• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.1495-1506
• /
• 2023

For the safe disposal of high-level radioactive waste using Engineered Barrier Systems (EBS), bentonite buffer is used by its high swelling capability and low hydraulic conductivity. When the bentonite buffer is contacted to heated pore water containing ions by radioactive decay, chemical alterations of minerals such as illitization reaction occur. Illitization of bentonite indicates the alteration of expandable smectite into non-expandable illite, which threatens the stability and integrity of EBS. This study intends to provide a thorough review on the information underlying in the illitization of bentonite, by covering basic clay mineralogy, smectite expansion, mechanisms and observation of illitization, and illitization in EBS. Since understanding of smectite illitization is crucial for securing the safety and integrity of nuclear waste disposal systems using bentonite buffer, this thorough review study is expected to provide essential and concise information for the preventive EBS design.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.53 no.7
• /
• pp.2364-2370
• /
• 2021

The ⁿMCP (Neutron sensitive microchannel plate) combined with advanced readout electronics is widely used in energy selective neutron imaging because of its good spatial and timing resolution. Neutron detection efficiency is a crucial parameter for the ⁿMCP. In this paper, a mathematical model based on the oblique cylindrical channel and elliptical pore was established to calculate the neutron absorption probability, the escape probability of charged particles and overall detection efficiency of ⁿMCP and analyze the effects of neutron incident position, pore diameter, wall thickness and bias angle. It was shown that when the doping concentration of the ⁿMCP was 10 mol%, the thickness of ⁿMCP was 0.6 mm, the detection efficiency could reach maximum value, about 24% for thermal neutrons if the pore diameter was 6 ㎛, the wall thickness was 2 ㎛ and the bias angle was 3 or 6°. The calculated results are of great significance for evaluating the detection efficiency of the ⁿMCP. In a subsequent companion paper, the mathematical model would be extended to the case of the spatial resolution and detection efficiency optimization of the coating ⁿMCP.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.290-297
• /
• 2024

In this study, the gas permeability characteristics according to the construction joint were evaluated under pressure conditions ranging from 0 to 300 psi. The pore distribution and pore ratio were analyzed using X-ray CT. The average porosity of the OPC specimen was 0.74 %, while the FA specimen showed a relatively low pore ratio of 0.51 to 0.65 % regardless of the presence of the construction joint. For the OPC and FA plain specimens with a thickness of 50 mm without construction joints, no gas permeation occurred below 300 psi. At 300 psi, the gas permeation rates of the specimens with rough and smooth construction joint surfaces were 0.28 L/min and 0.31 L/min, respectively, which were 1.7 times higher than those of the specimens without construction joints. This is because the construction joints affected the distribution of the pores and coarse aggregates and the penetration path within the concrete. The porosity in the construction joint was the highest at about 2 %, and it was confirmed that the pore ratio gradually increased as it approached the joint.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.372-378
• /
• 2010

Membrane disruption by an antimicrobial peptide, protegrin-1 (PG-1), was investigated by measuring the $^2H$ solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) spectra of 1-palmitoyl-$d_{31}$-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (POPC_$d_{31}$) in the mixture of PG-1 and POPC_$d_{31}$ lipids deposited on thin cover-glass plates. The experimental line shapes of anisotropic $^2H$ SSNMR spectra measured at various peptide-to-lipid (P/L) ratios were simulated reasonably by assuming the mosaic spread of bilayers containing pore structures or the coexistence of the mosaic spread of bilayers and a fast-tumbling isotropic phase. Within a few days of incubation in the hydration chamber, the pores were formed by the peptide in the POPC_$d_{31}$ and POPC_$d_{31}$/cholesterol membranes. However, the formation of the pores was not clear in the POPC_$d_{31}$/1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylglycerol (POPG) membrane. Over a hundred days after hydration, a rapidly rotating isotropic phase increased in the POPC_$d_{31}$ and the POPC_$d_{31}$/cholesterol membranes with the higher P/L ratios, but no isotropic phase appeared in the POPC_$d_{31}$/POPG membrane. Cholesterol added in the POPC bilayer acted as a stabilizer of the pore structure and suppressed the formation of a fast-tumbling isotropic phase.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.65-71
• /
• 2008

