High-temperature X-ray imaging study of simulated high-level waste glass melt

Abstract

The molten state of simulated high-level waste glass and the behavior of ruthenium element in the melt were investigated by using synchrotron radiation based X-ray imaging technique. Melting, generating and moving of bubbles, condensation and sedimentation of ruthenium element were observed dynamically in continuous 12-bit gray-scale images from the CCD camera. X-ray intensity was obtained easily by digitalizing gray-scale values in the image. The existence of ruthenium element, which is one of the most important insoluble residues in the recycle process of spent nuclear fuels, is emphasized as a black color in the CCD image at X-ray energy higher than the Ru K-edge. The position sensitive imaging X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurement was also performed to clarify a chemical state of ruthenium element in the melt. © The Electrochemical Society of Japan 2013.