서 라듐(Ra-226)의 알파($\alpha$)붕괴시 자연생성되는 가스상 물질이다. 암석 내에서 생성되어 공극내에서 물에 용해된 라돈은 붕괴하지 않고 상태를 유지하게 되는데 이런 라돈이 존재하는 암석층으로부터 지하수를 취수할 경우, 상당량의 라돈이 지하수속에 용해되어 있을 수 있다. 이렇게 용해된 상당량의 라돈은 실내공기로 휘발하면서 주변으로 확산하게 된다. (중략)