Pressure filtration technique was used to obtain defect-free microstructure of green cast ceramic bodies. Stable alumina suspensions of desired rheology (<5 Pa s at $1\;s^{-1}$) containing 60-80 mass. % solid loading were prepared in the alkaline region (at $pH{\approx}9$) with an optimum amount of 0.5 dmb % of Tiron added. Acidic region (at $pH{\approx}4$) enabled the preparation of 60 mass. % suspensions with addition of 1.5 dmb % of Tiron. The best quality slip was processed from an 80 mass.% suspension with 63% of theoretical density. The homogeneity of particle packing and the absence of defects in microstructure were proven by narrow pore size distribution (ranging from 32 to 64 nm, with up to 85% abundance), confirming advantages of the wet consolidation route.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.183-191
• /
• 2015

Gas transport through graphene-derived membranes has gained much interest recently due to its promising potential in filtration and separation applications. In this work, we explore Kr-85 gas radionuclide sequestration from natural air in nanoporous graphene oxide membranes in which different sizes and geometries of pores were modeled on the graphene oxide sheet. This was done using atomistic simulations considering mean-squared displacement, diffusion coefficient, number of crossed species of gases through nanoporous graphene oxide, and flow through interlayer galleries. The results showed that the gas features have the densest adsorbed zone in nanoporous graphene oxide, compared with a graphene membrane, and that graphene oxide was more favorable than graphene for Kr separation. The aim of this paper is to show that for the well-defined pore size called P-7, it is possible to separate Kr-85 from a gas mixture containing Kr-85, O₂ and N₂. The results would benefit the oil industry among others.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.3 no.4
• /
• pp.231-242
• /
• 2012

The performance of a nanofiltration membrane for treatment of a low-level radioactive liquid waste was investigated through static and dynamic tests. The liquid waste ("carbonated water") was obtained during conversion of $UF_6$ to $UO_2$. In the static tests membrane samples were immersed in the waste for 24, 48 or 72 h. The transport properties of the samples (hydraulic permeability, permeate flow, selectivity) were evaluated before and after immersion in the waste. In the dynamic tests the waste was permeated in a permeation flow front system under 0.5 MPa, to determine the selectivity of NF membranes to uranium. The surface layer of the membrane was characterized by zeta potential, field emission microscopy, atomic force spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy. The static test showed that the pore size distribution of the selective layer was altered, but the membrane surface charge was not significantly changed. 99% of uranium was rejected after the dynamic tests.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.81-90
• /
• 2009

This paper proposes a semi analytical model to describe the pore structure of concrete by a set of simple equations. The relationship between the porosity and the microstructure of concrete has been considered when constructing the analytical model. The microstructure includes the interface transition zone (ITZ) between aggregates and cement paste. The predicting model of porosity was developed with considering the ITZ for various mixing of mortar and concrete. The proposed model is validated by the rapid experimental programs. Although the proposed model is semi-analytical and relatively simple, this model could be reasonably utilized for the durability design and adapted for predicting the service life of concrete structures.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.9-16
• /
• 1977

A simple method has been established for determining RaA, RaB and RaC concentrations in airborne dust. This is to evaluate the concentration from measurement of total alpha activities in three selected-time intervals after an air sample is taken from the membrane filter paper (mean pore size: $0.8{\mu}m$). As a preliminary trial, a time-variation of the concentrations has been determined using the single-filter method at the KAERI site (N. Lat. $37^{\circ}38'$ and E. Long $127^{\circ}15'$), Seoul, Korea. It appears that there is a large variation of the concentrations depending on the sampling time. Generally the highest value was observed in the morning that may coincide with the highest density of atmosphere in a day while the lowest value was obtained around fourteen o'clock.

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.254-261
• /
• 2009

In this study, we investigated the unit process parameters in spherical $UO_2$ kernel preparation. Nearly perfect spherical $UO_3$ microspheres were obtained from the 0.6M of U-concentration in the broth solution, and the microstructure of the $UO_2$ kernel appeared the good results in the calcining, reducing, and sintering processes. For good sphericity, high density, suitable microstructure, and no-crack final $UO_2$ microspheres, the temperature control range in calcination process was $300{\sim}450^{\circ}C$, and the microstructure, the pore structure, and the density of $UO_2$ kernel could be controlled in this temperature range. Also, the concentration changes of the ageing solution in aging step were not effective factor in the gelation of the liquid droplets, but the temperature change of the ageing solution was very sensitive for the final ADU gel particles.