Reduction of selenite and selenate on anoxically corroded iron and the synergistic effect of uranyl reduction

In this work the uptake of dissolved selenium in the form of selenite and selenate on iron covered by a magnetite corrosion layer and the effect of dissolved uranyl on this process is studied. Under simulated anoxic groundwater conditions (bicarbonate and chloride solutions) no immobilization of selenate was found in the absence of uranyl whereas selenite was immobilized, albeit slowly. When uranyl was present, it was found to become reduced and greatly enhanced the rate of reductive immobilization of the dissolved selenite as well as selenate. The increased rate of immobilization is proposed to be due to the oxidative transformation of the passifying magnetite layer as the uranyl is reduced with the observed formation of a transient mixed Fe(II)/Fe(III) oxyhydroxide phase. The iron oxide, and selenium speciation on the surfaces were investigated by Raman spectroscopy. X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy was used to determine the oxidation state of the selenium and uranium on the surfaces.     

Can redox sensitive radionuclides be immobilized on the surface of spent nuclear fuel? - A model study on the reduction of Se(IV)aq on Pd-doped UO2 under H2 atmosphere

Spent nuclear fuel contains noble metal particles composed of fission products (Pd, Mo, Ru, Tc, Rh and Te, often referred to as ε-particles). Studies have shown that these particles play a major role in catalyzing oxidative dissolution as well as H₂ reduction of the oxidized UO₂ fuel matrix, depending on the conditions. Thus it is possible that these particles also could have a major impact on the state of other redox sensitive radionuclides (such as the long lived fission product ⁷⁹Se) present in spent nuclear fuel. In this study, Pd-doped UO₂ pellets are used to simulate noble metal particles inclusions in spent nuclear fuel and the effect on dissolved selenium in the form of selenite (250 μM selenite) in simulated ground water solution (10 mM NaCl, 10 mM NaHCO₃) at 1 and 10 bar hydrogen pressure. The selenite was found to be reduced to elemental Se, forming colloidal particles. At hydrogen pressures of 10 bar, the rate of selenite reduction was found to be linearly correlated to the fraction of Pd in the UO₂ pellets. No selenium was detected on the surface of the pellets. For the lowest Pd loading (0.1% Pd) the selenite reduction does not appear to proceed to completion indicating that the surface becomes less active.     

Effects of Fe and Cr on corrosion behavior of ZrFeCr alloys in 500 °C steam

A study of the corrosion behaviors of ZrFeCr alloy and the influence of microstructure on corrosion resistance are described by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope in this paper. The results show that several ZrFeCr alloys exhibit protective behavior throughout the test and oxide growth is stable and protective. The best alloy has the composition Zr1.0Fe0.6Cr. Fitting of the weight gain curves for the protective oxide alloys in the region of protective behavior, it showed nearly cubic behavior for the most protective alloys. The Zr1.0Fe0.6Cr has the more laves Zr(Fe,Cr)₂ precipitate in matrix and it has the better corrosion resistance. The Zr0.2Fe0.1Cr has little precipitate, the biggest hydrogen absorption and the worst corrosion resistance. The number of precipitates and the amount of hydrogen absorption in Zr alloy plays an important role on corrosion resistance behaviors in 500 °C/10.3 MPa steam.     

Determination of Cr(VI) in wood specimen: A XANES study at the Cr K edge

The content of chromium in different oxidation states in chromium-treated wood was studied with XANES (X-ray absorption near-edge structure) measurements at the Cr K absorption edge. It could be shown that wood samples treated with Cr(VI) (pine and beech) did still contain a measurable content of Cr(VI) after four weeks conditioning. If such wood samples were heat exposed for 2 h with 135 °C prior conditioning, Cr(VI) was no longer detected by XANES, indicating a complete reduction to chromium (III).     

