Supathorn Phongikaroon, Ph.D.

VCU’s nuclear engineering program marks 10th anniversary

Nuclear News  print

2017-01-01

VCU’s nuclear engineering program is advancing a strong research agenda. Highlights include Tepper’s study of uranyl soil extraction and fluorescence enhancement by silica gel, which resulted in a new method to allow fast and sensitive measurement of uranium in soil. Bilbao y León’s research on branding the nuclear fuel cycle offers a comprehensive approach to communicating with the public about nuclear energy and building a better understanding of the nuclear fuel cycle. This year, Supathorn Phongikaroon, associate professor of nuclear engineering, and his team developed a method to measure and produce near real-time measurements of the elemental concentration of salts in nuclear electro-refiners using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. This process helps ensure material accountability and safeguards of special nuclear materials.

Laser research could benefit nuclear recycling

Phys.org  online

2013-08-27

Today, the process to analyze isotopes is time-intensive—typically taking days to transport, process and analyze a sample. For international safeguards, this process takes even longer, since the samples must be sent to a different facility, often in another country. At the CAES Radiochemistry Laboratory, researchers are working to prove a method that would reduce that time to a matter of minutes. 'This is vital in improving material accountability in nuclear reprocessing,' said Supathorn Phongikaroon, a University of Idaho/CAES researcher and the project's principal investigator...

Compositional Analysis of Fission Elements in Rapid Setting Cement as an Immobilization Agent for Nuclear Waste

Riyadh Motny, PHD Candidate

The study focuses on assessment on the RSC and its usage in capturing certain elements (fission products or radioactive materials) within its structure and development of a detection method for radioactive elements captured in ceramic materials.

Elucidation of Electrochemical Properties of Alkaline/Alkaline Earth, and Actinide Elements on Liquid Metal in LiCl-KCl Eutectic Salt

Michael Woods, PHD Student

The study focuses on fundamental electrochemical properties of alkali/alkaline earth fission products and possible actinide elements in LiCl-KCl molten salts with liquid metal electrodes in a controlled glovebox environment, for possible improvement on reprocessing technology applications.

Innovative Materials Detection and Analysis by Quasi-Simultaneous Use of Voltammetric Techniques and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy on Used Nuclear Fuel Treatment

Hunter Andrews, PHD Student

The study focuses on determining the material compositions and characteristics of unknown materials by creating a database of information using measurements from a quasi-simultaneous system utilizing different voltammetric methods (e.g., cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronopotentiometry (CP), etc.) and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS).

Fundamental Study of Uranium Morphology in LiCl-KCl Eutectic

Dimitris Killinger, PHD Student

A study done on uranium morphology during pyroprocessing is necessary and beneficial in determining the sources and causes of the impurities stated above. In doing so, methods and technologies can be developed in order to produce higher purity products with pyroprocessing achievable, increasing the efficiency of the nuclear fuel cycle. This increase in efficiency will cause a decrease in purchase costs of natural uranium and avoidance of disposal costs for large volume of spent fuel, which supports the Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) mission’s research objective to develop sustainable fuel cycle.

Study of Molten Salt Physical Properties

Reginald Jones, Undergraduate Intern

This study focuses on different techniques for measuring physical properties of molten salt such as density and viscosity.

Silver/Silver Chloride Reference Electrode Study

Adam Baggett, Undergraduate Intern

This work focuses on understanding the equilibrium electrode potentials of silver-chlorine galvanic cell and silver chloride in LiCl-KCl molten salt.

Inspection of Ancient Obsidian Artifacts via LIBS

Ivan Cano, Undergraduate Intern

Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) will be used in this study to explore a hydration dating of ancient obsidian artifacts.

Fundamental Data toward Silver-Silver Chloride Reference Electrodes

Idaho National Laboratory $140,000

Duration: December 2016 – December 2018

Fundamental Study of Uranium Morphology in LiCl-KCl Eutectic

Idaho National Laboratory $160,000

Duration: December 2016 – December 2018

Fundamental Electrochemical Properties of Liquid Metals in LiCl-KCl for Separation of Alkali/Alkaline-Earths (Cs, Sr and Ba)

Nuclear Energy University Program—U.S. Department of Energy $240,000

Duration: September 2015 – September 2018 Subcontract distribution from the Pennsylvania State University

Development and Optimization of Voltammetric Methods for Real Time Analysis of Electrorefiner Salt with High Concentrations of Actinides and Fission

Nuclear Energy University Program—U.S. Department of Energy $244,992

Duration: September 2014 – December 2017 Subcontract distribution from University of Utah

Safeguards in Pyroprocessing: An Integrated Model Development and Measurement Data Analysis

