• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.263-269
• /
• 2015

It is necessary to investigate the electrodeposition behavior of uranium and other elements on the cathode in the electrorefining process to recover the uranium selectively from the reduced metals of the electrolytic reduction process since transuranic elements and rare earth elements is dissolved in the LiCl-KCl eutectic salt. Study on separation factors of U, Ce, Y and Nd based on U and Ce was performed to investigate the deposition behavior of the cathode with respect to the concentration of rare earth elements in LiCl-KCl eutectic salt. After electrorefining with constant current mode by using Ce metal as a sacrifice anode, the contents of U, Ce, Y and Nd in the salt phase and the deposit phase of the cathode were analyzed, and separation factors of the elements were obtained from the analyses. Securing conditions of pure uranium recovery in the elctrorefining process was investigated by considering the separation factors with respect to $UCl_3$ and $CeCl_3/UCl_3$ ratio.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
• /
• 2003.06a
• /
• pp.776-779
• /
• 2003

To reduce the storage space of spent fuel used at the atomic power plants in the over the world, the uranium elements contained in the spent fuel is being extracted and effectively stored. For this, the spent fuel are oxidized and deoxidized. In this study, it is produced the heat-resisting methods about the spent fuel management technology research and test facility for the spent fuel waste for spent fuel minimized. The first considered processes in the facility are the electrolytic metal reduction reactor process. Since the electrolytic metal reduction reactor is operated at the high temperature range, we have to consider the heat-resisting methods for the devices. For the heat-resisting methods, we have searched and analyzed technical reference for the heat-resisting methods. We have calculated thermal stress and strain of each devices by the commercial analysis software, ANSYS. D.S. It is experimented for inspecting confidence rate of analysis results. By using the results, we have analyzed the problems of parts and determined the heat-resisting material, commercial parts, and the size of parts and O-ring. Based on these results, it is produced the heat-resisting methods of magnesia filter, cathode, and reactor for the electrolytic metal reduction reactor.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.34-40
• /
• 1994

First observation of uranium using a diode laser was published recently. The experiment was performed by the optogalvanic spectroscopy using diode lasers. A laser source causes the current change in a hollow cathode discharge lamp when metal atoms in plasma absorb the diode laser light. The optogalvanic signal is collected by detecting the current change. This work is the extended investigation of our previous research, the uranium detection using a diode laser. New electronic transitions of uranium and thorium in 775∼850 nm were investigated using diode lasers. In addition, the Rb(Ⅰ) optogalvanic spectra at 780.02 nm and 794.76 nm were studied. The Rb(Ⅰ) spectrum at 780.02 nm showed the isotopic features and hyperfine splittings. This work provides a key idea that the diode lasers are useful in the specrochemical analysis of the radioactive actinides that have a rich spectrum with transitions which can be easily reached with AlGaAs diode lasers. Also, this study shows that the diode lasers can be an important tool to find the spectroscopic parameters of actinides and rare earth elements which have not known.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.471-477
• /
• 2009

An experimental removal of dissolved uranium (U) exsiting as uranyl ion (${UO_2}^{2+}$) was carried out using Shewanella p., iron-reducing bacterium. By the microbial reductive reaction, initial U concentration ($50{\mu}M$) was constantly decreased, and most U were removed from solution after 2 weeks. Major mechanism that U was removed from the solution was adsorption, precipitation and mineralization on the microbe surface. Under the transmission electron microscopy, the U adsorbed on the microbe was observed as being crystallized and eventually enlarged to several ${\mu}m$ sizes of minerals by combining with individual microbes and organic exudates. It seems that such U growth and mineralization on the microbial surface could affect the U behavior in a radioactive waste disposal site. Thus, the biogechemical reaction of metal-reducing bacteria observed in this experiment could give an affirmative measure that the microbial activity may retard U movement in subsurface environment.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.165-171
• /
• 2009

Resins were synthesized by mixing 1-aza-15-crown-5 macrocyclic ligand attached to styrene (2th petroleum in 4th class hazardous materials) and divinylbenzene (DVB) copolymer with crosslinkage of 1%, 2%, 8%, and 16% by substitution reaction. The characteristic of these resins was confirmed by content of chlorine, element analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), surface area (BET), and IR-spectroscopy. The effects of pH, time, dielectric constant of solvent and crosslinkage on adsorption of metal ion by the synthetic resin adsorbent were investigated. The metal ion showed a fast adsorption on the resins above pH 3. The optimum equilibrium time for adsorption of metallic ions was about two hours. The adsorption selectivity determined in ethanol was in an increasing order of uranium $(UO_2^{2+})$ > lead $(Pb^{2+})$ > chromium $(Cr^{3+})$ ion. The adsorption was in the order of 1%, 2%, 8%, and 16% crosslinkage resin and adsorption of resin decreased in proportion to the order of dielectric constant of solvents.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.427-446
• /
• 2009

