• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.300-305
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• 2003

One of the most important parts in constructing radioactive waste repository may be its safety aspect. The fundamental function of the repository is to isolate completely and forever the radioactive wastes disposed of in it. However, since either normally or abnormally nuclides are to be released from the repository with a certain causes. The hydraulic conductivity is related to transportation of nuclide in soil. However, hydraulic characteristics research in unsaturated soil is not enough at present time. A fast and easy procedure for estimating unsaturated flow parameters is presented. The estimation is based on direct measurement of the retention characteristics combined with inverse estimation of the hydraulic conductivity characteristics from one-step outflow experiment.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.12-22
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• 2014

This study evaluated the pattern of groundwater fluctuation in cyrstalline rock using time series and factor analyses. From the results, groundwater level for the 18 wells was classified into 4 types reflecting the hydrogeological properties and rainfall event. Type 1 (DB1-5, DB1-6, DB2-2, KB-10, KB-13) was significantly influenced by groundwater flow through water-conducting features, whereas type 2 (DB1-3, DB1-7, KB-1~KB-3, KB-7, KB-11, KB-14, KB-15) was affected by minor fracture network as well as rainfall event. Type 3 (DB1-1, DB1-2) was mainly influenced by surface infiltration of rainfall event. Type 4 (DB1-8, KB-9) was reflected by the irregular variation of groundwater level caused by anisotropy and heterogeneity of crystalline rock.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.33-48
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• 2017

An optimum disposal plan of disused sealed radioactive sources (DSRSs) should be established to ensure long-term disposal safety at the low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste (LILW) disposal facility in Gyeongju. In this study, an optimum disposal system was suggested and preliminary post-closure safety assessment was performed. The DSRSs disposal system was composed of a rock cavern and near surface disposal facilities at the Gyeongju LILW disposal facility. The assessment was conducted using GoldSim program, and probabilistic assessment and sensitivity analysis were implemented to evaluate the uncertainties in the input parameters of natural barriers. Deterministic and probabilistic calculations indicated that the maximum dose was below the regulatory limits ($0.1mSvyr^{-1}$ for the normal scenario, $1mSvyr^{-1}$ for the well scenario). It was concluded that the DSRSs disposal system would maintain environmental safety over a long-time. Moreover, the partition coefficient of Np in host rock, Darcy velocity in host rock, and density of the host rock were the most sensitive parameters in predicting exposure dose in the safety assessment.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.209-216
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• 2015

It has been about 5 years since the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, which contaminated large area with radioactive materials. It is necessary to assess radiation dose to establish evacuation areas and to set decontamination goal for the large contaminated area. In this study, we assessed temporal trend of radiation dose to the public living in the large area contaminated with radioactive materials after the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident. The dose assessment was performed based on Chernobyl model and RESRAD model for two evacuation lift areas, Kawauchi and Naraha. It was reported that deposition densities in the areas were $4.3{\sim}96kBq\;m^{-2}$ for $^{134}Cs$, $1.4{\sim}300kBq\;m^{-2}$ for $^{137}Cs$, respectively. Radiation dose to the residents depended on radioactive cesium concentrations in the soil, ranging $0.11{\sim}2.4mSv\;y^{-1}$ at Kawauchi area and $0.69{\sim}1.1mSv\;y^{-1}$ at Naraha area in July 2014. The difference was less than 5% in radiation doses estimated by two different models. Radiation dose decreased with calendar time and the decreasing slope varied depending on dose assessment models. Based on the Chernobyl dosimetry model, radiation doses decreased with calendar time to about 65% level of the radiation dose in 2014 after 1 year, 11% level after 10 years, and 5.6% level after 30 years. RESRAD dosimetry model more slowly decreased radiation dose with time to about 85% level after 1 year, 40% level after 10 years, and 15% level after 30 years. The decrease of radiation dose can be mainly attributed into radioactive decays and environmental transport of the radioactive cesium. Only environmental transports of radioactive cesium without consideration of radioactive decays decreased radiation dose additionally 43% after 1 year, 72% after 3 years, 80% after 10 years, and 83% after 30 years. Radiation doses estimated with cesium concentration in the soil based on Chernobyl dosimetry model were compared with directly measured radiation doses. The estimated doses well agreed with the measurement data. This study results can be applied to radiation dose assessments at the contaminated area for radiation safety assurance or emergency preparedness.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.840-846
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• 2016

Great amounts of solid radioactive waste (second waste) and waste solution are generated from the remediation of uranium-contaminated soil. To reduce these, we investigated washing with a less acidic solution and recycling the waste solution after removal of the dominant elements and uranium. Increasing the pH of the washing solution from 0.5 to 1.5 would be beneficial in terms of economics. A high content of calcium in the waste solution was precipitated by adding sulfuric acid. The second waste can be significantly reduced by using sorption and desorption techniques on ampholyte resin S-950 prior to the precipitation of uranium at pH 3.0.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.32-37
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• 2003

