Application of micron X-ray CT based on micro-PIXE to investigate the distribution of Cs in silt particles for environmental remediation in Fukushima Prefecture

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section B, Beam interactions with materials and atoms Beam interactions with materials and atoms, 2016-03, Vol.371, p.387-391
• Main Authors: Ishii, Keizo, Hatakeyama, Taisuke, Itoh, Shin, Sata, Daichi, Ohnuma, Tohru, Yamaguchi, Toshiro, Arai, Hiromu, Arai, Hirotsugu, Matsuyama, Shigeo, Terakawa, Atsuki, Kim, Seong-Yun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attenuation coefficients; Decontamination; Decontamination of radioactive soil; Disasters; Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster; Micro-PIXE; Radioactive pollution; Remediation; Silts; Three dimensional; X-ray micron CT; X-rays
• ISSN: 0168-583X; 1872-9584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nimb.2015.09.054

We used X-ray computed tomography (CT) using characteristic X-rays produced in micro-particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) to investigate the internal structure of silt particles and develop new methods to decontaminate soil containing radioactive cesium. We obtained 3D attenuation coefficient images of silt particles with a diameter of approximately 100μm for V K and Cr K X-rays. Owing to the absorption edges of the Cs L-shell, the differences between the V K and Cr K X-ray images revealed the spatial distribution of Cs atoms in the silt particles. Cs atoms were distributed over the surfaces of the silt particles to a thickness of approximately 10μm. This information is useful for the decontamination of silt contaminated by radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.