Re-evaluation of Radiation-Energy Transfer to an Extraction Solvent in a Minor-Actinide-Separation Process Based on Consideration of Radiation Permeability

ABSTRACT

Absorbed-dose estimation is essential for evaluation of the radiation tolerance of minor-actinide-separation processes. We propose a dose-evaluation method based on radiation permeability, with comparisons of heterogeneous structures seen in the solvent-extraction process, such as emulsions forming in the mixture of the organic and aqueous phases. A demonstration of radiation-energy-transfer simulation is performed with a focus on the minor-actinide-recovery process from high-level liquid waste with the aid of the Monte Carlo radiation-transport code PHITS. The simulation results indicate that the dose absorbed by the extraction solvent from alpha radiation depends upon the emulsion structure, and that from beta and gamma radiation depends upon the mixer-settler-apparatus size. Non-negligible contributions of well-permeable gamma rays were indicated in terms of the plant operation of the minor-actinide-separation process.     

Contribution of metal vapor mass at periphery part of pulsed arc to electromagnetic force in weld pool

The arc welding has been used in various welding methods because it is inexpensive and high in strength after welding. However, it is a problem that accidents such as collapse of the bridge occur because of the welding defects. The welding of low cost and high productivity is required without the welding defects. The pulsed TIG welding is inexpensive and capable of high‐quality welding. The electromagnetic force contributing to penetration changes because the transient response of arc temperature and iron vapor generated from anode occurs. However, the analysis of pulsed TIG welding with metal vapor has been elucidated only metal vapor concentration near anode with transient phenomenon and heat flux. Thus, the theoretical elucidation of penetration depth with control factor has not been researched. In this paper, the contribution of metal vapor mass at the periphery part of pulsed arc to the electromagnetic force in the weld pool is elucidated. As a result, the iron vapor mass at periphery part decreased with increasing the frequency. The iron vapor was stagnated at axial center within one cycle. The electromagnetic force to the penetration depth direction in weld pool increased at axial center. Therefore, the metal vapor mass at periphery part plays an important role for the electromagnetic force increment at axial center.     

Oxidation of doped europium in BaMgAl10O17 by annealing studied by x‐ray‐absorption fine‐structure measurements

Abstract— We studied the influence of annealing in air on doped europium in BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇ by performing x‐ray absorption fine‐structure measurements. We determined the oxidation of doped divalent europium by annealing in air at over 500°C. The interatomic distance between the europium and the surrounding oxygen atoms was compressed by oxidation. It also appears that the oxidation process of europium is determined by the diffusion of oxygen into BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇.     

Superconductivity in SrTa2S5

A strontium tantalum sulfide, SrTa₂S₅, has a hexagonal structure with lattice constants of a =3.32 and c=24.1 Å. With decreasing temperature the electrical resistivity decreases monotonically and exhibits an abrupt superconducting transition at 3.16 K (midpoint). The diamagnetic susceptibility is observed below T_c. The magnetic susceptibility is nearly independent of temperature above T_c and shows Pauli paramagnetism.     

Facile optical resolution of amino acid esters via hydrolysis by an industrial enzyme in organic solvents

Racemic amino acid esters were optically resolved via hydrolysis in organic solvents by the catalysis of an industrial alkaline protease, “Alcalase”. The products which were composed mainly of L-amino acids were insoluble and easily separated by filtration. The activity of the enzyme and enantiomeric excess of the products were significantly dependent on the nature of solvent and the water content in the reaction media. Generally, high values of enantiomeric excess were obtained at low water contents. Many natural and unnatural amino acids were resolved by this method.     

A 10 bit 20 MS/s 3 V supply CMOS A/D converter

A 10 bit CMOS A/D converter with 3 V power supply has been developed for being integrated into system VLSI's. In this A/D converter, redundant binary encoders named “twin encoders” enhance tolerance to substrate noise, together with employing differential amplifiers in comparators. The bias circuit using a replica of the amplifier is developed for biasing differential comparators with 3 V power supply. Subranging architecture along with a multilevel tree decoding structure improves dynamic performance of the ADC at 3 V power supply. The A/D converter is fabricated in double-polysilicon, double-metal, 0.8 μm CMOS technology. The experimental results show that the ADC operates at 20 MS/s and the twin encoders suppress the influence of substrate noise effectively. This ADC has a single power supply of 3 V, and dissipates 135 mW at 20 MS/s operation     

