Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant's radioactive water: A decade of treatment and the road ahead?

IF 2.8 3区物理与天体物理 Q3 CHEMISTRY, PHYSICAL

Radiation Physics and Chemistry Pub Date : 2025-03-10 DOI:10.1016/j.radphyschem.2025.112683

Rashedul Islam Ripon , Zinnat Ara Begum , Hyoe Takata , Ismail M.M. Rahman

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) necessitated continuous cooling water injections to stabilize the reactor's molten fuel temperature. The cooling water, along with infiltrating rainwater and groundwater, became highly contaminated with radionuclides (RNs) upon contact with the damaged reactor core. To manage this radioactive water, a multi-nuclide removal facility was constructed, designed to facilitate cooling water circulation and decontamination. The system successfully removes 62 RNs. However, despite the effectiveness of the treatment process, concerns remain regarding the planned, gradual release of the treated water into the ocean over a 30-year period. These concerns primarily stem from the presence of tritium, which is not removed during radioactive water treatment, and other RNs that are difficult to eliminate. The current review examines the complexities of water management at the FDNPP, analyzes the strategies implemented for the removal of RNs, and assesses the proposed approaches for safe discharge into the ocean.

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来源期刊

Radiation Physics and Chemistry 化学-核科学技术

CiteScore

5.60

自引率

17.20%

发文量

574

审稿时长

12 weeks

期刊介绍： Radiation Physics and Chemistry is a multidisciplinary journal that provides a medium for publication of substantial and original papers, reviews, and short communications which focus on research and developments involving ionizing radiation in radiation physics, radiation chemistry and radiation processing. The journal aims to publish papers with significance to an international audience, containing substantial novelty and scientific impact. The Editors reserve the rights to reject, with or without external review, papers that do not meet these criteria. This could include papers that are very similar to previous publications, only with changed target substrates, employed materials, analyzed sites and experimental methods, report results without presenting new insights and/or hypothesis testing, or do not focus on the radiation effects.