The amount of 4,500 drums of soil waste are temporarily stored in KAERI. In order to develop a technology for safe treatment of the soil waste, a number of tests were performed by applying cement and polymer as solidifier. Immobilization specimens were adequately made by mixing soil waste with cement or polymer Compressive strength and leaching tests were performed in order to see the fulfillment to standard of disposal following the storage. A compressive strength, about 5,300psi was obtained from both solidifiers of cement containing 40% of soil waste and polymer containing 60%. The obtained leaching index was larger than 11, which was satisfied with the relevant standard. It was shown that the integrity of the solidified waste much depends on homogenization in solidifying process and hardness of the specimen. Volume reduction of solidified waste with polymer was better than that of cement by 20%.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.415-424
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• 1998

In order to investigate soil-gas $^{222}Rn$ concentrations, Kwanak Campus (Seoul National University), Boeun (Choong-buk) and Gapyung (Kyonggi) areas were selected and classified depending on their base rock types. Radon risk indices of these study areas decrease in the order of Gapyung>Kwanak Campus>Boeun areas, and in the order of rock type as banded gneiss>granite gneiss>granite>black slate-shale>mica schist>shale-lirnestone>phyllite-schist. Radon emanating trends with water content and grain size of soils were assessed by modified Morse 3 min. method. Radon emanation increases with the increase of water content in soils which is lower than 6~16 wt.%, and decreases in the range of higher than 6-16 wt. %. It shows that Rn emanation increases with the decrease of soil grain size. Radioactivity analysis of radionuclides of 238U series in some soil samples shows that radioactive disequilibrium state between $^{226}Ra$ and $^{238}U$ exists owing to different geochemical behavior of each radionuclide, and, it is necessary to carry out radioactive isotope geochemical approach for soil-gas $^{222}Rn$ study.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.416-421
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• 2003

To develop an easy, low-cost method for evaluating the degree of weathering by radioactive prospecting, radioactive prospecting and the investigation of the degree of weathering were carried out in the southern Kitakami massif of Iwate Prefecture, Japan, in which weathering granitic rocks was distributed. Fifty outcrops in the study area were selected, and strength of the gamma-rays emitted from the weathering bedrock of $^{40}K,\;^{214}Bi,\;and\;^{208}Tl$ was measured for 15 minutes at each point. At the same points, soil hardness was measured on the surface of the outcrop with a Yamanaka soil penetration tester. In addition, 100cc samples of each outcrop were taken with the sampler. The samples were analyzed by XRD, and the kind of the rock-forming minerals containing K was identified. We then compared the degree of weathering and the radioactive prospecting results by using K as an indicator. The relation between $^{40}K/^{208}Tl$ gamma rays counting rate by the radioactive prospecting and the hardness index showed a positive correlation as a result of the investigation, and the correlation coefficient ($R^2$) was 0.67.Moreover, when $^{40}K/^{208}Tl$ gamma rays counting rate emitted from the bedrock was low, the number of rock-forming mineral species containing K was also low. Thus, it was found that $^{40}K/^{208}Tl$ gamma rays counting rate measured by the radioactive prospecting could be used as an indicator of the degree of weathering.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.13-23
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• 2004

The characteristics of cesium and cobalt removal from soil around the TRIGA reactor using the electrokinetic method were analyzed and a device to restrain the pH increase in the soil column was suggested. When a NaCl solution was used as the electrolyte to raise the electric field strength, a precipitate was formed in the cathode in the soil column, resulting in a low removal efficiency. Thus, an acetate buffer solution (compound solution of $CH_3COONa$ and $CH_3COOH$) was injected into the soil column and acetic acid was periodically infected into the cathode reservoir to restrain any pH increase. Many $Cs^{2+}$ and $Co^{2+}$ ions were transferred by electromigration rather than electroosmosis during the initial remediation period, and no precipitate was formed in the soil column. 96% of the total amount of cesium in the soil column was removed after 5.9 days, while 94% of the total amount of cobalt was removed. Furthermore, the residual concentrations predicted by the developed model were similar to those obtained by experiment.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.58-70
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• 2023

The improper management of radioactive waste or accidents caused by natural disasters can result in the release of radioactive materials into the surrounding environment, potentially leading to soil and groundwater contamination by radionuclides. In this study, adsorption-desorption behaviors of the radionuclides (cobalt and strontium) in natural soil, montmorillonite, Mn-PILC, Fe-PILC, and fishbone were investigated. Several models were used to predict adsorption isotherms of radionuclides on various absorbents. Adsorption isotherms of cobalt and strontium in several adsorbents were examined at pH 5.5. The amount of sorbed cobalt and strontium were represented fishbone > natural soil > Mn-PILC > Fe-PILC > montmorillonite and natural soil > Mn-PILC > fishbone > Fe-PILC > montmorillonite, respectively. Adsorption datas were fitted with several models such as Freundlich, Langmuir, Sips, Redlich-Peterson, Khan, and Generalized model. The results of curve fitting showed R²> 0.98 in all of adsorption models, except Sr²⁺ adsorption onto montmorillonite. For modified clays (Mn-PILC, Fe-PILC), it is suggested that, unlike natural soils and fish bones, there are not only single adsorption mechanisms but also adsorption mechanisms based on chemical adsorption and surface charge. In the case of fish bones, due to the relatively higher adsorption capacity than modified clays and its characteristic of significant desorption, it is expected more suitable for the removal of radionuclides in aquatic environments than for the immobilization of radionuclides in soil.