In the evaluation of the stability of radioactive waste disposal, it is imperative to take into account the concept of the redox front. Initially, this front is typically observed near the surface. However, if the hydraulic gradient increases due to the construction of a disposal facility, the redox front can potentially transport deeper into the geological environment through groundwater flow. This transport triggers changes in the geochemical characteristics, potentially diminishing the natural buffering capacity of the bedrock. Consequently, it is necessary to characterize both the unsaturated and saturated zones in the disposal site. In this context, a tracer test is a useful method to identify the characteristics of the site from the surface to the deep geological environment where the disposal facility can be located. Therefore, this study also aims to establish a methodology enabling a comprehensive understanding of the hydrogeochemical characteristics through the tracer test that can be applied to future sites for research URL (Underground Research Laboratory) or radioactive waste disposal in Korea. For the tracer test, a UNIT (UNsaturated zone Insitu Test facility) was built within the KAERI and five wells with a depth of 24 m were installed in 2022. Before conducting the test, to determine the geochemical background characteristics of the site, topsoil and soils at depths of 30 cm, 60 cm, and 90 cm were collected. Additionally, a groundwater sample was obtained from the newly installed well. Soil samples were analyzed for soil texture, moisture content, total and exchange cations, anions, and heavy metals. Similarly, the groundwater sample was analyzed for cations, anions, and trace elements. The outcomes of these comprehensive analyses will serve as the baseline values in the hydrogeochemical changes after the tracer test. This includes changes in soil composition, water quality, precipitation/dissolution processes, and mineral phases. Furthermore, these results will be provided as input parameters for surface-underground interface models in future studies.

‘Tracers’ are bullets that emit light at the backside so that the shooter can see the trajectory of their flight. These light-emitting bullets allow snipers to hit targets faster and more accurately. Conventional tracers are all combustion type which use the heat generated upon ignition. However, the conventional tracer has a fire risk at the impact site due to the residual flame and has a by-product that can contaminate the inside of the gun and lead to firearm failure. To resolve these problems, it is necessary to develop non-combustion-type tracers that can convert heat to luminance, so-called ‘thermoluminescence (TL)’. Here, we highly improve the thermoluminescence properties of MgB4O7 through co-doping of Dy3++Ce3+ and Dy3++Na+. The presence of doping materials (Dy3+, Ce3+, Na+) was confirmed by XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). The as-synthesized co-doped MgB4O7 was irradiated with a specific radiation dose and heated to 500 °C under dark conditions. Different thermoluminescence characteristics were exhibited depending on the type or amounts of doping elements, and the highest luminance of 370 cd/m2 was obtained when Dy 10 % and Na 5 % were co-doped.

Bullets flying with a light from the back are called “tracers”. Tracers are ignited by the combustion gas of the propellant and emit bright light that allows the shooter to visually trace the flight path. Therefore, tracers mark the firing point for allies to assist shooters to hit target quickly and accurately. Conventional tracers are constructed with a mixture of an oxidizing agent, raw metal, and organic fuel. Upon ignition, the inside of the gun can be easily contaminated by the by-products, which can lead to firearm failure during long-term shooting. Moreover, there is a fire risk such as forest fires due to residual flames at impact site. Therefore, it is necessary to develop non-combustion type luminous material; however, this material must still use the heat generated from the propellant, so-called “thermoluminescence (TL)”. This study aims to compare the TL emission of Dy3+, La3+ and Ho3+ doped MgB4O7 phosphors prepared by solid state reaction. The crystal structures of samples were determined by X-ray diffraction and matched with the standard pattern of MgB4O7. Luminescence of various doses (200 ~ 15,000 Gy) of gamma irradiated Dy3+, La3+ and Ho3+ (at different concentrations of 5, 10, 15 and 20 %) doped MgB4O7 were recorded using a luminance/color meter. The intensity of TL yellowish (CIE x = 0.401 ~ 0.486, y = 0.410 ~ 0.488) emission became stronger as the temperature increased and the total gamma-ray dose increased.

팔당호 수변지역 내 부유조류와 부착조류의 일차생산력은 부착조류의 일차생산력이 더 높게 나타났다. 따라서 수변 지역이나 하천에서는 부착조류에 의한 유기물 생성이 주요한 수생태계 에너지 공급원이 될 것으로 판단된다. 본 연구를 통해 국내에서 처음으로 지표색소의 생산속도 분석결과가 제시되었는데 향후 일차생산력을 측정하는 데 있어서 조류의 총 일차생산력으로 국한된 측정 방법을 좀 더 세분화 하여 특정 조류의 기여도 및 개별 생산력을 판단하는 데 유용하게 사용될 것으로 사료된다.

효과적인 물환경관리계획을 수립하기 위해서는 다양한 기원의 유기물이 난분해성 유기물 농도 증가에 영향을 줄 수 있는지 여부를 파악하는 것이 중요하다. 특히 상당량의 광합성 산물은 식물플랑크톤에 의해 매일 생성되고 있지만, 이들이 수계 내 난분해성 유기물에 기여하는지에 대한 정보는 부족하다. 본 연구에서는 13C 및 15N 추적자 첨가 실험을 통해 조류기원 유기물이 생분해 (60일, 암배양) 및 산화제 (과망간산칼륨) 처리 후 분해되지 않고 잔존하는지 여부를 확인하였다. 생분해 실험 결과 광합성을 통해 생성된 총 유기탄소 (TO13C), 입자성 유기탄소 (PO13C), 입자성 질소 (P15N)는 각각 26%, 20%, 17%가 비 생분해성 유기물로 잔존하였다. 또한 상당량의 PO13C가 과망간산칼륨에 의해 산화되지 않고 잔존하였다 (초기: 12%, 60일 암배양 후: 38%). 이는 미생물에 의해 사용된 후 남아있는 조류 기원 유기물이 난분해성 유기물에 기여할 수 있음을 의미 한다. 또한 미생물에 의해 변형된 조류기원 유기물의 양은 COD 산화율 및 유기물 지표 간 격차에 영향을 줄 것으로 사료된다.

In this study, a fluorescent silica nano particle is used as the surrogate for challenging test of membrane surface integrity. The particles are functionalized by a fluorescent dying agent so that as an ultraviolet light is imposed a bright fluorescent image from the particles can be taken. If a membrane surface is damaged and has a compromised part larger than the size of surrogate the fluorescent particles would pass through and contained in the permeate. An operator can directly notice whether the membrane surface is damaged or not by detecting a fluorescent image taken from the permeate. Additionally, the size of compromised part is estimated through analysing the fluorescent image in which we surmise the mass of particles included in the permeate by calculating an average RGB value of the image. The pilot scale experiments showed that this method could be applied successfully to determine if a membrane surface had a damaged parts regardless of the test condition. In the testing on the actual damaged area of 4.712 mm2, the lowest error of estimating the damaged area was –1.32% with the surrogate concentration of 80 mg/L, flux of 40 L/m2/hr for 25 minutes of detection. A further study is still going on to increase the lowest detection limit and thus decrease the error of estimation.