SR-XRD和EXAFS研究Mn掺杂ZnO薄膜的微观结构

用射频磁控溅射技术在蓝宝石衬底上制备了一组不同衬底温度的Mn掺杂ZnO薄膜。质子激发X射线荧光(PIXE)测量表明,薄膜中仅有含量为5 at.%的Mn,未见其它磁性杂质元素(如Fe、Co、Ni等)。同步辐射X射线衍射(SR-XRD)表明,这些Mn掺杂ZnO薄膜具有纤锌矿ZnO结构。SR-XRD和扩展X射线吸收精细结构谱(EXAFS)分析显示,薄膜中未发现Mn团簇或MnO、MnO2、Mn2O3、Mn3O4等二次相,Mn原子是通过替代Zn原子而进入了ZnO晶格。     

用X射线吸收近边结构谱研究大气颗粒物中元素的种态

大气颗粒物中元素的种态研究,对评价其毒性和污染来源等有很重要的意义。本工作采集了不同地点和不同粒径的大气颗粒物样品,测定了样品中铬、锰、铜和锌的X射线吸收近边结构(XANES)谱,利用该谱分析了这些元素在颗粒物中的种态。结果显示,所采集的样品中铬主要以三价形式存在,锰主要以二价形式存在,铜也以二价形式存在,而锌主要以硫酸盐存在。用质子激发X射线荧光(PIXE)法测定了这些元素在样品中的浓度,观察到不同采样点和不同粒径的颗粒物中金属含量的差别,但未看到种态的这种变化。     

Crystal chemistry of uranium (V) and plutonium (IV) in a titanate ceramic for disposition of surplus fissile material

We report X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) spectra for the plutonium LIII and uranium LIII edges in titanate pyrochlore ceramic. The titanate ceramics studied are of the type proposed to serve as a matrix for the immobilization of surplus fissile materials. The samples studied contain approximately 10 wt% fissile plutonium and 20 wt% natural uranium, and are representative of material within the planned production envelope. Based upon natural analogue models, it had been previously assumed that both uranium and plutonium would occupy the calcium site in the pyrochlore crystal structure. While the XANES and EXAFS signals from the plutonium LIII are consistent with this substitution into the calcium site within pyrochlore, the uranium XANES is characteristic of pentavalent uranium. Furthermore, the EXAFS signal from the uranium has a distinct oxygen coordination shell at 2.07 Å and a total oxygen coordination of about 6, which is inconsistent with the calcium site. These combined EXAFS and XANES results provide the first evidence of substantial pentavalent uranium in an octahedral site in pyrochlore. This may also explain the copious nucleation of rutile (TiO₂) precipitates commonly observed in these materials as uranium displaces titanium from the octahedral sites.     

The effect of Cr concentration on radiation damage in Fe-Cr alloys

Displacement cascades in Fe-Cr alloys were studied using molecular dynamics computer simulations. We considered random Fe-5Cr and Fe-15Cr alloys, as well as Fe-10Cr alloys with and without Cr-rich precipitates. In the simulations two versions of a two-band embedded atom method potential were used, and the cascades were induced by recoils with energies up to 20 keV. We found that the average number of surviving Frenkel pairs and the fraction of vacancies and self-interstitials in clusters was approximately the same in pure Fe and random Fe-Cr alloys (regardless of Cr concentration). A noticeable effect of the presence of Cr in the Fe matrix was only observed in the enrichment of self-interstitials by Cr in Fe-5Cr. The calculated change in the short range order parameter showed that Fe-5Cr tends towards ordering (negative short range order parameter) and Fe-15Cr towards segregation (positive short range order parameter) of Cr atoms. In simulations with the Cr-rich precipitate, enhanced cascade splitting and segregation of self-interstitial defects created inside the precipitates towards the precipitate-matrix interface region was observed. The number of Frenkel pairs and their clustered fraction was not affected by the presence of the precipitate.     

Dependence of vacancy concentration on morphology of helium bubbles in oxide ceramics

Since the formation of helium bubbles degrades swelling property and thermal conductivity of minor actinide-containing mixed oxide (MA-MOX) fuel, it is essential to understand the conditions of the bubble formation. In order to examine the dependence of vacancy concentration on morphology of helium bubbles, helium was infused into (Zr,Fe)O_2?x. The oxygen vacancy concentration was controlled by addition of solute Fe³⁺ into ZrO₂. Helium was infused by hot isostatic pressing. The helium-infused specimens were observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and field emission transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM). In addition, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction analysis, conversion electron yield–X-ray absorption near-edge structure and FE-SEM/EDX (energy dispersive X-ray) analyses were also made to interpret the results of microstructure observations. As a result of the helium infusion treatment, numerous 0.5–10 nm bubbles were observed and its number density clearly depended on oxygen vacancy concentration. On the other hand, sizes of the helium nano-bubbles in all specimens were almost constant.     

