[en] An understanding of the radiation-induced effects in groundwater is essential to evaluate the safe geological disposal of spent fuel. In groundwater, the bicarbonate ion is the predominant and common anion; this work investigated radiation-induced chemical reactions of (bi)carbonate aqueous solutions with steady-state irradiation and pulse radiolysis methods. Aqueous solutions of sodium (bi)carbonate as high as 50 mmol.dm^-3 were used. The formation of formate, oxalate, and H₂O₂ were measured under different conditions. A complete set of reaction steps and reliable kinetic data for the radiolysis of (bi)carbonate aqueous solutions at ionic strength close to the groundwater were proposed. Kinetic calculations were completed based on the proposed reaction steps and the kinetic data obtained in the present work. The results from the calculation are in good agreement with the experimental results. With these proposed reaction steps and kinetic data, computer simulation can be performed to predict the yield of radiolytic products of (bi)carbonate aqueous solutions as a function of irradiation time and used to evaluate the safety of geological disposal options of spent fuel

[en] We plan to use a laundry drainage treatment system that combines a device using a manganese dioxide-based catalyst for ozone oxidation with a ceramic microfiltration membrane (MF membrane). The high oxidizing power of ozone is enhanced by the catalyst, and the impurities (such as chemical oxygen demand (COD) causative substances and n-hexane extracts) in the drainage are sufficiently degraded to allow their releases to the environment. Ionic nuclides are also oxidized and in solubilized so that they can be separated with the MF membrane having fine pores of about 0.1 μm. The performance of the treatment system in removing radioactivity, COD causative substances, and n-hexane extracts was confirmed by hot demonstration tests using actual laundry drainage. Cold tests were also conducted using simulated laundry drainage to confirm the system operation conditions and the long-term stability of drainage treatment capability. While ozone has a high oxidizing power, it decays spontaneously in liquid within a short period of time. Therefore, the behavior of ozone under the operating conditions and its effect on the corrosion of structural materials were investigated to maintain a sufficient time for decay and select appropriate structural materials. (author)