Uranium speciation in coal bottom ash investigated via X-ray absorption fine structure and X-ray photoelectron spectra

Similar to chromium contamination, the environmental contamination caused by uranium in radioactive coal bottom ash (CBA) is primarily dependent on the chemical speciation of uranium. However, the relationship between uranium speciation and environmental contamination has not been adequately studied. To determine the relationship between uranium speciation and environmental contamination, X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) analyses were performed to determine the uranium speciation in CBA exposed to different chemical environments and simulated natural environments. The leachability of the different forms of uranium in the CBA was studied via a simulated acid rain leaching experiment, and the results showed that 57.0% of the total uranium was leached out as U(VI). The results of a linear combination fit (LCF) of the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectrum revealed that in the raw CBA, the uranium mainly occurred as U3O8 (71.8%). However, in the iron-rich particles, the uranium mainly occurred as UO2 (91.9%) after magnetic separation. Magnetite is a ubiquitous ferrous-bearing oxide, and it was effective for the sorption of U(IV). The result of FeSO4 leaching experiment indicated that 96.57% of total uranium was reduced from U(VI) to U(IV) when infiltrated with the FeSO4 solution for 6 months. This result clearly demonstrated the changes in chemical valence of uranium in the coal ash and provided a conceptual principle for preventing uranium migration from ash to the surrounding soil and plants.     

Bioaccumulation characterization of uranium by a novel Streptomyces sporoverrucosus dwc-3

The biosorption mechanisms of uranium on an aerobic bacterial strain Streptomyces sporoverrucosus dwc-3, isolated from a potential disposal site for (ultra-)low uraniferous radioactive waste in Southwest China, were evaluated by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and enhanced proton backscattering spectrometry (EPBS). Approximately 60% of total uranium at an initial concentration of 10 mg/L uranium nitrate solution could be absorbed on 100 mg S. sporoverrucosus dwc-3 with an adsorption capacity of more than 3.0 mg/g (wet weight) after 12 hr at room temperature at pH 3.0. The dynamic biosorption process of S. sporoverrucosus dwc-3 for uranyl ions was well described by a pseudo second-order model. S. sporoverrucosus dwc-3 could accumulate uranium on cell walls and within the cell, as revealed by SEM and TEM analysis as well as EDX spectra. XPS and FT-IR analysis further suggested that the absorbed uranium was bound to amino, phosphate and carboxyl groups of the cells. Additionally, PIXE and EPBS results confirmed that ion exchange also contributed to the adsorption process of uranium.     

Use of multitracers for the study of water mixing in the Paraíba do Sul River estuary

Multitracers were used to study water mixing in the Paraíba do Sul River estuary region in August 2007 (dry season) and March 2008 (rainy season) and to evaluate the reach of the river plume in the direction of the open ocean. Two sampling campaigns were carried out, each in a different season. Based on these results, it was possible to conclude that the multitracers used in this study (salinity, Si, Ba and U, as well as the radium isotopes ²²³Ra, ²²⁴Ra, ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra) presented satisfactory results toward defining the plume reach and determining the residence time and water-mixing processes in the estuary. A strong correlation was observed between tracers and the distance to the coast. During the low river water discharge period, the riverine water took about 10 days to reach open ocean waters (salinity ∼ 35). During the rainy period this value decreased to 6 days. Based on the radium results, it was possible to calculate diffusion coefficients (K_h) of 23 km² d⁻¹ and 38 km² d⁻¹ for ²²⁴Ra and ²²³Ra, respectively, during the dry season (winter). Values of 65 km² d⁻¹ and 68 km² d⁻¹ for ²²³Ra and ²²⁴Ra, respectively, were found for the rainy period (summer).     

