The domestic Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PWHR) nuclear power plant, Wolsong Unit 1, was permanently shut down on December 24, 2019. However, research on decommissioning has mainly focused on Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs), with a notable absence of both domestic and international experience in the decommissioning of PHWRs. If proper business management such as radiation safety and waste is not performed, it can lead to increased business risks and costs in decommissioning. Therefore, the assessment of waste volume and cost, which provide fundamental data for the nuclear decommissioning process, is a crucial technical requirement before initiating the actual decommissioning of Wolsong Unit 1. Decommissioning radiation-contaminated structures and facilities presents significant challenges due to high radiation levels, making it difficult for workers to access these areas. Therefore, technology development should precede decommissioning process assessments and safety evaluations, facilitating the derivation of optimal decommissioning procedures and ensuring worker safety while enhancing the efficiency of decommissioning operations. In this study, we have developed a program to estimate decommissioning waste amounts for PHWRs, building upon prior research on PWR decommissioning projects while accounting for the specific design characteristics of PHWRs. To evaluate the amount of radioactive waste generated during decommissioning, we considered the characteristics of radioactive waste, disposal methods, packaging container specifications, and the criteria for the transfer of radioactive waste to disposal operators. Based on the derived algorithm, we conducted a detailed design and implemented the program. The proposed program is based on 3D modeling of the decommissioning components and the calculation of the Work Difficulty Factor (WDF), which is used to determine the time weighting factors for each task. Program users can select the cutting and packaging conditions for decommissioning components, estimate waste amount based on the chosen decommissioning method, and calculate costs using time weighting factors. It can be applied not only to PHWRs, but also to PWRs and non-nuclear fields, providing a flexible tool for optimizing decommissioning process.

The radiolytic decomposition of oxalic acid was investigated using gamma irradiation for decontamination of nuclear power systems. The study used high-purity analytical grade chemicals, with initial concentrations of oxalic acid prepared at 1, 2, 5, and 10 mM, and the initial pH was adjusted to 2-3 at each test condition. Gamma irradiation was performed using a high-level Co-60 source, and absorbed doses were 5, 10, 20, 30, and 50 kGy. The results showed that the efficiency of gamma irradiation decreased with longer gamma exposure time, and the G-value increased with the initial concentration of oxalic acid. Interestingly, the G-value decreased with accumulated radiation dose, but the removal increased. The dose constant ranged from 0.1695 to 0.0536 kGy-1 at different initial concentrations, and the G-value was inversely proportional to the dose constant. The study concluded that oxalic acid was successfully degraded by gamma irradiation, and 92% removal was obtained at the initial concentration of 10 mM. The mineralization of oxalic acid at higher concentrations was more difficult due to the great number of generated intermediates.

With the aging of nuclear power plants (NPPs) in 37 countries around the world, 207 out of 437 NPPs have been permanently shutdown as of August 2022 according to the IAEA. In Korea, the decommissioning of NPPs is emerging as a challenge due to the permanent shutdown of Kori Unit 1 and Wolsong Unit 1. However, there are no cases of decommissioning activities for Heavy Water Reactor (HWR) such as Wolsong Unit 1 although most of the decommissioning technologies for Light Water Reactor (LWR) such as Kori Unit 1 have been developed and there are cases of overseas decommissioning activities. This study shows the development of a decommissioning waste amount/cost/process linkage program for decommissioning Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR), i.e. CANDU NPPs. The proposed program is an integrated management program that can derive optimal processes from an economic and safety perspective when decommissioning PHWR based on 3D modeling of the structures and digital mock-up system that links the characteristic data of PHWR, equipment and construction methods. This program can be used to simulate the nuclear decommissioning activities in a virtual space in three dimensions, and to evaluate the decommissioning operation characteristics, waste amount, cost, and exposure dose to worker. In order to verify the results, our methods for calculating optimal decommissioning quantity, which are closely related to radiological impact on workers and cost reduction during decommissioning, were compared with the methods of the foreign specialized institution (NAGRA). The optimal decommissioning quantity can be calculated by classifying the radioactivity level through MCNP modeling of waste, investigating domestic disposal containers, and selecting cutting sizes, so that costs can be reduced according to the final disposal waste reduction. As the target waste to be decommissioning for comparative study with NAGRA, the calandria in PHWR was modeled using MCNP. For packaging waste container, NAGRA selected three (P2A, P3, MOSAIK), and we selected two (P2A, P3) and compared them. It is intended to develop an integrated management program to derive the optimal process for decommissioning PHWR by linking the optimal decommissioning quantity calculation methodology with the detailed studies on exposure dose to worker, decommissioning order, difficulty of work, and cost evaluation. As a result, it is considered that it can be used not only for PHWR but also for other types of NPPs decommissioning in the future to derive optimal results such as worker safety and cost reduction.

