Tellurium Interactions with Some Containment Materials in Severe Nuclear Accident Conditions
Doctoral thesis, 2025
One of the dangers in nuclear accidents is the spread of radioactive fission products. They make for a hazard to people and the environment, and considerable measures are in place at nuclear power plants to ensure such releases are prevented, or at least reduced. Significant research has been conducted to ensure these countermeasures are effective, but as was last seen in Fukushima-Daiichi in 2011 they can still fail. Therefore, further research is needed to improve the safety of nuclear power plants, now and in the future.
This thesis further deepens the knowledge about some of the most active fission products, focusing on tellurium and its interaction with several materials present in a nuclear power plant containment. Organic tellurides have been postulated before and are investigated here with the help of GC-MS in a simulated reactor sump. Specifically, the effect of iodine on this system is investigated, and it can be seen that addition of iodine supresses the formation of organic tellurides. Furthermore, the organic species released from cables present in a nuclear power plants are determined with FTIR. Considerable releases of HCl, SO2, and acetaldehyde, among other species, could be detected. The presence of I2 further complicates the issue, as it gave raise to methyl iodide, which in turn would react with other organic species. Finally, the effects of boric acid (a common neutron absorber in nuclear reactors) on tellurium volatility is investigated. This research is further expanded to also include iodine. It appears that the presence of tellurium, iodine and boric acid all together significantly increases the volatility of tellurium compared to if any of these components are missing, as could be determined by ICP-MS.
These results help in further developing an understanding of tellurium in nuclear accidents, and works towards ensuring that in the next accident, its spread can be supressed.
This thesis further deepens the knowledge about some of the most active fission products, focusing on tellurium and its interaction with several materials present in a nuclear power plant containment. Organic tellurides have been postulated before and are investigated here with the help of GC-MS in a simulated reactor sump. Specifically, the effect of iodine on this system is investigated, and it can be seen that addition of iodine supresses the formation of organic tellurides. Furthermore, the organic species released from cables present in a nuclear power plants are determined with FTIR. Considerable releases of HCl, SO2, and acetaldehyde, among other species, could be detected. The presence of I2 further complicates the issue, as it gave raise to methyl iodide, which in turn would react with other organic species. Finally, the effects of boric acid (a common neutron absorber in nuclear reactors) on tellurium volatility is investigated. This research is further expanded to also include iodine. It appears that the presence of tellurium, iodine and boric acid all together significantly increases the volatility of tellurium compared to if any of these components are missing, as could be determined by ICP-MS.
These results help in further developing an understanding of tellurium in nuclear accidents, and works towards ensuring that in the next accident, its spread can be supressed.
Organic tellurides
Boric Acid
Organic Iodides
Iodine
Fission Products
Electrical Cables.
Tellurium
Severe Nuclear Accident
Author
Fredrik Börjesson Sandén
Nuclear Chemistry and Industrial Materials Recycling
Effect of Boric Acid on Volatile Fission Products in Conditions Simulating a Severe Nuclear Accident
Nuclear Technology,;Vol. In Press(2025)
Journal article
Effects of boric acid on volatile tellurium in severe accident conditions
Annals of Nuclear Energy,;Vol. 200(2024)
Journal article
Gas phase interactions between tellurium and organic material in severe nuclear accident scenarios
Annals of Nuclear Energy,;Vol. 197(2024)
Journal article
Börjesson Sandén Fredrik, Kärkelä Teemu, Kajolinna Tuula, Pasi Anna-Elina, Ekberg Christian, Combustion of Cables used in Nuclear Power Plants
Börjesson Sandén Fredrik, Mark. R. StJ. Foreman, Per-Olof Berg, Christian Ekberg, Formation of organic tellurides and organic iodides together under gamma-radiation
A nuclear accident is a dangerous event because of the potential releases of radioactivity. Events like Chernobyl and Fukushima have left their mark in the public consciousness and continue to shape the debate and discussion around nuclear power still to this day.
Since then, much research has been conducted to understand and prevent such accidents. This has taught us much about the spread of radioactive isotopes, including 131I, 137Cs and 132Te.
In this work, the effects that non-active materials have on the release of radioactivity has been studied. A nuclear power plant is a complex industrial building containing cables, concrete, steel and an assortment of other materials. In case of an accident, all of these will affect the releases. Some materials may prevent certain reactions while promoting others, which will change how the accident should best be managed to prevent releases. In this thesis, the focus is on the interactions between tellurium and other containment materials. Special interest is given to interactions with organics from cables and paints, and interactions with boric acid. This research pushes the boundaries of our understanding of accident chemistry a little further and contributes to the body of research aiming to make the nuclear power plants of today and tomorrow a little bit safer.
Since then, much research has been conducted to understand and prevent such accidents. This has taught us much about the spread of radioactive isotopes, including 131I, 137Cs and 132Te.
In this work, the effects that non-active materials have on the release of radioactivity has been studied. A nuclear power plant is a complex industrial building containing cables, concrete, steel and an assortment of other materials. In case of an accident, all of these will affect the releases. Some materials may prevent certain reactions while promoting others, which will change how the accident should best be managed to prevent releases. In this thesis, the focus is on the interactions between tellurium and other containment materials. Special interest is given to interactions with organics from cables and paints, and interactions with boric acid. This research pushes the boundaries of our understanding of accident chemistry a little further and contributes to the body of research aiming to make the nuclear power plants of today and tomorrow a little bit safer.
Studies of Telluriom and Iodine speciation and source term during severe nuclear reactor accidents (APRI 12)
Svensk Haveriforskning HB (APRI 12), 2024-01-01 -- 2026-12-31.
Driving Forces
Sustainable development
Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Other Chemistry Topics
Inorganic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Infrastructure
Chalmers Infrastructure for Mass spectrometry
Chalmers Materials Analysis Laboratory
Areas of Advance
Energy
DOI
10.63959/chalmers.dt/5779
ISBN
978-91-8103-322-9
Doktorsavhandlingar vid Chalmers tekniska högskola. Ny serie: 5779
Publisher
Chalmers
HA1 Hörsalsvägen 4
Opponent: Annie Kersting, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, U.S.A.