To evaluate the chemical properties of the epsilon particle present as a precipitate in the high-level radioactive waste, we performed the experiments for the samples fabricated by CeO2 containing 1, 3, and 5wt%Mo, where CeO2 is used as the simulated high-level radioactive waste to replace the real one, using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEMEDS). Moreover, to evaluate the chemical behavior of Mo epsilon particle in CeO2 at high temperature, the manufactured CeO2-1wt%Mo, CeO2-3wt%Mo, and CeO2-5wt%Mo samples were heated at 100, 300, 500, 700 and 900ºC for 7 h in a tube furnace under Ar atmosphere. In this study, the results of comprehensive analysis including the crystal structure, chemical state, and elemental distribution will be presented to verify the chemical properties for CeO2 samples containing Mo epsilon particle, depending on the Mo content and heating temperature.

To predict the long-term behaviors of actinides in aqueous environments, complexation behaviors of actinides should be understood. Various organic ligands of chelating aromatic structure appearing in humic substances are known to form stable aqueous complexes. In this study, a benzene diol (or catechol) derivative, i.e., 4-nitrocatechol (nCA) is selected and its chemical equilibria including acid dissociation and complexation with U(VI) ion were examined using spectroscopic methods. In addition, the effect of ionic strength (Is) on those equilibria was evaluated by adjusting the level of NaClO4 in aqueous solutions. First, the experiments to determine the acid dissociation constant (pKa) of nCA were carried out in aqueous solutions with different ionic strengths from 0.01–2.0 M. The acid dissociation constants of nCA (pKa1) were measured to 6.73 ± 0.07, 6.69 ± 0.03, 6.38 ± 0.03, 6.09 ± 0.12, and 6.04 ± 0.07 at Is = 0.01, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0, respectively. These results were confirmed through the UV-Vis absorption spectral data analysis using the HypSpec program. As the pKa1 decreases as the ionic strength increases, except for Is = 2.0, these data were further analyzed with SIT (Specific ion Interaction Theory). Typically, as the solution becomes basic, a red shift is shown in the absorption spectrum. This effect can be understood from the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) occurring in the deprotonated structures of nCA. At higher pH similar trends were also observed for measurement of pKa2. However, the determination of pKa2 is found not to be straightforward since a dimer formation equilibrium of nCA was observed as the ionic strength increased. This phenomenon will be discussed in detail with other supporting experimental results. Second of all, the complexation between the U(VI) and nCA in aqueous solutions was also examined. It was shown that nCA can easily form complexes with U(VI) ions at a wide range of pH via the deprotonation of their hydroxyl groups. U(VI)-nCA complexation will be further characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, IR and NMR by varying the solution ionic strength. The metal-ligand binding stoichiometry will be confirmed, for example, through the Job’s method. Finally, the acid dissociations constant and stability constants that were determined in this study will be used to provide species diagrams of aqueous U(VI)-nCA systems at a wide range of pH considering the effect of solution ionic strengths.

Concrete is one of the largest wastes, by volume, generated during the decommissioning of nuclear facilities, which significantly influences the projected costs for the disposal of decommissioning wastes. Concrete consists of aggregates and a cement binder. In radioactive concrete, the radioisotopes are mainly associated with the cement component. If the radioactive isotope can be separated from the concrete to below the clearance criteria, the volume of radioactive concrete waste could be reduced effectively. We were studied to separate the radioactive materials from the concrete by using the thermomechanical and chemical treatment processes, sequentially. From the study, separated aggregate could be treated to achieve the clearance level. However, these processes generate a large volume of secondary acidic radioactive wastewater, which might be a critical problem to reduce the volume of radioactive concrete waste. In this research, separating the 137Cs and 90Sr from dissolved concrete wastewater to below the discharge criteria by precipitation method, it would be released to the environment under industrial waste guidelines. The experiments were conducted to using a simulated radioactive wastewater, formed by the dissolution of concrete within HCl, which was spiking the 137Cs and 90Sr, respectively. In addition, we applied the chemical precipitation methods with wastewater, using ferrocyanide for 137Cs and BaSO4 coprecipitation for 90Sr. As a result, targeted radionuclides could be removed to the discharge level (137Cs: 0.05 Bq·ml−1, 90Sr: 0.02 Bq·ml−1) by precipitation method. Therefore, it could reduce the secondary wastewater effectively by precipitation method and enhance the additional volume reduction for radioactive concrete waste.

