• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.26-31
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• 2021

Advanced classification of Cs contaminated soil by using a magnetic force-assisted selection pipe was investigated. A selection pipe is a device that sort particles depending on their particle size, based on the relationship between buoyancy, drag, and gravity force acting on the particles. Radioactive cesium is concentrated in small-particle size soil components with a large specific surface area. Hence, the volume of the Cs contaminated soil can be reduced by recycling the large-particle size soil components with low radioactive concentration. One of the problems of the selection pipe was that the radioactive concentration of the stayed soil in the selection pipe exceeds 8000 Bq/kg, which is the standard value of recycling of Cs contaminated soil, due to low classification accuracy. In this study, magnetic fields were applied to the lab-scale selection pipe from upper side to improve the classification accuracy and to reduce the radioactive concentration of the stayed soil.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.9-16
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• 2024

A large amount of cesium-contaminated soil was generated as a result of the decontamination work following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. To reduce the final disposal volume of contaminated soil, it is necessary to separate the contaminated soil into low- and high-dose soil components and reuse the low-dose soil under 8000 Bq/kg. We have investigated a magnetic separation technique to reduce the volume of the contaminated soil. Magnetic separation is a volume reduction technology that utilizes these differences in magnetic properties. However, the high-gradient magnetic separation technique (HGMS) we have been studied has problems such as clogging of filters and low separation accuracy due to the passage of 2:1 type clay minerals with small particle diameters. In this study, we propose a new separation method using a cyclone-type magnetic separator that focuses not only on magnetic susceptibility but also on differences in particle size. The cyclone-type magnetic separator can separate 2:1 type clay minerals from 1:1 type clay minerals by inducing 1:1 type clay minerals with large particle diameters to the outside of the cylinder and 2:1 type clay minerals with small and large particle diameters to the inside of the cylinder through the difference in the combined magnetic and centrifugal forces acting on soil particles. Separation accuracy was evaluated using simulated soil consisting of vermiculite and kaolinite. Based on these results, the reduction rate of the radioactivity concentration was estimated, and the design guidelines of the device for practical use were discussed.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1609-1618
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• 2014

In this study, as a fundamental study for the remediation of the radionuclides-contaminated soil, the adsorption of cobalt, strontium, and cesium on natural soil and kaolin were experimently investigated and adsorption characteristics were evaluated by using several adsorption kinetic and isotherm models. The pseudo-first-order kinetic model (PFOM), pseudo-second-order kinetic model (PSOM), one-site mass transfer model (OSMTM), and two compartment first-order kinetic model (TCFOKM) were used to evaluate the kinetic data and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model was the best with good correlation. The adsorption equilibria of cobalt, strontium, and cesium on natural soil were fitted successfully by Redlich-Peterson and Sips models. For kaolin, the adsorption equilibria of cobalt, strontium, and cesium were fitted well by Redlich-Peterson, Freundlich, and Sips models, respectively. The amount of adsorbed radionuclides on natural soil and kaolin was in the order of cesium > strontium > cobalt. It is considered that these results could be useful to predicting the adsorption behaviors of radionuclides such as cobalt, strontium, and cesium in soil environments.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.189-193
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• 2020

In this study, electrokinetic remediation equipment was used to remove cesium (Cs) from clay soil and waste solution was treated with sorption process. The influence of electrokinetic process on the removal of Cs was evaluated under the condition of applied electric voltage of 15.0-20.0 V. In addition to monitoring the Cs removal, electrical current and temperature of the electrolyte during experiment were investigated. The removal efficiency of Cs from soil by electrokinetic method was more than 90%. After electrokinetic remediation, Cs was selectively separated from soil waste solution using sorbents. Various adsorption agents such as potassium nickel hexacyanoferrate (KNiHCF), Prussian blue, sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB), and zeolite were compared and KNiHCF showed the highest Cs removal efficiency. The Cs adsorption on KNiHCF reached equilibrium in 30 min. The maximum adsorption capacity was 120.4 mg/g at 0.1 g/L of adsorbent dosage. These results demonstrated that our proposed process combined electrokinetic remediation of soil and waste solution treatment with metal ferrocyanide can be a promising technique to decontaminate Cs-contaminated fine soil.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.10-13
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• 2016

In this study, we developed a new volume reduction technique for cesium contaminated soil by magnetic separation. Cs in soil is mainly adsorbed on clay which is the smallest particle constituent in the soil, especially on paramagnetic 2:1 type clay minerals which strongly adsorb and fix Cs. Thus selective separation of 2:1 type clay with a superconducting magnet could enable to reduce the volume of Cs contaminated soil. The 2:1 type clay particles exist in various particle sizes in the soil, which leads that magnetic force and Cs adsorption quantity depend on their particle size. Accordingly, we examined magnetic separation conditions for efficient separation of 2:1 type clay considering their particle size distribution. First, the separation rate of 2:1 type clay for each particle size was calculated by particle trajectory simulation, because magnetic separation rate largely depends on the objective size. According to the calculation, 73 and 89 % of 2:1 type clay could be separated at 2 and 7 T, respectively. Moreover we calculated dose reduction rate on the basis of the result of particle trajectory simulation. It was indicated that 17 and 51 % of dose reduction would be possible at 2 and 7 T, respectively. The difference of dose reduction rate at 2 T and 7 T was found to be separated a fine particle. It was shown that magnetic separation considering particle size distribution would contribute to the volume reduction of contaminated soil.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2018

