TY - JOUR

T1 - Evolution of Chernobyl Corium in Water: Formation of Secondary Uranyl Phases

AU - Gurzhiy, Vladislav V.

AU - Burakov, Boris E.

AU - Zubekhina, Bella Yu.

AU - Kasatkin, Anatoly V.

PY - 2023/12/6

Y1 - 2023/12/6

N2 - Two crystalline phases, which are analogues of common secondary uranyl minerals, namely, becquerelite (Ca[(UO 2) 6O 4 (OH) 6]·8H 2O) and phurcalite (Ca 2[(UO 2) 3O 2 (PO 4) 2]·7H 2O) were identified on the surface of a Chernobyl corium-containing sample affected by hydrothermal alteration in distilled water at 150 °C for one year. Phases were characterized using Single-Crystal X-ray Diffraction Analysis (SCXRD) as well as optical and scanning electron microscopy. Features of the structural architecture of novel phases, which come from the specific chemical composition of the initial fragment of Chernobyl sample, are reported and discussed. Precise identification of these phases is important for modelling of severe nuclear accidents and their long-term consequences, including expected corium-water interaction processes at three damaged Units of the Nuclear Power Plant Fukushima Daiichi.

AB - Two crystalline phases, which are analogues of common secondary uranyl minerals, namely, becquerelite (Ca[(UO 2) 6O 4 (OH) 6]·8H 2O) and phurcalite (Ca 2[(UO 2) 3O 2 (PO 4) 2]·7H 2O) were identified on the surface of a Chernobyl corium-containing sample affected by hydrothermal alteration in distilled water at 150 °C for one year. Phases were characterized using Single-Crystal X-ray Diffraction Analysis (SCXRD) as well as optical and scanning electron microscopy. Features of the structural architecture of novel phases, which come from the specific chemical composition of the initial fragment of Chernobyl sample, are reported and discussed. Precise identification of these phases is important for modelling of severe nuclear accidents and their long-term consequences, including expected corium-water interaction processes at three damaged Units of the Nuclear Power Plant Fukushima Daiichi.

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/d96ec23b-fe98-34e3-b530-a12761d2ae6a/

U2 - 10.3390/ma16134533

DO - 10.3390/ma16134533

M3 - Article

C2 - 37444847

VL - 16

JO - Materials

JF - Materials

SN - 1996-1944

IS - 13

M1 - 4533

ER -