HIC refers to a radwaste packaging container that can maintain integrity for more than 300 years in the general underground environment and disposal conditions in Korea. For HIC, the integrity of containers is verified according to the HIC regulation guideline for LLW and ILW disposal. Existing material tests include mechanical stability, permeability resistance, corrosion properties, chemical durability and biological resistance. In this study, a chemical durability test was conducted to prove the suitability of the HIC material by measuring the degree of chemical influence other than corrosion from the disposal environment. The chemical resistance evaluation method was used to simulate the disposal environment in the underground repository, and the amount of change in the physical properties of the degraded polymer concrete specimens according to the test time was confirmed. The technical standards considered leaching of material components, sulfation attack, acid attack, alkali, carbonate, and salt crystallization. The compressive strength and weight change of the specimens with time were checked by immersing them in a chemical solution that could leak major hazardous substances and wastes in the groundwater of the repository for several months. In addition, in order to evaluate the integrity in condition severe than the disposal environment, a flow was applied to a chemical solution having a concentration twice that of the basic chemical resistance test conditions, and the test period was extended twice to accelerate the deterioration of the specimen.

During the treatment of spent nuclear fuel, radioactive iodine is generated in a liquefied or gaseous form in a specific process. In the case of iodine 129, it is a long-lived nuclide with a very long halflife and has high groundwater mobility under repository conditions. Despite showing a low radioactivity value, research on the management of radioactive iodine from a long-term perspective is continuously being performed. Although research has been conducted using borosilicate glass as a medium for solidifying iodine, compatibility of I in borosilicate glass is very small and the volatility is high in the solidification process. So it is not suitable as a solidified substance of iodine. Therefore, studies on other solidification media to replace them are continuously being conducted. Our research team tried to develop a new medium that can contain iodine in a solidified body stably through a simple heat treatment process and can improve problems such as volatility and waste loading. Iodine is captured as AgI in the Ag ion-exchanged zeolite. So, TeO2, Ag2O, and Bi2O3 having a high AgI loading rate were used as main components. It was named TAB after taking the first letter of each element. In previous studies, the physical properties, structure, and chemical stability of TAB materials were confirmed. PCT (Product Consistent test) was performed to confirm chemical stability. It is mainly used to compare the chemical stability of glass materials with other glass materials, but there are limitations in evaluating the long-term chemical stability of materials. In this experiment, we tried to evaluate the long-term stability of TAB and compare it with borosilicate, which is conventionally used to treat radioactive waste. In addition, we tried to understand the leaching behavior inside the TAB medium. For this purpose, ASTM C1308 test was performed for 365 days, and distilled water and KURT groundwater were used as leachates to examine the effect of ions in the groundwater on the solidified body. To analyze the leaching behavior, ICP-MS and ICP-OES analyses were performed, and the cross-section of the sample after leaching was observed through SEM.

The current study was intended to synthesize and characterize the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of carbon/ carbon (C/C) composites using the chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) process. To that end, carbon fiber felt (CF) was used as a preform, and methane and hydrogen were employed as reactive and carrier gases, respectively. After deciding on the optimum temperature (1050 °C), the composite samples were produced at different times (0–195 h). Then the samples were studied for their phase and microstructure characteristics using XRD, SEM, FESEM, FTIR, and Raman spectroscope. The results showed that by increasing the CVI process time up to 195 h, the density of the produced samples increased from 0.20 to 1.62 g/cm3, and the specific surface area decreased from 58.78 to 0.23 m2/ g. Also, by increasing the process duration, the deposition rate decreased due to the reduction of the available surface for carbon deposition. In other words, due to the increase in density, and decrease in both porosity and specific surface area, the thermal conductivity coefficient and the bending strength of the samples increased. The composite specimens’ SEM images of the fracture surface indicated a weak interface between the carbon fibers and the carbon layer developed by the CVI process. The structural analyses showed that the morphology of carbon growth during the CVI process was initially laminar, but changed to rough-laminar (RL) with the higher duration of the CVI process.

Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) are considered of great importance due to their high catalytic and antimicrobial activities. This study focuses on the preparation and characterization of CuNPs, and on their antibacterial/antifungal activities. A copper salt (copper sulfate pentahydrate) as precursor, starch as stabilizing agent, and ascorbic acid as reducing agent were used to fabricate CuNPs. The resulting product was characterized via different techniques such as X-ray diffractrometry (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to confirm its characteristic properties. Employing the Scherrer formula, the mean crystallite sizes of copper (Cu) and cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanocrystals were found to be 29.21 and 25.33 nm, respectively, as measured from the main X-ray diffraction peaks. The functional groups present in the resulting CuNPs were confirmed by FTIR. In addition, the engineered CuNPs showed antibacterial and antifungal activity against tested pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains.

최근 건축물의 보수보강 및 리모델링시 구조부재를 부착시키거나 고정하는데 있어서 시공의 유연성 및 용이성으로 후설치 부착식 케미컬앵커의 사용이 증가하고 있는 실정이다. 그동안 후설치 익스팬션앵커에 대한 내력평가는 지난 10년간 실 험을 통한 연구가 지속되어 설계기준식 제정등 어느정도 정립단계에 있으나, 부착식 케미컬앵커에 대한 해석 및 실험적 연구는 아직 미비한 실정으로, 현재 설계자와 시공자가 신뢰할 수 있는 명확한 설계기준이 없는 상태로서 외국의 설계기준에 의존하고 있는 실정이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 부착식 캡슐형 및 주입형 케미컬앵커의 볼트직경, 매입깊이, 연단거리 그리고 앵커간격를 변수로 한 인발시험을 통하여 비균열 무근 콘크리트에 매입된 케미컬앵커의 인발내력에 미치는 제요소를 분석하고, 구조적 안 정성을 고려한 합리적인 부착식 케미컬앵커 설계를 위한 기초자료를 제공하는 것을 그 목적으로 한다.

Lately, Raman spectroscopy has become powerful tool for quality assessment of graphene analogues with identification of intensity ratio of Raman active D-band and G-band ( ID/IG ratio) as a vital parameter for quantification of defects. However, during chemical reduction of graphitic oxide (GrO) to reduced GrO (RGrO), the increased ID/ IG ratio is often wrongly recognized as defect augmentation, with “formation of more numerous yet smaller size sp2 domains” as its explanation. Herein, by giving due attention to normalized peak height, full-width half-maxima and integrated peak area of Raman D- and G-bands, and compliment the findings by XRD data, we have shown that in-plane size of sp2 domains actually increases upon chemical reduction. Particularly, contrary to increased ID/ IG ratio, the calculated decrease in integrated peak area ratio ( AD/AG ratio) in conjunction with narrowing of D-band and broadening of G-band, evinced the decrease in in-plane defects. Finally, as duly supported by reduction induced broadening of interlayer-spacing characteristic XRD peak and narrowing of ~ 43° centered XRD hump, we have also shown that the sp2 domains actually expands in size and the observed increase in ID/ IG ratio is indeed due to increase in across-plane defects, formed via along-the-layer slicing of graphitic domains.

A laboratory-scale experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementing commonly used effective microorganisms on the chemical properties of swine liquid manure. Effective microorganisms used in this study were Bacillus subtilis (1.3×109 colony-forming unit (CFU)/ml), Enterococcus faecium (1.9×1010 CFU/ml), Aspergillus oryzae (2.0×109 CFU/ml), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (6.4×109 CFU/ml), Rhodobacter sphaeroides (1.2×108 CFU/ml), and Streptomyces griseus (6.2×108 CFU/ml). Swine liquid manure collected and decanted from a swine farm was used in this study. Treatments included control (distilled water supplementation), Treatment 1 (T1) (mixed microbes, 109 CFU/ml), and Treatment 2 (T2) (mixed microbes, 107 CFU/ml). Microbial mix was supplemented every 3.5 days and aerated six times (15 min each) a day to facilitate compositing. Ten ml of sample was collected at 2-, 4-, 6-, and 7-week intervals for the measurement of pH, ammonia-N, volatile fatty acid (VFA), total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total potassium. At seven weeks, samples were further collected to analyze biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Ammonia-N was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in T1 and T2 by 36% and 30%, respectively, compared with control (23%). VFAs including butyrate, iso-butyrate, valerate, iso-valerate, and caproate were not detected in T1 from the four-week aerated sample. The BOD and COD were significantly (p<0.05) decreased in T1 by 96% and 58%, respectively. In conclusion, ammonia-N, VFA, BOD, and COD, known as odor indicators, were decreased in T1 and T2 compared with control, suggesting that effective microorganisms are useful for compositing swine liquid manure