Multiple scattering approach to X-ray absorption spectroscopy

In this paper we present the state of the art of the theoretical background needed for analyzing X-ray absorption spectra in the whole energy range. The multiple-scattering (MS) theory is presented in detail with some applications on real systems. We also describe recent progress in performing geometrical fitting of the XANES (X-ray absorption near-edge structure) energy region and beyond using a full multiple-scattering approach.     

A study of the structure of Zr(CrFe)2 laves phase precipitates in a ZrCrFe alloy

C15 type Zr(CrFe)₂ Laves phase precipitates have been found in Zr-1.15 wt% Cr-0.1 wt% Fe alloy. Twinned, multiple twinned and dislocation structures have been found in the precipitates. Comparison of calculated and measured precipitate size show the growth of the Zr(CrFe)₂ Laves phase is controlled by diffusion.The orientation relationships (1̄11̄)_L//(112̄0)_α, [110]_L//[0001]_α between the Zr(CrFe)₂ Laves phase precipitates and ga-Zr matrix in the ZrCrFe alloy give the same type of model for the transformation as previously suggested for Zircaloy-4.     

EXAFS and SR-XRD study on Cu occupation sites in Zn1-xCuxO diluted magnetic semiconductors

ZnO films, doped with 2.9 atom% Cu, were prepared by radio frequency magnetron sputtering on sapphire substrate at different substrate temperatures. No magnetic impurities such as Fe, Co and Ni were found in the PIXE spectra. The ZnO:Cu films possessed the wurtzite ZnO structure. No precipitates such as CuO and Cu2O or Cu cluster, were observed by synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction in the ZnO:Cu films. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis showed that Cu atoms were incorporated into ZnO crystal lattice by occupying the sites of Zn atoms.     

XBIC/μ-XRF/μ-XAS analysis of metals precipitation in block-cast solar silicon

The results of the investigations of the interaction between the different impurities in intentionally contaminated block-cast multi-crystalline silicon by means of synchrotron-based microprobe techniques XBIC (X-ray beam induced current), μ-XRF (X-ray fluorescence microscopy) and μ-XAS (X-ray absorption microspectroscopy) recently implemented at beamlines ID-21 and ID-22 of ESRF, Grenoble, are presented. It was found that Si₃N₄/SiC particles frequently observed in the upper part of multi-crystalline Si blocks represent effective sinks for Fe and Cu impurities. The amount of precipitated iron was the same order magnitude both at nitride and carbide particles. The amount of Cu precipitated at the SiC inclusions was significantly larger than that at Si₃N₄ rods. Chemical state of the copper precipitates was identified as copper-rich silicide Cu₃Si. The anneal at 950 °C that is known to enhance oxygen precipitation in silicon was found to accompany with the enhanced formation of nanoscale iron disilicide precipitates both inside the grains and at grain boundaries.     

The FeSe2(cr) solubility determined by solubility experiments of Se co-existing with Fe

To determine the equilibrium constant for ferroselite (FeSe₂(cr)) dissolution reaction, FeSe₂(cr) solubility experiments were performed at 298 ± 1 K from both the over- and under-saturation directions with Fe–Se precipitates that were aged at 348 K. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis detected only FeSe₂(cr) as the Se solid phase in the equilibrated precipitates. The E_h values of the equilibrated suspensions ranged from ?188.6 to ?4.9 mV vs. standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) and the pH values ranged from 6.00 to 8.76. Based on the available thermodynamic data, Se₄^2? and Fe²⁺ are thermodynamically stable within this E_h–pH range. Agreement between the solubility data obtained from the over- and under-saturation directions lends credence to the attainment of equilibrium at 298 ± 1 K. The thermodynamic interpretations using the specific ion interaction theory (SIT) model showed that E_h values and the concentrations of Se and Fe are well represented by the 2FeSe₂(cr) solubility reaction (2FeSe₂(cr) ? 2Fe²⁺ + Se₄^2? + 2e^?) with log₁₀K^○ = ?17.09 ± 0.28. The obtained log₁₀K^○ value falls within the uncertainty limits of the log₁₀K^○ value calculated from the available thermodynamic data.     

