Interaction of ruthenium tetroxide with surfaces of nuclear reactor containment building
Journal article, 2016

© 2016 Atomic Energy Society of Japan. All rights reserved. During a severe nuclear accident, different fission products will be released from the nuclear fuel and some of them may eventually reach the containment building. Ruthenium is considered to be an important fission product due to the possible formation of volatile oxides. Radiotoxicity and chemical toxicity of the volatile ruthenium compounds present a considerable hazard during a severe nuclear accident. In this work, experiments regarding behavior of ruthenium tetroxide in the reactor containment were performed. The interactions of ruthenium tetroxide (RuO4) with zinc, copper, aluminum and epoxy paint in dry and humid atmosphere were examined. SEM/EDX (scanning electron microscope/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) techniques were used to identify the chemical composition of the deposits formed after the interaction of RuO4 with the different materials. Additionally, distribution of ruthenium between different metals was examined. Interaction of RuO4 with the studied samples led to formation of dark, ruthenium-rich deposits. Examination of these deposits showed different chemical speciation of ruthenium on the surface when compared to the deeper layers of deposits. Interaction of RuO4 with zinc, copper and aluminum resulted to different amounts of the deposited ruthenium on the metals.

ruthenium tetroxide

fission product

safety

sorption

containment

nuclear accident

Author

Ivan Kajan

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Energy and Material

Henric Lassesson

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Energy and Material

I. Persson

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)

Christian Ekberg

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Energy and Material

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology

0022-3131 (ISSN)

Vol. 53 9 1397-1408

Areas of Advance

Energy

Materials Science

Subject Categories

Materials Chemistry

DOI

10.1080/00223131.2015.1120245

More information

Latest update

4/11/2018