• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.21-32
• /
• 2019

Eggshell is a waste material after the usage of egg. In this work, biowaste chicken eggshells were used for preparing carbonated hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles of high purity through aqueous precipitation method at room temperature. The eggshell-derived HA will be a cost-effective bioceramics for biomedical applications and an effective material-recycling technology. Additionally, mulberry leaf extract was used as a template to regulate the morphology, size and crystallinity of HA, and the effects of pH value were also examined. Characterization of the samples was performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to determine the size, shape and morphology of HA. The results indicate that only one phase of HA were synthesized in the both absence and presence of mulberry leaf extract at pH of 7 and above, while DCPD or DCPA/DCPD phase was observed at pH 4 condition. The crystallite sizes of the HA samples obviously decreased when adding mulberry leaf extract as a template, while they decreased gradually as the solution pH levels increased. With increasing pH level from 7 to 14, the rod-like HA nanoparticles gradually changed to spherical shape at pH 14. Note that, the obtained product is Mg and Sr containing A- and B-type carbonate HA at alkaline pH and it can be a potential material for biomedical applications.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.397-410
• /
• 2022

The safety of the disposal repository for high level radioactive waste should be guaranteed for a quite long period so that the precise evaluations are required. The site characteristics of the discontinuities are essential part of the safe repository design including engineered barrier and natural barrier systems. The discontinuities act like weak planes and at the same time, they act as flow paths so that their features should be investigated thoroughly. RQD (Rock Quality Designation) is one of the most widely applied characterizing methods due to its simplicity, however, modified designations have been proposed because RQD has some drawbacks, such as its directivity and dependence on the threshold length. This study aims to evaluate the applicability of the modified designations by applying them to the rock mass around KURT and to produce fundamental database that will be utilized in future studies.

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

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.71-87
• /
• 2024

In deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste, the surrounding rock at the immediate vicinity of the deposition hole may experience localized changes in permeability due to in-situ stress at depth, swelling pressure from resaturated bentonite buffer, and the heat generated from the decay of radioactive isotopes. In this study, experimental data on changes in permeability of granite, a promising candidate rock type in South Korea, were obtained by applying various confining pressures and temperature conditions expected in the actual disposal environment. By conducting the permeability test on KURT granite specimens under three or more hydrostatic pressure conditions, the relation in which the permeability decreases exponentially as the confining pressure increases was derived. The temperature-induced changes in permeability were found to be negligible at temperatures below the expected maximum of 90℃. In addition, by establishing a relation in which the initial permeability is proportional to the power of the initial porosity, it was possible to estimate permeability value for granite with a specific porosity under a certain confining pressure.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.133-140
• /
• 2024

The Korean 2^nd basic plan for management of high-level radioactive waste presented a plan to manage spent nuclear fuel through dry storage facilities in NPP on-site. For the construction and operation of the facility, it is necessary to develop the monitoring system of the integrity of spent nuclear fuel before operation. NUREG-1536 recommends that the theoretical cask array, typically in the 2×10 array, should account for shadowing effect among the dry storage casks. The objective of this study was to evaluate neutron flux accounting for shadowing effect among dry storage casks. The neutron release rate was evaluated using ORIGEN based on the design basis fuel condition. And the simulation of dry storage casks and evaluation of the shadowing effect were performed using MCNP. Shadowing effect of other dry storage casks was the highest at the center of the dry storage facility of the 2×10 array compared with the outside of the cask. The shadowing effect of neutron flux on the surface among the metal casks was approximately 18% at point 1, 23% at point 2, and 43% at point 3. For the concrete casks, the shadowing effect of neutron flux on the surface was approximately 46% at point 1, 51% at point 2, and 52% at point 3. This means that correction is necessary to monitor the integrity of spent nuclear fuel in each dry storage cask through evaluation of shadowing effect. The results of this study will be used for comparative analysis of neutron measurement data from spent nuclear fuels in dry storage cask. Additionally, the neutron flux evaluation procedure used in this study could be used as the basic data of safety assessment of dry storage cask and development of safety guide.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.249-266
• /
• 2024

Bentonite buffer material is an important component of engineered barrier designed for the safe disposal of high-level radioactive waste. Under certain groundwater conditions, erosion or piping phenomena of the material can happen, which may compromise the overall safety of the whole engineered barrier system. Previous domestic researches related to it have been conducted at a laboratory scale so that those are subject to some limitations, despite their valuable results. Therefore, KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) has planned the BEPT (Bentonite Erosion and Piping Test) to extend and validate the previous works at a field conditions. Prior to detailed experimental design, case studies that had been conducted by leading countries in disposal research were collected and analyzed. The analyses included suitable site conditions and system design, which were incorporated into the detailed design of BEPT. This technical report aims to introduce the previous researches and the current status of the ongoing BEPT experiment.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.267-282
• /
• 2024