Once a radioactive material is released from the nuclear power plant (NPP) by accident, it is necessary to understand the behavior of radioactive plume to protect residents adequately. For this, it is essential to measure the radiation dose rate around NPPs at important locations. Our previous study developed a movable radiation detector that can be installed quickly in an accident to measure gamma dose rate in areas where environmental radiation monitoring system is not installed. The data measured by the detector are transmitted to the server in real-time through LoRA wireless communications. There are two methods to use LoRA communications; one is self-network, and the other is the network provided by the mobile carrier. A signal receiver, called a gateway, should be equipped near the installation location of radiation detectors to use a self-network without using the mobile carrier’s system. In other words, the movable radiation detectors we made can function if there should be any gateway near them. The distance capable of communication between gateway and detector is about 8 km in an open area without significant obstacles. Korea has many significant obstacles, such as mountains around most NPPs. Thus, the gateways could be installed in the proper position before the accident to operate the movable radiation detectors without problems. If the gateway is located at a high position like a mountain top, it could cover a wide area. In this study, the elevation database in the area around the NPPs was collected and analyzed to determine where gateways should be installed. The analysis range is limited in the urgent protective action planning zone. The optimization was also performed to minimize the number of gateways.

본 논문에서는 고리 1호기 해체 비용 추정을 위해 외국 원자력발전소 해체 비용 데이터를 현가화한 후 원자력발전소 해체 비용 추정 회귀 분석모델을 개발하였다. 이 모델 개발에 사용된 데이터는 해체 또는 진행 중인 BWR 13기, PWR 16기의 해체 비용 데이터이다. 회귀 분석모델 도출을 위해, 해체 비용을 종속변수로 정하고, 해체 원전의 운전 특성을 반영할 수 있게 고 안된 Contamination factor와 해체 기간을 독립변수로 선정하였다. 빅데이터 분석 도구인 R language의 통계패키지를 이용 하여 회귀 분석모델을 도출하였다. 이 회귀 분석 모델을 적용하여 고리 1호기 해체 비용을 예측한 결과, 미화 663.40~928.32 백만 달러, 한화 약 7,828.12억~1조 954.18억 원이 소요될 것으로 예측되었다.

We have used bulked segregant analysis to screen the strain-specific DNA marker associated thermophilic strain of Pleurotus eryngii. Bulked genomic DNAs of Pleurotus eryngii were amplified by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) using OP-A, OP-B, OP-L, OP-P, OP-R and OP-S primers to screen the strain-specific DNA marker. A unique DNA fragment of 500 bp was amplified with OP-A11 primer from the psychrophilic strain and sequenced. A sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker was designed on the basis of the determined sequence and named as OP-A11-1. The PCR analysis with the OP-A11-1 primer showed that this SCAR marker clearly distinguish the psychrophilic strains from the control strains.

Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) is a by-product remaining after a crop of mushrooms. The fresh SMS was sample within 24 hours of removal from the production facility in DOJUN farm located in Jinju. About 11 bacterial species were isolated from fresh SMS on TSA medium. Among of them, one isolate, designated YJ02, showed the antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus ochraceous producing mycotoxin on PDA medium, potentially. The strain YJ02 was produced cellulase, xylanase, mannanase as hydrolase. The strain YJ02 was identified as members of the genus Bacillus by biochemical characteristics using Bacillus ID kit and VITEK 2 system. Comparative 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain YJ02 formed a distinct phylogenetic tree within the genus Bacillus and was most closely related to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens with 16S rDNA gene sequence similarity of 98.7%. On the basis of its physiological properties, biochemical characteristics and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain YJ02 was classified within the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus amyloliquefaciens YJ02 is proposed.

Spent mushroom substrate(SMS) is a by-product remaining after a crop of mushrooms. About 9 thermophilic strains were isolated from SMS(Flammulina velvtipes). Among of them, one isolate, designated UJ09, showed the antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus ochraceous producing mycotoxin on PDA medium, potentially. The strain UJ09 was produced cellulase and xylanase as hydrolase. The strain UJ21 was identified as members of the genus Bacillus by biochemical characteristics using Bacillus ID kit and VITEK 2 system. Comparative 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain UJ09 formed a distinct phylogenetic tree within the genus Bacillus and was most closely related to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens with 16S rDNA gene sequence similarity of 99.2%. On the basis of its physiological properties, biochemical characteristics and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain UJ09 was classified within the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus amyloliquefaciens UJ09 is proposed.

This study was conducted to evaluate the feeding value of the spent mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) substrates (SMS) in laying hens (Hy-Line Brown). The fresh spent mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) substrates collected from the DOJUN farm were fermented with Bacillus subtilis EJ3 for 2 weeks. A total of twenty-four laying hens were fed corn-soy based experimental diets containing 0% (control), 5% (T1), 10% (T2) and 15%(T3) fermented SMS for 7 weeks. There were no significant differences among the treatments in egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion and viability during the experimental period. Feed intake was significantly lowered in control (118.3 g) than T1 (121.9 g), T2 (120.3 g) and T3 (122.4 g). There were no significant differences among the treatments eggshell breaking strength, thickness and haugh unit, whereas the yolk color of T1, T2 and T3 were significantly heavy than T0. The palatability of boiled meat was significantly better in the T3 laying hens than in the T0 laying hens. In conclusion, fermented SMS can be used as resource of feed in laying hen feed at 5.0-15% level without effect on performance and egg qualify.

배추좀나방과 담배거세미나방 유충에 대한 30종 한방 식물체 메탄올 조추출몰의 살충활성 및 섭식 저해활성을 잎침지법을 이용하여 5,000ppm으로 검정하였다. 황련의 추출물은배추좀나방에 대해 살충작용을 보였다. 길경, 사삼, 세신, 오배자 및 자초의 추출물은 배추좀나방 유충에 대해, 목통 및 속새의 추출물은 담배거세미나방 유충에 대한 강한 섭식저해활성을 보였으나, 오배자와 황련의 추출물은 이들 나비목 유충 모두에 강한 섭식저해활성을 나타내었다.

Hibiscus syriacus (H. syriacus) as the national flower of Korea has been used as the herbal medicine in Asia. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of 70% ethanol extracts from the root of Hibiscus syriacus (RHS-E70) and elucidated the potential signaling pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. RHS-E70 dose-dependently suppressed NO production by inhibiting iNOS and IL-β expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. RHS-E70 inhibited the phosphorylation and degradation of IκB-α, which contributed to the inhibition of p65 nuclear accumulation and NF-κB activation. Furthermore, RHS-E70 suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38, which results in the inhibition of ATF2 phosphorylation and subsequent nuclear accumulation. These results indicate that RHS-E70 may exert antiinflammatory activity by inhibiting NF-κB and MAPK/ATF2 signaling. From these findings, RHS-E70 has potential to be a candidate for the development of chemopreventive or therapeutic agents for the inflammatory diseases.