• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.2 s.177
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• pp.173-180
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• 2006

The synthesis of polyphase waste form, which is an immobilization matrix fur the high level radioactive wastes, was performed with the mixed composition of garnet and spinel $(Gd_3Fe_5O_{12}+(Ni_xMn_{1-x})(Fe_yCr_{1-y})_2O_4)$ in the range of 1200 to $1400^{\circ}C$. The phases synthesized from all stoichiometric compositions were garnet, perovskite, and spinel. Especially, garnet was synthesized only in the composition of the highest content of Fe(y=0.9), whereas it was not synthesized in other compositions. This result indicated that the content of Fe was closely related to the formation of garnet. The composition of garnet revealed that the content of Gd was exceeded and that of Fe was depleted. Preferential distribution of elements in the phases can be attributed to the nonstoichiometric composition of garnet.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.675-685
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• 2024

This study aimed to analyze the effects of cesium (Cs) treatment concentrations and organic matter on the growth of Chinese cabbage plants. The growth responses of cabbage to the Cs treatment varied depending on the concentration of Cs and the organic matter content in the soil. Higher concentrations of Cs in the soil presented a detrimental effect on cabbage growth. Specifically, increased Cs levels led to a reduction in leaf number, leaf area, chlorophyll content, and fresh and dry weights. However, an increase in the soil organic matter content positively affected the fresh and dry weights. These trends were particularly pronounced in Chinese cabbage plants grown for 80 days after treatment. Soil organic matter proved to effectively mitigate the negative effects of Cs on plant growth. Incorporating organic matter into Cs-contaminated soils can, therefore, enhance the immobilization of radioactive isotopes and contribute to the stabilization of contaminated soils, making it a useful strategy for managing radioactive contamination.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.9
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• pp.3250-3259
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• 2022

A new approach to the use of rice straw as a difficult-to-recycle agricultural waste was proposed. Potassium aluminosilicate was obtained by spark plasma sintering as an effective material for subsequent immobilization of ¹³⁷Cs into a solid-state matrix. The sorption properties of potassium aluminosilicate to ¹³⁷Cs from aqueous solutions were studied. The effect of the synthesis temperature on the phase composition, microstructure, and rate of cesium leaching from samples obtained at 800-1000 ℃ and a pressure of 25 MPa was investigated. It was shown that the positive dynamics of compaction was characteristic of glass ceramics throughout the sintering. Glass ceramics RS-(K,Cs)AlSi₃O₈ obtained by the SPS method at 1000 ℃ for 5 min was characterized by a high density of ~2.62 g/cm³, Vickers hardness ~ 2.1 GPa, compressive strength ~231.3 MPa and the rate of cesium ions leaching of ~1.37 × 10^-7 g cm^-2·day^-1. The proposed approach makes it possible to safe dispose of rice straw and reduce emissions into the atmosphere of microdisperse amorphous silica, which is formed during its combustion and causes respiratory diseases, including cancer. In addition, the obtained is perspective to solve the problem of recycling long-lived ¹³⁷Cs radionuclides formed during the operation of nuclear power plants into solid-state matrices.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.6 s.169
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• pp.603-612
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• 2004

Pyrochlore is known as one of the most promising materials for the immobilization of radionuclide in high level waste. This study included the synthesis, phase relation and characteristics of $pyrochlore(CaCeZr_xTi_{2-x}O_{7,\;x=0.2\~2.0)$ in the system of Ca-Ce-Zr-Ti-O. Using the CPS(Cold pressing and sintering) method, the mixtures of $CaCO3_,\;CeO_2,\;ZrO_2\;and\;TiO_2$ oxides were pressed, and sintered at $1100\~1600^{\circ}C$ for 20 hours. The optimal synthetic conditions at various compositions were differed from 1300 to $1600^{\circ}C$ Even in the optimal temperatures, pyrochlore or fluorite coexisted with minor amount of perovskite, $CeO_2\;or\;Ce_{0.75}Zr_{0.25}O_2$. It was confirmed that pyrochlore and fluorite structures were stable at $x\leq0.6\;and\;x\geq1.0$, respectively. Especially, the compositions of pyrochlore or fluorite showed non-stoichiometric compositions in that contents of Ca and Ti were more deficient and those of Zr and Ce were more excess than batch compositions with the increase of x value. These characteristics stemmed from the behavior of elements occupied at eight- and six-coordinated site, and then caused the coexistence of perovskite, $CeO_2\;or\;Ce_{0.75}Zr_{0.25}O_2$ along with pyrochlore or fluorite.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.2 s.177
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• pp.181-190
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• 2006