Water structure and improved mechanical properties of phospholipid polymer hydrogel with phosphorylcholine centered intermolecular cross-linker

We investigated the water structure and the mechanical properties of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) polymer hydrogels cross-linked with a novel hydrophilic 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl-[N-(2-methacryloyloxy)ethyl]phosphorylcholine (MMPC) for soft contact lenses (SCL) applications and commercial methacrylic cross-linkers were in addition used for comparison with MMPC. Water structure in hydrogels, which influences the protein adsorption by dehydration was determined by differential scanning calorimetry. MMPC increased the freezing water content of the MPC polymer hydrogel compared with hydrophilic N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (BIS) at the same water content. MMPC also improved fracture strength of the MPC polymer hydrogel to 120 kPa in tensile, which was considerably higher than that hydrogel cross-linked with BIS. It is suggested that MMPC shows higher cross-linking reactivity with MPC than BIS. We concluded that the MMPC increase both the free water content and the tensile properties. The MPC polymer hydrogel cross-linked with MMPC can be a useful SCL biomaterial.     

Ethanol production from raw starch by a recombinant yeast having saccharification and fermentation activities

In order to develop a method for converting raw starch into ethanol efficiently, direct fermentation of ozonized raw starch using a recombinant yeast was investigated. Ozonolysis was carried out as a pretreatment to convert raw starch into ethanol rapidly and efficiently, and then the effect of the ozone degradation conditions on the degree of polymerization and the amount of amylose in a raw starch was determined. Since the degree of polymerization was low and the amount of amylose was high, raw starch treated with an ozone concentration of 40 gm^?3 and an ozonation time of 30 min was the material chosen for alcohol fermentation. Though the recombinant yeast could not convert the untreated raw starch, it converted the soluble starch and the ozonized raw starch at a comparatively high yield into ethanol. About 56% of the ozonized raw starch decomposed, and the ethanol concentration obtained from the ozonized raw starch was markedly greater than that obtained from untreated raw starch. The dynamic behavior of cell growth, substrate degradation, and ethanol production was examined in a continuous culture under various dilution rates, and the optimal dilution rate, ie 0.15 h^?1, was determined for maximizing the ethanol productivity (amount of ethanol produced per unit time). © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Efficient usage of highly dispersed Pt on carbon nanotubes for electrode catalysts of polymer electrolyte fuel cells

A Pt-deposited carbon nanotube (CNT) shows higher performance than a commercial Pt-deposited carbon black (CB) with reducing 60% Pt load per electrode area in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) below 500 mA/cm². K₂PtCl₄ and H₂PtCl₆·6(H₂O) are used for the Pt deposition onto multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs), which are produced by the catalytic decomposition of hydrocarbons. The electric power densities produced using the Pt/CNT electrodes are greater than that of the Pt/CB by a factor of two to four on the basis of the Pt load per power. CNTs are thus found to be a good support of Pt particles for PEFC electrodes. TEM images show 2–4-nm Pt nanoparticles dispersed on the CNT surfaces. These high performances are considered to be due to the efficient formation of the triple-phase boundaries of gas–electrode–electrolyte. The mechanisms of Pt deposition are discussed for these Pt-deposited CNTs.     

Effect of pressure on phase transition and morphology of bulk poly(trans-1,4-butadiene)

The effect of pressure on the melting, solid-solid transition, and crystallization of poly(trans-1,4-butadiene) (PTBD) was investigated using the pressure range of 1–3000 kg/cm². D.t.a. measurements showed that, the melting and transition temperatures increase with increasing pressure, whose pressure coefficients are 38°C per 1000 kg/cm² and 22°C per 1000 kg/cm², respectively. These values were in fairly close agreement with those calculated from the Clausius-Clapeyron equation. Morphological studies using electron microscope and small-angle X-ray scattering method revealed that, the samples crystallized with relatively small supercoolings under normal or high pressure, are formed of distinct lamellae 400–800 Å thick. The lamellar thickness was inappreciably dependent on crystallization pressure. The significant effect of pressure on crystallization was recognized in a tendency of the crystallinity to increase, with increasing crystallization pressure. This pressure effect was explained by the mechanism that, the increased pressure might make the packing of molecular chains in liquid, more dense and that the secondary crystallization might be accelerated, to increase the lateral dimensions of lamellae.