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Martin PG, Louvel M, Cipiccia S, Jones CP, Batey DJ, Hallam KR, Yang IAX, Satou Y, Rau C, Mosselmans JFW, Richards DA, Scott TB. Provenance of uranium particulate contained within Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 ejecta material. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2801. [PMID: 31243294 PMCID: PMC6594968 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10937-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we report the results of multiple analytical techniques on sub-mm particulate material derived from Unit 1 of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant to provide a better understanding of the events that occurred and the environmental legacy. Through combined x-ray fluorescence and absorption contrast micro-focused x-ray tomography, entrapped U particulate are observed to exist around the exterior circumference of the highly porous Si-based particle. Further synchrotron radiation analysis of a number of these entrapped particles shows them to exist as UO2-identical to reactor fuel, with confirmation of their nuclear origin shown via mass spectrometry analysis. While unlikely to represent an environmental or health hazard, such assertions would likely change should break-up of the Si-containing bulk particle occur. However, more important to the long-term decommissioning of the reactors at the FDNPP (and environmental clean-upon), is the knowledge that core integrity of reactor Unit 1 was compromised with nuclear material existing outside of the reactors primary containment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter G Martin
- Interface Analysis Centre, School of Physics, HH Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TL, UK.
| | - Marion Louvel
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Bullard Laboratories, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0EZ, UK
| | - Silvia Cipiccia
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Park, Didcot, OX, OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Christopher P Jones
- Interface Analysis Centre, School of Physics, HH Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TL, UK
| | - Darren J Batey
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Park, Didcot, OX, OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Keith R Hallam
- Interface Analysis Centre, School of Physics, HH Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TL, UK
| | - Ian A X Yang
- Interface Analysis Centre, School of Physics, HH Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TL, UK
| | - Yukihiko Satou
- Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Tomioka-Machi, Futaba-gun, Fukushima, 979-1151, Japan
| | - Christoph Rau
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Park, Didcot, OX, OX11 0DE, UK
| | - J Fred W Mosselmans
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Park, Didcot, OX, OX11 0DE, UK
| | - David A Richards
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK
| | - Thomas B Scott
- Interface Analysis Centre, School of Physics, HH Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TL, UK
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