Radioactive substances, especially $^{137}Cs$ discharged in the course of Nuclear Power Plant Accident or maintenance of power plants, cause contamination of the soil. For habitation of residents and reuse of industrial land, it is inevitably necessary to decontaminate the soil. This study examines a soil washing process that has actually been used for washing of radioactive-contaminated soil. The soil washing process uses a washing agent to weaken surface tension of the soil and cesium, separating cesium from the soil. In this study, in order to raise the efficiency of the process, a flocculating agent was added to the washing water to remove fine soil and cesium. The cesium concentrations before and after applying the flocculating agent to cesium solution were measured through ICP-OES. When using 0.1 g of J-AF flocculating agent in the experiment, the maximum Cs removal performance was approximately 88%; the minimum value was 67%. Species combinations between cesium and soil were predicted using Visual MINTEQ Code; the ability to reuse the washing water or not, and the removal rate of the fine soil, determined via measurement of the turbidity after applying the flocculating agent, were determined.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2001.09a
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• pp.191-194
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• 2001

The electrokinetic apparatus for remediation of the soil contaminated with Cs$^{+}$was designed. After kaolin clay was compulsorily contaminated by Cs$^{+}$ solution, the remediation characteristics by electrokinetic method were analyzed. After remediation experiment, the pH of the cathode side of the soil column was increased to 12.7 due to the generation of OH in cathode reservoir, but no hydroxide cesium form in the cathode side. Effluent rate from the cathode almost was constant and cesium concentration of effluent decreased with time passage. The 49% of a total of Cs$^{+}$ in the column was decontaminated for 0.4 day, the 72% of a total of Cs$^{+}$ in the column was decontaminated for 0.8 day, the 83% of a total of Cs$^{+}$ in the column was decontaminated for 1.2 days, the 89% of a total of Cs$^{+}$ in the column was decontaminated for 1.6 days, and the 93% of a total of Cs$^{+}$ in the column was decontaminated for 2.1 day Meanwhile, the predicted values of residual concentration by the developed model were quite similar to those obtained from experiments.m experiments.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.304-315
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• 2004

The ageing effects of radionuclides in radioactive soil on remediation using the electrokinetic method were analyzed. Comparative experiments were conducted for the reactive soil around a TRIGA research? reactor contaminated with $^{137}Cs\;and\;^{60}Co$ for 15 years and the non-reactive soil that was intentionally contaminated with $Cs^+\;and\;Co^{2+}$ for 3 days. It was observed that because of an aging effect on $^{137}Cs$, the efficiency of removing it decreased. $H_{2}SO_4$ used as an additive to increase the removal efficiency showed a higher removal capability than other chemicals for both $^{137}Cs\;and\;^{60}Co$. The efficiency of removing radionuclides from the radioactive soil in the column was proportional to the capability of the added chemical to extract radionuclides. It took 10 days to achieve a $54\%$ removal of $^{137}Cs$ and a $97\%$ removal of $^{60}Co$ from the soil. The volume of the soil wastewater discharged from the soil column by the electrokinetic method was $20\%$ below that for soil washing.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.209-216
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• 2015

It has been about 5 years since the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, which contaminated large area with radioactive materials. It is necessary to assess radiation dose to establish evacuation areas and to set decontamination goal for the large contaminated area. In this study, we assessed temporal trend of radiation dose to the public living in the large area contaminated with radioactive materials after the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident. The dose assessment was performed based on Chernobyl model and RESRAD model for two evacuation lift areas, Kawauchi and Naraha. It was reported that deposition densities in the areas were $4.3{\sim}96kBq\;m^{-2}$ for $^{134}Cs$, $1.4{\sim}300kBq\;m^{-2}$ for $^{137}Cs$, respectively. Radiation dose to the residents depended on radioactive cesium concentrations in the soil, ranging $0.11{\sim}2.4mSv\;y^{-1}$ at Kawauchi area and $0.69{\sim}1.1mSv\;y^{-1}$ at Naraha area in July 2014. The difference was less than 5% in radiation doses estimated by two different models. Radiation dose decreased with calendar time and the decreasing slope varied depending on dose assessment models. Based on the Chernobyl dosimetry model, radiation doses decreased with calendar time to about 65% level of the radiation dose in 2014 after 1 year, 11% level after 10 years, and 5.6% level after 30 years. RESRAD dosimetry model more slowly decreased radiation dose with time to about 85% level after 1 year, 40% level after 10 years, and 15% level after 30 years. The decrease of radiation dose can be mainly attributed into radioactive decays and environmental transport of the radioactive cesium. Only environmental transports of radioactive cesium without consideration of radioactive decays decreased radiation dose additionally 43% after 1 year, 72% after 3 years, 80% after 10 years, and 83% after 30 years. Radiation doses estimated with cesium concentration in the soil based on Chernobyl dosimetry model were compared with directly measured radiation doses. The estimated doses well agreed with the measurement data. This study results can be applied to radiation dose assessments at the contaminated area for radiation safety assurance or emergency preparedness.