In this work, we demonstrate and describe an effective method of protecting zirconium fuel cladding against oxygen and hydrogen uptake at both accident and working temperatures in water-cooled nuclear reactor environments. Zr alloy samples were coated with nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) layers of different thicknesses, grown in a microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition apparatus. In addition to showing that such an NCD layer prevents the Zr alloy from directly interacting with water, we show that carbon released from the NCD film enters the underlying Zr material and changes its properties, such that uptake of oxygen and hydrogen is significantly decreased. After 100–170 days of exposure to hot water at 360 °C, the oxidation of the NCD-coated Zr plates was typically decreased by 40%. Protective NCD layers may prolong the lifetime of nuclear cladding and consequently enhance nuclear fuel burnup. NCD may also serve as a passive element for nuclear safety. NCD-coated ZIRLO claddings have been selected as a candidate for Accident Tolerant Fuel in commercially operated reactors in 2020.

Abstract:The aim of this paper was to study of utilization of converter sludge waste as a sorbent. The sorbent was utilized to reduce the content of manganese, cobalt, and nickel ions from mine water. Sorbent utilized in this work was obtained from the metallurgical industry from a process of gas treatment in an oxygen converter. Converter sludge was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscope, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, Specific Surface Area and Particle Size. Sorption experiments were conducted in a batch mode by using the real mine water. The impact of pH and contact time on the pollutant removal efficiency was observed. The sorption kinetics were evaluated with pseudo-first and pseudo-second order kinetic models. For the tested materials, the highest level of mine water purification was achieved; thus, the mine water could be discharged into the watercourse. The results of this study indicate that the application of metallurgical waste as a sorbent is highly effective for the treatment of multicomponent mine water.

The aim of this paper was to study of biosorption by use waste material as a biosorbent. Waste material used in this work was activated industrial hemp shives (Cannabis sativa), which occurs during the processing of hemp shives grown as the waste biomass in the processing process. The sorbent was utilized to reduce the content of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solutions. Sorption experiments of the cannabis hemp shives were conducted in a batch mode by use the model solutions of Cu(II). The impact of pH, contact time and initial concentration on the pollutant removal efficiency was observed. The sorption kinetics were evaluated with pseudo-first and pseudo-second order kinetic models. Adsorption process has been modeled by the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin‑Radushkevich isotherms using linear regression. The results of this study indicated that the application of hemp shives of Cannabis sativa waste material as a biosorbent is highly effective for the removal copper ions from wastewater.

This paper deals with the behavior of the ferritic-martensitic steel T91 samples covered with an AlTiN black coating, which is mainly used for high temperature applications (> 800 ° C) because of its resistance to oxidation. The coating was applied by use of a combination of High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HiPIMS) and Direct Current Magnetron Sputtering (DCMS). Samples were subjected to a tensile test in a static tank CALLISTO. The environment was liquid PbBi eutectic at a temperature of 550° C. Two types of samples, with a notch in the middle and without a notch, were tested. After exposure, the samples were subjected to morphological and chemical analyzes on SEM and EDX. Although the coating cracked over the entire length of the sample, high adhesion of the layer was demonstrated, the coating was delaminated locally only in the notch.