Direct alpha spectrometry for analysing leached ThO2 pellets

Emmi Myllykylä; L. Koivula; Merja Tanhua-Tyrkkö; K. Helariutta; Tiina Lavonen; Kaija Ollila; M. Siitari-Kauppi

doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.06.003

Direct alpha spectrometry for analysing leached ThO₂ pellets

Emmi Myllykylä, L. Koivula, Merja Tanhua-Tyrkkö, K. Helariutta, Tiina Lavonen, Kaija Ollila, M. Siitari-Kauppi

BA4507 Nuclear waste management

University of Helsinki

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The next generation application of nuclear energy has shown an interest towards ThO₂ or mixed oxides fuels. However, more knowledge is needed, for example, on the microstructural and matrix dissolution behaviour of ThO₂. The objective of this study was to examine surface properties of thick ThO₂ pellets by non-destructive alpha analysis method accompanied with Monte Carlo simulations before and after a leaching experiment. This study has been conducted to investigate the contents, and surface layer thickness of crystalline ²³²ThO₂ pellet leached in aqueous solution with excess of ²²⁹Th tracer in the beginning of the experiment. The simulation results have suggested a maximum 0.1 µm concentrated layer of ²²⁹Th on the pellet surface. The presence of this layer suppresses further dissolution of the pellet.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	69-76
Journal	Journal of Nuclear Materials
Volume	493
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.06.003
Publication status	Published - 1 Sept 2017
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

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title = "Direct alpha spectrometry for analysing leached ThO2 pellets",

abstract = "The next generation application of nuclear energy has shown an interest towards ThO2 or mixed oxides fuels. However, more knowledge is needed, for example, on the microstructural and matrix dissolution behaviour of ThO2. The objective of this study was to examine surface properties of thick ThO2 pellets by non-destructive alpha analysis method accompanied with Monte Carlo simulations before and after a leaching experiment. This study has been conducted to investigate the contents, and surface layer thickness of crystalline 232ThO2 pellet leached in aqueous solution with excess of 229Th tracer in the beginning of the experiment. The simulation results have suggested a maximum 0.1 µm concentrated layer of 229Th on the pellet surface. The presence of this layer suppresses further dissolution of the pellet.",

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AU - Myllykylä, Emmi

AU - Koivula, L.

AU - Tanhua-Tyrkkö, Merja

AU - Helariutta, K.

AU - Lavonen, Tiina

AU - Ollila, Kaija

AU - Siitari-Kauppi, M.

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N2 - The next generation application of nuclear energy has shown an interest towards ThO2 or mixed oxides fuels. However, more knowledge is needed, for example, on the microstructural and matrix dissolution behaviour of ThO2. The objective of this study was to examine surface properties of thick ThO2 pellets by non-destructive alpha analysis method accompanied with Monte Carlo simulations before and after a leaching experiment. This study has been conducted to investigate the contents, and surface layer thickness of crystalline 232ThO2 pellet leached in aqueous solution with excess of 229Th tracer in the beginning of the experiment. The simulation results have suggested a maximum 0.1 µm concentrated layer of 229Th on the pellet surface. The presence of this layer suppresses further dissolution of the pellet.

AB - The next generation application of nuclear energy has shown an interest towards ThO2 or mixed oxides fuels. However, more knowledge is needed, for example, on the microstructural and matrix dissolution behaviour of ThO2. The objective of this study was to examine surface properties of thick ThO2 pellets by non-destructive alpha analysis method accompanied with Monte Carlo simulations before and after a leaching experiment. This study has been conducted to investigate the contents, and surface layer thickness of crystalline 232ThO2 pellet leached in aqueous solution with excess of 229Th tracer in the beginning of the experiment. The simulation results have suggested a maximum 0.1 µm concentrated layer of 229Th on the pellet surface. The presence of this layer suppresses further dissolution of the pellet.

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DO - 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.06.003

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SN - 0022-3115

VL - 493

SP - 69

EP - 76

JO - Journal of Nuclear Materials

JF - Journal of Nuclear Materials

ER -

Direct alpha spectrometry for analysing leached ThO₂ pellets

Abstract

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