• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.187-193
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• 1999

The specific radioactivity concentrations in the coal fly ash obtained from heat producing stations in Korea were analyzed and its radiological hazard for reuse in construction purpose was evaluated. The concentrations of uranium isotopes in the real fly ash measured by TBP solvent extraction method and $\alpha$-spectrometer were found to be about 116.1 Bq $kg^{-1}$ for $^{238}U$, 5.01 Bq $kg^{-1}$ for $^{235}U$, and 121.2 Bq $kg^{-1}$ for $^{234}U$, respectively. The activity ratio of $^{234}U/^{238}U$, in the coal fly ash was in $1.04\;{\pm}\;0.03$, which is similar to that of uncontaminated Korean soil in natural conditions (1.14). The specific radioactivities of $^{226}Ra,\;^{232}Th,\;and\;^{40}K$ in the coal fly ash were also determined using $\gamma$-spectrometer with a HPGe detector The results showed that $^{226}Ra,\;^{232}Th,\;and\;^{40}K$ in the coal fly ash were in concentrations of $101.7{\sim}113.9$, $39.5{\sim}54.2\;and\;315.0{\sim}990.6$ Bq $kg^{-1}$, respectively. With the specific radioactivities obtained from $\gamma$-spectrometric measurements of the coal fly ash, its radiological hazard for reuse was evaluated. The result showed that the radioactivity of the coal fly ash was in permissible level.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.487-494
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• 2008

An experiment was performed for zone refined Re-filament and normal (nonzone refined) Re-filament to reduce the background effect on the measurement of low level uranium samples. From both filaments, the signals which seemed to come from a cluster of light alkali elements, $(^{39}K_6)^+$, $(^{39}K_5+^{41}K)^+$ and $PbO_2$ were identified as the isobaric effect of the uranium isotopes. The isobaric effect signal was completely disappeared by heating the filament about $2000^{\circ}C$ at < $10^{-7}$ torr of vacuum for more than 1.5 hour in zone refined Refilaments, while that from the normal Re-filaments was not disappeared completely and was still remained as 3 pg. of uranium as the impurities after the degassing treatment was performed for more than 5 hours at the same condition of zone refined filaments. A threshold condition eliminating impurities were proved to be at 5 A and 30 minutes of degassing time. The uranium content as an impurity in rhenium filament was checked with a filament degassing treatment using the U-233 spike by isotope dilution mass spectrometry. A 0.31 ng of U was detected in rhenium filament without degassing, while only 3 pg of U was detected with baking treatment at a current of 5.5 A for 1 hr. Using normal Re-filaments for the ultra trace of uranium sample analysis had something problem because uranium remains to be 3 pg on the filament even though degassed for long hours. If the 1 ng uranium were measured, 0.3% error occurred basically. It was also conformed that ionization filament current was recommended not to be increased over 5.5 A to reduce the background. Finally, the contents of uranium isotopes in uranium standard materials (KRISS standard material and NIST standard materials, U-005 and U-030) were measured and compared with certified values. The differences between them showed 0.04% for U-235, 2% for U-234 and 2% for U-236, respectively.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.659-669
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to elucidate the relationship between occurrence of natural radioactive materials such as ²³⁸U and ²²²Rn and original mixing ratio of helium isotope of groundwater from various geology, and to suggest the underground aquifer environment from helium original mixing data. 9 groundwater samples were collected from five study areas, and ²³⁸U, Rn-222 and helium isotope were analyzed. A high ²³⁸U content of the range of 218~477 ㎍ /L in the groundwater occurs in the twomica granite. ⁴He air-crust mixing ratio and the Rn-222 content show a rough relation, that is, Rn-222 content increases according to the increase of ⁴He crust mixing ratio. Because of helium and radon are an inert gas, their behavior in underground environment is assumed as an analogous. The ²³⁸U content and He isotope in groundwater does not show any distinct correlation. The groundwater can be classified as three groups (air, air-crust mixing, crust-mantle mixing origin) on the diagram of ³He/⁴He vs ⁴He/²⁰Ne, which is composed of original mixing line from air-crust-mantle end members. This original mixing of helium can provide the information of underground aquifer characteristic such as the connection with surface environment or isolation condition from air environment.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 1995

In Dongnam area, Cretaceous igneous rocks, such as diorite, porphyritic granite, and quartz porphyry intruded Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, such as Myobong slate and Pungchon limestone. The Dongnam Fe-Mo skarn deposits were imposed on the diorite(endoskarn) and the Myobong slate(exoskarn). The ore deposits consist mainly of magnetite and molybdenite with small amounts of sulfides, such as galena, sphalerite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and pyrrhotite. The igneous rocks show nearly constant $^{206}Pb/^{204}Pb(18.80{\sim}19.06)$ and $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb(15.71{\sim}15.72)$ ratios. Their $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb$ ratios higher than the typical ratios of orogene suggest that the igeneous rocks were formed from lower crust(or mantle) - derived magma excessively contaminated by upper crustal materials such as high radiogenic Precambrian basement rocks. The lead isotopic compositions of the igneous rocks, the Pungchon limestone, and the ore minerals show a well defined linear in $^{206}Pb/^{204}Pb$ - $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb$ plot. The lead isotopic compositions of the igneous rocks are similar to those of magnetite and galena, which were formed at early skarn stage and significantly lower than those of altered quartz porphyry, molybdenites, and pyrite, which were formed at late epithermal alteration stage. Considering the systematic variation of the lead isotopic compositions in the ore minerals according to hydrothermal stages, the variation may be due to a relative variation in surrounding rock(Pungchon limestone) involvement in hydrothermal ore solution leaching the surrounding rock. Therefore, the variation of the lead isotopic compositions in ore minerals can be modeled in terms of the mixing of the leads derived from the igneous rocks as low radiogenic source and the surrounding rock(Pungchon limestone) as high radiogenic source.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.224-227
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• 2007