The present study was aimed to estimate the effect of ensiling period and bacterial inoculants on chemical compositions and fermentation characteristics on rye silage harvested at delayed stage. Rye (Secale cereale L.) was harvested after 20 days of heading stage (29.4% dry matter, DM). The harvested rye forage was applied with different inoculants following: applications of distilled water (CON), Lactobacillus brevis (LBB), Leuconostoc holzapfelii (LCH), or mixture of LBB and LCH at 1:1 ratio (MIX). Each forage was ensiled into 20 L mini bucket silo (5 kg) for 50 (E50D) and 100 (E100D) days in triplicates. The E50D silages had higher in vitro digestibilities of DM (IVDMD, p<0.001) and neutral detergent fiber (IVNDFD, p=0.013), and lactate (p=0.009), and acetate (p=0.011) than those of E100D, but lower pH, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and yeast. By inoculant application, LCH had highest IVDMD and IVNDFD (p<0.05), while MIX had highest lactate and lowest pH (p<0.05). The CON and LCH in E50D had highest LAB and yeast (p<0.05), whereas LBB in E100D had lowest (p<0.05). Therefore, this study concluded that LCH application improved the nutrient digesbility (IVDMD and IVNDFD) of lignified rye silage, and longer ensiling period for 100 days enhanced the fermentation characteristics of silage compared to ensiling for 50 days.

달래의 전처리 방법을 통해 미생물 저감과 품질 유지 효과를 알아보기 위해 물리적인 처리로는 손 세척 1분, 버블 세척, Ultrasonication 처리를 50oC와 60oC의 온도에서 각각 1분, 3분, 5분 동안 세척하였고, 화학적 처리에서는 유기산인 푸마르산과 아세트산 용액 1.5%와 2% 농도에서 각각 1분, 3분, 5분 동안 침지 처리하였다. 미생물과 품질 분석 결과 물리적 처리에서는 버블 세척 3분이 곰팡이 저감에 효과적이었으나 일반세균 저감 효과는 적었고, Ultrasonication 60oC, 5분 처리에서 미생물 저감 효과가 가장 높았으나 색도의 a값이 증가하는 경향을 보여 녹색이 약해졌다. 화학적 처리에서는 acetic acid에 비해서 fumaric acid에서 일반세균과 곰팡이의 저감 효과가 높았으며, fumaric acid 1.5% 용액에서 3분 처리의 저감효과가 가장 높았다. 달래의 미생물 저감 효과가 좋은 버블세척 3분 (B3), fumaric acid 1.5%, 3분 처리(F153), 두 가지 방법을 조합한 병합(BF) 처리를 실시하고 9일 동안 4oC에서 저장하며 품질 특성을 비교해 본 결과, 일반세균보다는 곰팡이 저감에 더 효과적이었으며, 일반세균은 BF가 곰팡이는 F153에서 미생물 감소 효과가 있었다. 색변화에 있어 BF 처리의 ΔE값이 가장 낮았으며, 유기산 처리에서 색변화를 보여 F153에서 녹색이 약해졌다. 최대응집력 변화 알뿌리 보다는 녹색 줄기에서 현격히 나타났는데 저장 9일 차에 F153처리에서 녹색 줄기의 경도가 가장 높게 유지되었고 (P<0.05), 알뿌리 부분은 물리적 방법인 버블 세척 시 6일 차부터 다른 처리에 비해 낮아졌다(P<0.05). 달래의 미생물 저감과 품질의 유지를 고려할 때 전처리 방법으로는 fumaric acid 1.5%용액으로 3분 처리 시 미생물 저감 효과와 색·최대응집력의 특성 유지가 우수하였고, 3일 이내 의 유통기간이라면 병합 처리도 효과적인 방법으로 적용 할 수 있음을 알 수 있었다.