Analysis of blood and tissue in gallbladder cancer

Particle induced X-ray emission, particle induced γ-ray emission studies has been carried out to analyse normal and carcinoma tissues and blood samples of gallbladder of both sexes and seventeen trace elements namely Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br and Pb were estimated in the tissue and blood samples. In the present study, concentration of Zn in the carcinoma gallbladder tissue is less than that of the normal gallbladder tissue. Tobacco habit could be one of the important factors to decrease the elemental concentrations in blood and tissue samples.     

Interplay of strengthening mechanisms in the interaction of a ½〈1 1 1〉 screw dislocation with Cr precipitates in bcc Fe: An atomistic study

The interaction of Cr precipitates with a ½〈1 1 1〉 screw dislocation in bcc Fe is studied using molecular static calculations to evaluate the contributions from different strengthening mechanisms. The total interaction energy of the precipitate and the dislocation, the surface energy created due to the precipitate shearing and the shear modulus misfit interaction energy were estimated separately. Based on these data the shear modulus misfit was concluded to be the main mechanism determining the precipitate resisting force for the passage of a ½〈1 1 1〉 screw dislocation.     

Oxidation behaviour of zirconium alloys and their precipitates – A mechanistic study

The precipitate oxidation behaviour of binary zirconium alloys containing 1 wt.% Fe, Ni, Cr or 0.6 wt.% Nb was characterised in TEM on FIB prepared transverse sections of the oxide and reported in previous studies [1], [2]. In the present study the following alloys: Zr1%Cu, Zr0.5%Cu0.5%Mo and pure Zr are analysed to add to the available information. In all cases, the observed precipitate oxidation behaviour in the oxide close to the metal-oxide interface could be described either with delayed oxidation with respect to the matrix or simultaneous oxidation as the surrounding zirconium matrix. Attempt was made to explain these observations, with different parameters such as precipitate size and structure, composition and thermodynamic properties. It was concluded that the thermodynamics with the new approach presented could explain most precisely their behaviour, considering the precipitate stoichiometry and the free energy of oxidation of the constituting elements.The surface topography of the oxidised materials, as well as the microstructure of the oxide presenting microcracks have been examined. A systematic presence of microcracks above the precipitates exhibiting delayed oxidation has been found; the height of these crack calculated using the Pilling–Bedworth ratios of different phases present, can explain their origin. The protrusions at the surface in the case of materials containing large precipitates can be unambiguously correlated to the presence of these latter, and the height can be correlated to the Pilling–Bedworth ratios of the phases present as well as the diffusion of the alloying elements to the surface and their subsequent oxidation. This latter behaviour was much more considerable in the case of Fe and Cu with Fe showing systematically diffusion to the outer surface.     

从高放废液中分离79 Se的流程研究

建立了离子交换法与沉淀法相结合的、从高放废液中分离79Se的放化流程.该流程具有去污效果好的特点,对137Cs,90Sr,90Y,99Tc,154Eu的去污因子大于104,对125Sb,113Sn的去污因子大于103,对237Np为2×102.整个流程的收率约为53%.由该流程分离出的79Se样品能够很好地满足液闪测量和质谱测量的要求.     

In-situ high-energy-resolution X-ray absorption spectroscopy for UO2 oxidation at SSRF

Based on the high-energy-resolution fluorescence spectrometer on the BL14W1 beamline at Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility,an in-situ high-energyresolution X-ray absorption spectroscopy technique,with an in-situ heating cell,was developed.The high-energyresolution fluorescence detection for X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (HERFD-XANES) was tested in a UO2 oxidation experiment to measure the U L3-edge,with higher signal-to-noise ratio and higher-energy-resolution than conventional XANES.The technique has potential application for in-situ study of uranium-based materials.     

Measurements with compound refractive lenses at the “BAMline”

A set of compound refractive lenses (CRLs), mounted on a silicon wafer, was obtained from the Institut für Mikrostrukturtechnik Karlsruhe. The CRLs were characterized at the BAMline at the synchrotron BESSYII in Berlin. It could be demonstrated that beam diameters below 1 μm can be obtained. The beam size accepted by the lenses is (140 × 140) μm², thus the intensity gain in the micrometer spot, including absorption, is about 15,000. It is possible to switch between different beam energies within a few minutes. First results of scans and the application of the lenses for MicroXANES (X-ray absorption near-edge structure) measurements are presented in this paper. Also, the possibility of MicroEXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) measurements is discussed.