원자로에 장전되는 $^{99}Mo$ 조사표적을 제조하기 위한 우라늄박판은, 박판 품질, 생산성, 경제성 문제로 인해, 기존의 열간압연방법에 의해 실험실 규모로는 제조가 가능하나, 상용 규모로는 제조되기 어려운 실정이므로, 새로운 제조방법의 개발이 요구되고 있다. 이와 같은 상황에서, $^{99m}Tc$의 모핵종인 방사선 동위원소$^{99}Mo$ 생산하기 위하여 planar flow casting (PFC) 법에 의해 다결정질 우라늄박판에 대한 새로운 제조방법이 연구되었다. $100{\sim}150\;{\mu}m$의 두께 및 너비 약 50mm의 연속적인 다결정질 우라늄박판이 하나의 batch에서 5m 이상의 길이로 제조되었다. 우라늄박판은 불순물이 거의 없었으며 양호한 표면조도를 가지고 있었다. 우라늄박판의 냉각를 접촉표면은 자유표면 보다 매끈한 자유표면을 가지고 있었다. 우라늄박판은 제조공정변수와는 상관없이 ${\alpha}-U$ 상을 가진 약 10 ${\mu}m$ 이하의 미세한 다결정립을 가지고 있었다.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.105-110
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• 2010

Using N-type HPGe gamma spectrometer, uranium analysis technique of soil sample is developed where the chemical preprocessing is not a necessity. The results of uranium activities using the method presented in this paper were compared with those results with conventional alpha spectrometer and two results were similar from within uncertainty range. Therefore, this new method will be applied in uranium activity analysis of soil sample.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.133-147
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• 2001

Recently developing method of age determination using stepwise dissolution technique to expand the applicability of absolute age determination significantly is evaluated whether it is applicable to the Korean samples. The materials selected for the study are uranium-bearing black slates from Changni Formation of Ogcheon metamorphic belt, tourmaline separated from Naedeongni granite of Yeongnam massif, garnet and ilmenite separated from ilmenite-bearing anorthositic rock of Yeongnam massif, scheelites from Ogbang mine, and magnetite separated from Gyemyeongsan Formation of Ogcheon metamorphic belt. For the stepwise dissolution, various acid steps with different normalities and different durations were applied to leach the samples. The leachate from each step was analyzed to determine the Pb isotopic composition and concentrations of Pb and U using thermal ionization mass spectrometer. The black slates from the Changni Formation and the tourmaline from the Naedeongni granite reveal significant variation of Pb isotopic composition, which reveals the potential of such stepwise dissolution technique as a dating method. The behaviors of uranium and lead during the each stage of step leaching are different, which seem to reflect the differences in positions within the crystal lattices depending upon mineral species.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.167-174
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• 2009

A comprehensive analysis has been conducted on the purity of the uranium product generated from a pyroprocessing of EBR-II spent fuel. The analysis results were compared to the low-level waste criteria for both ROK and USA under a collaborative program between INL and KAERI. It is found that the US LLW definition does not include the activity from any U isotopes, but the Korean one does. The analysis results show that Pu-239 is the only alpha emitting isotope other than U isotopes that exceed the limit in the EBR-II U product. Pu contamination of the product seems to be drastically reduced in a preliminary test of the modified cathode process, and the further development of the proposed technology may be possible to meet the US LLW criteria.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 1983

The chelating agent with $\beta$-diketo funtional group, 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-acyl-pyrazolone-5-one, has been used in separating and extracting radionuclides in a waste solution. The derivatives of this pyrazolone compound, prepared by different acyl groups, were synthesized and examined to figure out the extracting ability for Uranium (VI) and Zirconium (IV). The product prepared with succinic anhydride, called succinyl pyrazolone, showed excellent extraction for uranium (VI) in a chloroform solvent system. This result indicates that acyl pyrazolones having carboxylic acid group as a functional group forming $\beta$-diketo functionality are very selective for uranium (VI) and generally other metal ions with high valency.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.222-232
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• 2001

Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) uses focused high-speed primary ions to produce secondary ions from sample surface that are analyzed through a mass filter. SIMS is often called as ion microprobe, since it offers a micrometer-scale spatial resolution. Although the precision and accuracy of SIMS are not as good as many conventional mass spectrometers, it has several advantages such as small sample-size requirement, high spatial resolution and capability of in-situ analysis. In the field of geochemistry/cosmochemistry, SIMS is widely used for (1) stable isotope geochemistry of H, C, O, S, etc., (2) geochronology of U/Th-bearing minerals, (3) lateral distribution of trace elements in a mineral, and (4) discovery of presolar grains and investigation of their isotopic compositions.