• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.12
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• pp.4441-4448
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• 2022

The electrochemical oxidation process has been widely studied in the field of wastewater treatment for the decomposition of organic materials through oxidation using ·OH generated on the anode. Pt anode electrodes with high durability and long-term operability have a low oxygen evolution potential, making them unsuitable for electrochemical oxidation processes. Therefore, to apply Pt electrodes that are suitable for long-term operation and large-scale processes, it is necessary to develop a new method for improving the decomposition rate of organic materials. This study introduces a method to improve the decomposition rate of organic materials when using a Pt anode electrode in the electrochemical oxidation process for the treatment of organic decontamination liquid waste. Electrochemical decomposition tests were performed using sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) as a representative organic material and a Pt mesh as the anode electrode. Y₂O₃ particles were introduced into the electrolytic cell to improve the decomposition rate. The decomposition rate significantly improved from 21% to 99%, and the current efficiency also improved. These results can be applied to the electrochemical oxidation process without additional system modification to enhance the decomposition rate and current efficiency.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.368-368
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• 2017

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.731-736
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• 2007

Radioactive organic wastes containing acetone, alcohol, and particularly tributyl phosphate (TBP)/dodecane contaminated with uranium are extracted from the PUREX process and the decontamination of related equipment. An evaporation method that utilizes existing DU oxidation apparatuses and ventilation systems and a typical muffle furnace installed with an aspirating system are adopted. A separation method using phosphoric acid especially for the TBP/dodecane waste is also studied and evaluated. The results show that a simple evaporation process is utilizable for wastes containing acetone or alcohol with a lower boiling point. A modified muffle furnace is more appropriate to dispose directly of organic wastes having a higher boiling point, such as TBP/dodecane, without generating a condensed waste solution. It is recommended that, when the uranium concentration of TBP/dodecane waste is much higher than stipulated levels, separation technology should be applied to remove uranium from the mixture. Each type of solvent after separation can then be considered disposable below the regulatory limit in the modified furnace discussed in this study.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.35-36
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• 2010

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2018.11a
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• pp.571-572
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• 2018

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.352-366
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• 2022

Nuclear power plant operations for electricity generation, rare-earth mining, nuclear medical research, and nuclear weapons reprocessing considerably increase radioactive waste, necessitating massive efforts to eradicate radioactive waste from aquatic environments. Cobalt (⁵⁸Co) and strontium (⁹⁰Sr) radioactive elements have been extensively employed in energy generation, nuclear weapon testing, and the manufacture of healthcare products. The erroneous discharge of these elements as pollutants into the aquatic system, radiation emissions, and long-term disposal is extremely detrimental to humans and aquatic biota. Numerous methods for treating radioactive waste-contaminated water have emerged, among which the adsorption process has been promoted for its efficacy in eliminating radioactive waste from aquatic habitats. The current review discusses the adsorptive removal of radioactive waste from aqueous solutions using low-cost adsorbents, such as graphene oxide, metal-organic frameworks, and inorganic metal oxides, as well as their composites. The chemical modification of adsorbents to increase their removal efficiency is also discussed. Finally, the current state of ⁵⁸Co and ⁹⁰Sr removal performances is summarized and the efficiencies of various adsorbents are compared.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.127-128
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• 2006

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.247.2-247.2
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• 2004

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.279-296
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• 2022

The fundamental characteristics of groundwater colloids, such as composition, concentration, size, and stability, were analyzed using granitic groundwater samples taken from the KAERI Underground Research Tunnel (KURT) site by such analytical methods as inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, field emission-transmission electron microscopy, a liquid chromatography-organic carbon detector, and dynamic light scattering technique. The results show that the KURT groundwater colloids are mainly composed of clay minerals, calcite, metal (Fe) oxide, and organic matter. The size and concentration of the groundwater colloids were 10-250 nm and 33-64 ㎍·L^-1, respectively. These values are similar to those from other studies performed in granitic groundwater. The groundwater colloids were found to be moderately stable under the groundwater conditions of the KURT site. Consequently, the groundwater colloids in the fractured granite system of the KURT site can form stable radiocolloids and increase the mobility of radionuclides if they associate with radionuclides released from a radioactive waste repository. The results provide basic data for evaluating the effects of groundwater colloids on radionuclide migration in fractured granite rock, which is necessary for the safety assessment of a high-level radioactive waste repository.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.281-282
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• 2004