• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.263-270
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• 2005

Nuclear track is an useful tool for elemental analysis of radionuclides, such as uranium, plutonium and thorium, etc., and for elements undergoing nuclear reactions with thermal neutrons such as lithium and boron. This method has various application fields such as detecting fissionable radionuelides, measuring the fission rate in nuclear technology, analyzing cosmic radiation from meteorite, calculating the age of minerals as well as their history, etc. Track registration method has been applied to the microscopic analysis of boron and fissionable element such as uranium in KAERI. This report reviews the theoretical background of the nuclear track formation, practical procedures to obtain etched tracks and a perspective of the future.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.477-491
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• 2013

Natural radionuclides in groundwater in the Danyang area were investigated to characterize the behaviors of uranium and radon with respect to lithology and physico-chemical components, which can aid our understanding of their occurrence, properties, and origins. To this end, a total of 100 groundwater samples were collected and analyzed, and radionuclide levels were used to construct detailed concentration maps. The water type of the groundwater, assessed using a Piper diagram, is mainly Ca-Na-$HCO_3$. The concentrations of uranium range from 0.02 to $251.0{\mu}g/L$ (average, $3.85{\mu}g/L$) and only 1% exceed USEPA's MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level). Uranium is enriched in groundwaters of Cretaceous granites and Precambrian metamorphic rocks, whereas it is depleted in groundwaters of sedimentary rocks. The concentrations of radon range from 13 to 28,470 pCi/L (average, 2397 pCi/L). Only 15% of the samples exceed AMCL (Alternative Maximum Contaminant Level) of 4000 pCi/L. The radon concentration is highest in groundwater of Cretaceous granites and lowest in groundwater of sedimentary rocks. In conclusion, the distribution and occurrence of radionuclides are intimately related to the basic geological characteristics of the rocks in which the radiogenic minerals are primarily contained. The behavior of uranium is only weakly related to that of radon (correlation coefficient = 0.15). There are also weak correlations between radionuclides and the main chemical components, pH, EC, Eh, and well depth. Of note, the correlation coefficient between radon and $SiO_2$ is 0.68, and that between radon and $HCO_3$ is -0.48. Factor analysis shows that radionuclides behave somewhat independently of each other because there are no significant factors that control the behavior of chemical components as well as radionuclides. The detailed concentration maps during this study will be used to establish useful database of radionuclide distribution and geological properties throughout Korea.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.166-167
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.220.2-220
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• 2001

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2016.10a
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• pp.511-512
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• 2016

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.395-400
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• 2003

For the long term storage safety study of the metallic spent fuel, U-Nb, U-Ti, U-Ni, U-Zr, and U-Hf simulated metallic uranium alloys, known as corrosion resistant alloys, were fabricated and oxidized in oxygen gas at $200^{\circ}C~300^{\circ}C$. Simulated metallic uranium alloys were more corrosion resistant than pure uranium metal, and corrosion resistance increases Nb, Ni, Ti in that order. The oxidation rates of uranium alloys determined and activation energy was calculated for each alloy. The matrix microstructure of the test specimens were analyzed using OM, SEM, and EPMA. It was concluded that Nb was the best acceptable alloying elements for reducing corrosion of uranium meta] considered to suitable as candidate.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.965-982
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• 2011

Currently, dependency of natural and energy resources on world economy may not be more serious than any before increasing the uncertainty of Korea's national economy, especially as China uses unexpectedly fast glowing portion of world resources. Due to insufficient natural resources and unmatured renewable energy system, it is very important for Korea to secure the energy sources not only for national prosperity but also security for the future. In this regard, importance and necessity of nuclear energy as a major electric power source in Korea are in need to be emphasized. Korea currently imports all the necessary enriched uranium for fabrication of nuclear fuel from abroad. Thus, it is extremely important to establish a secured supply system for enriched uranium regardless of the global political unstability as well as economic fluctuation. In order to build the nuclear fuel procurement system, it is required to analyze the global market status, current enrichment service systems, and the future technology under development. For this purpose, this study comparatively analyzes the laser based advanced technology for uranium enrichment under development in the United States, which is assumed to be 2~3 times more economically viable than currently available technologies.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.321-325
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• 2003

The effects of AMAD, absorption type, and intake pattern were compared and analysed for the internal dose evaluation of workers who chronically inhale uranium. The committed effective doses$(E_{50})$ based on AMAD, absorption type, and intake pattern were evaluated using 3 monthly lung predicted monitoring data due to a chronic intake of uranium for 5 years. The relative error ranges of $E_{50}$ evaluated with each AMAD$(0.1{\sim}10{\mu}m)\;to\;E_{50}$ evaluated with $5{\mu}m$ AMAD were $-37.0{\sim}49.8%$, and the relative error ranges of En evaluated with Type M to $E_{50}$ evaluated with Type S were $15.9{\sim}56.6%$, and the relative error ranges of $E_{50}$ evaluated with an acute intake to $E_{50}$ evaluated with a chronic intake were $0.55{\sim}4.52%$. Thus AMAD and the absorption type affected the results of $E_{50}$, but the intake pattern didn't really affect the results of $E_{50}$.

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

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.285-292
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• 1995

Uranium has variable oxidation states(${UO_2}^{+2}$, $UO^{+2}$, $U^{+4}$, $U^{+3}$) and 1-(2-Pyridylazo)-2-naphthol forms a very stable chelate with Uranium(${UO_2}^{+2}$). The determination method of Uranium(${UO_2}^{+2}$) in 0.1M Borate buffer(pH 7.10) has been investigated by adsorptive stripping voltammetry. The optimum conditions were PAN concentration of $5{\times}10^{-7}M$, accumulation potential of 0.00V(vs. Ag/AgCl) and accumulation time of 120sec. The calibration curve was linear over the range of $5{\sim}60{\mu}g/L$ and the various metal ions did not interfere with the determination Uranium(${UO_2}^{+2}$) except Cu(II) and Co(II).