This study aims to develop a wireless communication system for long-term monitoring of high-level radioactive waste disposal facilities. Conventional wired sensors can lead to a deterioration in buffer quality and management difficulties due to the use of cables for power supply and data transmission. This study proposes the adoption of a wireless communication system and compares the received signal strengths within bentonite using modules such as WiFi, ZigBee, and LoRa. Increases in dry density of bentonite and distance between transceivers led to reduced received signal strength. Additionally, using the low-frequency band exhibited less signal attenuation. Based on these findings, a conceptual design for a wireless network-based THM integrated sensor system was proposed. Results of this study can be used as foundational data for long-term monitoring of disposal facility.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.137-148
• /
• 2017

This study analyzed the opinions of residents for desirable urban regeneration and suggested an improvement plan for alley environments. This study conducted a questionnaire survey of the residents living in Alley Garden of Bisan 2,3-dong, Daegu Metropolitan City. In the analysis of the importance and satisfaction of Alley Garden components, items related to a safe, cleanly environment such as 'Lighting facility installation', 'Sewage and waste disposal' and 'CCTV installation' had a high level of importance. It was also found that items improved by the Residential Environment Improvement Project and Alley Garden such as 'Lighting facility installation', 'Quantity of herbaceous flowers' and 'Kinds of herbaceous flowers' had a high level of satisfaction. The IPA results showed that items such as 'Empty house maintenance', 'Rest facilities such as benches and pergolas', 'Space for resident interaction' and 'Public parking lot' had a high level of importance, but had a low level of satisfaction, which suggests that they should be improved by priority. As a result of factor analysis, Alley Garden components were classified into four factors: 'Safety and cleanliness', 'Greenness', 'Exchange and convenience facility' and 'Aesthetics renewal'. Based on this classification, a regression analysis was conducted regarding the effects of the four factors on overall satisfaction. Results showed that all four factors had a significant influence on the overall satisfaction and that 'Aesthetics renewal' and 'Safety and cleanliness', respectively showing levels of significance at 0.274 and 0.235, were highly influential to overall satisfaction. Therefore, it was concluded that spaces for resident interaction and rest facilities should be preferentially installed to improve the environment of alleys. For the improvement of the overall satisfaction of alley environments, it was also concluded that residents should be encouraged to engage in activities such as sculpture installation and mural drawing, along with the introduction of safety bells and crime prevention environment design and the implementation of alley beautification projects.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.117-128
• /
• 2017

Occurrence characteristics and existing forms of U-Th containing minerals in KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) granite are investigated to understand long-term behavior of radionuclides in granite considered as a candidate rock for the geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. KURT granite primarily consists of quartz, feldspar and mica. zircon, REE(Rare Earth Element)-containing monazite and bastnaesite are also identified. Besides, secondary minerals such as sericite, microcline and chlorite including quartz vein and calcite vein are observed. These minerals are presumed to be accompanied by a post-hydrothermal process. U-Th containing minerals are mainly observed at the boundaries of quartz, feldspar and mica, mostly less than $30{\mu}m$ in size. Quantitative analysis results using EPMA (Electron Probe Micro-Analyzer) show that 74.2 ~ 96.5% of the U-Th containing minerals consist of $UO_2$ (3.39 ~ 33.19 wt.%), $ThO_2$ (41.61 ~ 50.24 wt.%) and $SiO_2$ (15.43 ~ 18.60 wt.%). Chemical structure of the minerals calculated using EPMA quantitative analysis shows that the U-Th minerals are silicate minerals determined as thorite and uranothorite. The U-Th containing silicate minerals are formed by a magmatic and hydrothermal process. Therefore, KURT granite formed by a magmatic differentiation is accompanied by an alteration and replacement owing to a hydrothermal process. U-Th containing silicate minerals in KURT granite are estimated to be recrystallized by geochemical factors and parameters such as temperature, pressure and pH owing to the hydrothermal process. By repeated dissolution/precipitation during the recrystallization process, U-Th containing silicate minerals such as thorite and uranothorite are formed according to the variation in the concentrated amount of U and Th.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.30-58
• /
• 2022

The deep geological repository for high-level radioactive waste disposal is a multi barrier system comprised of engineered barriers and a natural barrier. The long-term integrity of the deep geological repository is affected by the coupled interactions between the individual barrier components. Erosion and piping phenomena in the compacted bentonite buffer due to buffer-rock interactions results in the removal of bentonite particles via groundwater flow and can negatively impact the integrity and performance of the buffer. Rapid groundwater inflow at the early stages of disposal can lead to piping in the bentonite buffer due to the buildup of pore water pressure. The physiochemical processes between the bentonite buffer and groundwater lead to bentonite swelling and gelation, resulting in bentonite erosion from the buffer surface. Hence, the evaluation of erosion and piping occurrence and its effects on the integrity of the bentonite buffer is crucial in determining the long-term integrity of the deep geological repository. Previous studies on bentonite erosion and piping failed to consider the complex coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical behavior of bentonite-groundwater interactions and lacked a comprehensive model that can consider the complex phenomena observed from the experimental tests. In this technical note, previous studies on the mechanisms, lab-scale experiments and numerical modeling of bentonite buffer erosion and piping are introduced, and the future expected challenges in the investigation of bentonite buffer erosion and piping are summarized.