Nuclear Energy University Program—U.S. Department of Energy $300,000

Duration: September 2013 – October 2017 Subcontract distribution from the Ohio State University

Measurement of Irradiated Pyroprocessing Samples via Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Nuclear Energy University Program—U.S. Department of Energy $820,000

Duration: September 2012 – August 2016

EGMN 691 - Fast Reactors (Spring 2017)

This course is designed to give the graduate students an overview on the Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) technology focusing on the following topics: (1) breeding and the role of fast breeder reactors – basic physics, strategy analysis and uranium resources; (2) FBR design consideration – brief aspect in to the mechanical and thermal systems including core materials; (3) economic analysis of nuclear reactors; (4) nuclear design through multi-group diffusion theory; (5) reactor kinetics; and (6) fuel burnup.

EGMN 352 - Nuclear Reactor Theory (Spring 2017, Spring 2015)

This course introduces the fundamental properties of the neutron, the reactions induced by neutrons, nuclear fission, the slowing down of neutrons in infinite and finite media, diffusion theory, the 1-group or 2-group approximation, point kinetics, and fission-product effects. Provides students with the nuclear reactor theory foundation necessary for reactor design and reactor engineering problems.

EGMN 591 - Nuclear Safeguards, Security, and Nonproliferation (Spring 2016)

This course will explore the political and technological issues involved with nuclear safeguards, security, and nonproliferation. Topics studied will include the history of nuclear weapons development, description and effects of weapons of mass destruction, nuclear material safeguards, protection of nuclear materials, proliferation resistance and pathways in the nuclear fuel cycle, international and domestic safeguards, nuclear terrorism, and safeguards measurement techniques for material accountancy programs and physical protection mechanisms.

EGMN 453 - Economics of Nuclear Power Production (Fall 2015, Fall 2014)

Fundamentals of engineering economic analysis are applied to energy supply, demand, prices and production with specific emphasis on nuclear energy, the capital cost of nuclear power plants, the nuclear fuel cycle and associated energy technologies.

EGMN 610 - Topics in Nuclear Engineering (Fall 2016)

This course is intended to provide the introductory first-year graduate students with comprehensive overview of nuclear energy, nuclear engineering and its many facets; topics, themes and issues may include the following: atomic and fission physics, radiation and radioactive decay, nuclear reactor physics, nuclear reactor kinetics and control, reactor energy removal, nuclear fuel cycle, reactors systems (reactor types, similarities and differences, nuclear plant components, conventional and advanced next generation nuclear reactors, and etc.), reactor materials, radiation exposure and shielding, reactor accidents, safety and analyses.

Pouri, Samaneh Rakhshan; Manic, Milos, Phongikaroon, Supathorn

DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2017.09.002

Williams, Ammon; Bryce, Keith; Phongikaroon, Supathorn

DOI: 10.1177/0003702817709298

Yoon, Dalsung; Phongikaroon, Supathorn

DOI:10.1149/2.0411709jes

Williams, Ammon N.; Phongikaroon, Supathorn

DOI: 10.1177/0003702816648965

Pouri, Samaneh Rakhshan; Phongikaroon, Supathorn

DOI: 10.1080/00295450.2016.1273730

Yoon, Dalsung; Phongikaroon, Supathorn

DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2017.01.011

Williams, Ammon N.; Phongikaroon, Supathorn

DOI: 10.1177/0003702816648327

Hoover, Robert O.; Yoon, Dalsung; Phongikaroon, Supathorn

DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.04.037

Yoon, Dalsung; Phongikaroon, Supathorn; Zhang, Jinsuo

DOI: 10.1149/2.0101605jes

Williams, Ammon N.; Pack, Michael; Phongikaroon, Supathorn

DOI: 10.1016/j.net.2015.08.006

Park, Jaeyeong; Choi, Sungyeol; Hoover, Robert; et al.

DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2015.02.160

Yoon, D.; Phongikaroon, S.

DOI: 10.1149/2.0401510jes

Hoover, Robert O.; Shaltry, Michael R.; Martin, Sean; Sridharan, K; Phongikaroon, S.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2014.05.057

Shaltry, Michael; Phongikaroon, Supathorn

DOI: 10.1021/ie502608v

Hanson, Cynthia; Phongikaroon, Supathorn; Scott, Jill R

DOI: 10.1016/j.sab.2014.04.012

Versey, Joshua R.; Phongikaroon, Supathorn; Simpson, Michael F.

DOI: 10.5516/NET.06.2013.082

Phongikaroon, Supathorn; Bezzant, Ryan W.; Simpson, Michael F.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cherd.2012.09.010