Garnet has been suggested as one of the most promising material for the immobilization of radionuclide in high level waste. But data on its chemical durability are sufficiently available. Accordingly, Gd and Ce garnets were synthesized as imitators for $Pu^{3+}\;and\;Pu^{4+}$ were synthesized, and their leaching rates, the parameters of the chemical durability were measured by changing the conditions. In distilled water, the ranges of leaching rates of Gd and Ce were $1.2{\times}10^{-4}{\sim}4.6{\times}10^{-6}g/m^2/day\;and\;7.5{\times}10^{-5}{\sim}1.8{\times}10^{-7}g/m^2/day$, respectively. A comparison with previous data suggests that the chemical durabilities of garnets synthesized from this study are superior to those of other waste forms. Additional leaching experiments were performed with 0.01M-HCl and 0.01M-NaOH solutions to see Gd and Ce leaching at acidic and alkalinity conditions. In 0.01 H-HCl solution, the ranges of leaching rates of Gd and Ce were $2.5{\times}10^{-1}{\sim}6.9{\times}10^{-3}g/m^2/day\;and\;3.7{\times}10^{-1}{\sim}3.1{\times}10^{-3}g/m^2/day$, respectively, while were $3.1{\times}10^{-4}{\sim}1.3{\times}10^{-6}g/m^2/day\;and\;1.8{\times}10^{-3}{\sim}0g/m^2/day$, respectively in 0.01M-NaOH solution. It is believed that leaching data can be used in understanding chemical durabilities of waste from garnets in acidic and alkaline conditions.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.303-309
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• 2004

Pyrochlores were known as promising materials for the immobilization of radioactive actinide. Accordingly, we synthesized pyrochlores with Gd$_2$Ti$_2$$O_7$ and Gd$_2$Zr$_2$$O_7$compositions by sintering method, and studied its properties and phase relations in Gd-Ti-O and Gd-Zr-O system. The mixed powders were pressed into pellets under 200-400 kgf/cm$^2$ at room temperature. and then sintered at 1000-1$600^{\circ}C$ for 0.5-40 hours. The synthesized samples were analyzed and were identified with XRD and SEM/EDS analyses. The optimal synthetic conditions of pyrochlores with Gd$_2$Ti$_2$$O_7$composition were at 140$0^{\circ}C$/0.5hrs, 130$0^{\circ}C$/3hrs and 120$0^{\circ}C$/20hrs. Its chemical composition was $Gd_{2.0-2.1}$$Ti_{1.9-2.0}$$O_7$ and similar to the stoichiometric composition without any relationship in temperature and atmosphere. The optimal synthetic conditions of pyrochlores with $Gd_{2}$$Zr_{2}$$O_7$composition were at 155$0^{\circ}C$/40hrs and 1$600^{\circ}C$/30hrs. The compositions of pyrochlore synthesized from these optimal conditions were irregular with $Gd_{1.5-2.4}$$Zr_{1.7-2.4}$$O_7$. Such heterogeneity indicates that the reaction rate of pyrochlore with Gd$_2$Zr$_2$$O_7$composition is very low, and then its equilibrium state could not be attained even for 40 hours which was the longest sintering time in this research.