In order to meet the increasing demand for electricity, Korea has to rely on nuclear energy due to its poor natural resources. In order for nuclear energy to be expanded in its utilization, issues with uranium supply and waste management issues have to be addressed. Fast reactor system is one of the most promising options for electricity generation with its efficient utilization of uranium resources and reduction of radioactive waste, thus contributing to sustainable development. The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has been performing R&Ds on Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors (SFRs) under the national nuclear R&D program. Based on the experiences gained from the development of KALIMER conceptual designs of a pool-type U-TRU-10%Zr metal fuel loaded reactor, KAERI is currently developing Advanced SFR design concepts that can better meet the Generation IV technology goals. This also includes developing, Advanced SFR technologies necessary for its commercialization and basic key technologies, aiming at the conceptual design of an Advanced SFR by 2011. KAERI is making R&D efforts to develop advanced design concepts including a passive decay heat removal system and a supercritical $CO_2$ Brayton cycle energy conversion system, as well as developing design methodologies, computational tools, and sodium technology. The long-term Advanced SFR development plan will be carried out toward the construction of an Advanced SFR demonstration plant by 2028.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.80-89
• /
• 1999

The ion exchange resins have been synthesized from chlormethyl styrene-1,4-divinyl benzene(DVB) with 1%, 5%, and 10%-crosslinking and macrocyclic ligand of cryptand type by copolymerization method and the adsorption characteristics of uranium(VI), lead(II) and holmium(III) ions have been investigated in various experimental conditions. The correlation between the adsorption characteristics of rare earths and transition metal on the resins and stability constants of complexes with macrocyclic ligand have been examined. The $UO_2^{2+}$ aqueous solutions are not adsorbed on the resins below pH 3.0, but the power of adsorption of $UO_2^{2+}$ increased rapidly above pH 4.0. The adsorption power was in the order of 1%, 10%, and 5%-crosslinked resin, but adsorptive characteristics of resins decreased in proportion to the order of dielectric constants of solvents.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.59-64
• /
• 1999

Based on the study of hydrolysis behaviour of U(Ⅵ) ion and major fission product metal ions such as Cs(Ⅰ), Ce(Ⅲ), Nd(Ⅲ), Mo(Ⅵ), Ru(Ⅱ), and ZR(Ⅳ) in the titration media, the performance of noncomplexing-alkalimetric titration method for the determination of free acid in the presence of these metal ions was investigated and its results were compared to those from the completing methods. The free acidities could be determined as low as 0.05 meq in uranium solutions in which the molar ratio of U(Ⅵ)/H+ was less than 5, when the end-point of titration was estimated by Gran plot. The biases in the determinations were less than 1% and about +3% respectively for 0.4 meq and 0.05 meq of free acid at the U(Vl)/H+ molar ratio of up to 5. Applicability of this method to the determination of free acid in spent fuel solutions was confirmed by the analysis of nitric acid content in simulated spent fuel solutions and in a real spent fuel solution.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
• /
• v.21 no.3 s.61
• /
• pp.52-60
• /
• 2006

The ion exchange resins have been synthesized from chlormethyl styrene-1,4-divinylbenzene(DVB) with 1%, 2%, and 20%-crosslinking and macrocyclic ligand of cryptand 21 by copolymerization method and the adsorption characteristics of uranium(VI), copper(II) and dysprosium(III) metallic ions have been investigated in various experimental conditions. The synthesis of these resins was confirmed by content of chlorine, element analysis, and IR-spectrum. The effects of pH, equilibrium time, dielectric constant of solvent and crosslink on adsorption of metallic ions were investigated. The metal ion was showed fast adsorption on the resins above pH 3. The optimum equilibrium time for adsorption of metallic ions was about two hours. The adsorption selectivity determined in ethanol was in increasing order uranium$(UO^{2+}_2)\;>\;copper(Cu^{2+})\;>\;dysprosium(Dy^{3+})$ ion. The adsorption was in order of 1%, 2%, and 20% crosslink resin and adsorption of resin decreased in proportion to order of dielectric constant of solvents.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.165-170
• /
• 2013

An external gelation method in place of an internal gelation method applied to the fabrication process of an intermediated compound of Uranium Oxy-Carbide (UCO) kernel spheres for Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) fuel preparation is under development in Korea. For the preliminary experiments of the UCO kernel sphere preparation using an external gelation method, the carbon black dispersion experiments were carried out using a simulated broth solution. From the selection experiments of various kinds of carbon black through dispersion experiments in a viscous metal salt solution, Cabot G carbon black was selected owing to its dispersion stability, and the homogeneous dispersing state of carbon black particles in our system. For the effective dispersion of nano-size aggregated carbon black particles in a high viscous liquid, the carbon black particles in a metal salt solution were first de-aggregated with ultrasonic force. The mixed solution was then dispersed secondly by the use of the extremely high-speed agitation with a mechanical mixer of 6000 rpm after feeding the Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) in the solution. This results in the broth solution with good stability and homogeneity alongside no further changes in physical properties.