Chemical reactions of uranium in ground water at a mill tailings site

We studied soil and ground water samples from the tailings disposal site near Tuba City, AZ, located on Navajo sandstone, in terms of uranium adsorption and precipitation. The uranium concentration is up to 1 mg/l, 20 times the maximum concentration for ground water protection in the United States. The concentration of bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) in the ground water increased from ≤7×10⁻⁴ M, the background concentration, to 7×10⁻³ M. Negatively charged uranium carbonate complexes prevail at high carbonate concentrations and uranium is not adsorbed on the negatively charged mineral surfaces. Leaching experiments using contaminated and uncontaminated sandstone and 1 N HCl show that adsorption of uranium from the ground water is negligible. Batch adsorption experiments with the sandstone and ground water at 16°C, the in situ ground water temperature, show that uranium is not adsorbed, in agreement with the results of the leaching experiments. Adsorption of uranium at 16°C is observed when the contaminated ground water is diluted with carbonate-free water. The observed increase in pH from 6.7 to 7.3 after dilution is too small to affect adsorption of uranium on the sandstone. Storage of undiluted ground water to 24°C, the temperature in the laboratory, causes coprecipitation of uranium with aragonite and calcite. Our study provides knowledge of the on-site uranium chemistry that can be used to select the optimum ground water remediation strategy. We discuss our results in terms of ground water remediation strategies such as pump and treat, in situ bioremediation, steam injection, and natural flushing.     

3种不同植物与黑曲霉孢子联合去除水中U（Ⅵ）的研究

为探索降低铀（U）污染的新途径、新方法,选用白鹤芋、观音竹、碎米莎草进行水培实验。对3种不同植物联合黑曲霉孢子去除U（Ⅵ）以及外加碳源、氮源的影响因素进行了研究。结果表明,在12 d的培养期内,白鹤芋挂膜黑曲霉孢子对U的去除能力比其他2种植物要强,去除率高达98.13%。外加碳源、氮源的最佳组合为葡萄糖4 g、硫酸铵0.4 g。同时证明,微生物通过挂膜,联合植物协同修复U污染水体有可操作性。     

新疆大芸中铀,钍,镭,^9^0锶,^1^3^7铯的含量

对新疆中草药大芸中铀、钍、镭、~(90)锶、~(137)铯进行了含量测定,取得数据结果,并与浙江茶叶、宁夏枸杞子中五种核素含量进行了对比,提供有关部分参考。     

Redox potential and uranium sorption onto sediments: kinetic and thermodynamic characteristics

ABSTRACT

The effects of the flooding and initial Eh of sediments on the sorption of uranium onto the sediments were analysed by flooding and static experiments. The changes in uranium species with Eh and kinetic and thermodynamic characteristics of the uranium sorption onto the sediments were investigated. The flooding experiment indicates that the initial Eh of the sediment gradually decreased with the increase in flooding time. Based on the redox potential in the flooding experiment, simulation results obtained using the geochemical simulation software PHREEQC show that the concentration of U (VI) decreased. In contrast, the concentrations of U (III), U (IV), and U (V) gradually increased. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model well fitted the experimental data, which shows that the sorption was mainly chemical sorption. The thermodynamic parameters suggest that the entropy and enthalpy under the used conditions were positive and that ΔG^θ was negative. A thermodynamic analysis shows that the sorption was endothermic and spontaneous. These results are useful for the understanding of the sorption mechanism and migration of uranium onto the sediment under different initial sediment redox potentials and provide a good theoretical foundation for radioactive pollution remediation.     

An Assessment of U(VI) removal from groundwater using biochar produced from hydrothermal carbonization

The ever-increasing growth of biorefineries is expected to produce huge amounts of lignocellulosic biochar as a byproduct. The hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process to produce biochar from lignocellulosic biomass is getting more attention due to its inherent advantage of using wet biomass. In the present study, biochar was produced from switchgrass at 300 °C in subcritical water and characterized using X-ray diffraction, fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, scanning electron micrcoscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The physiochemical properties indicated that biochar could serve as an excellent adsorbent to remove uranium from groundwater. A batch adsorption experiment at the natural pH (~3.9) of biochar indicated an H-type isotherm. The adsorption data was fitted using a Langmuir isotherm model and the sorption capacity was estimated to be ca. 2.12 mg of U g(-1) of biochar. The adsorption process was highly dependent on the pH of the system. An increase towards circumneutral pH resulted in the maximum adsorption of ca. 4 mg U g(-1) of biochar. The adsorption mechanism of U(VI) onto biochar was strongly related to its pH-dependent aqueous speciation. The results of the column study indicate that biochar could be used as an effective adsorbent for U(VI), as a reactive barrier medium. Overall, the biochar produced via HTC is environmentally benign, carbon neutral, and efficient in removing U(VI) from groundwater.     

上海市自来水中铀浓度调查

测定自来水中铀浓度及其变化规律，对评估饮用水质量及公众接受的铀放射水平有较大意义。该文介绍了经过一年连续监测所获得的上海市自来水中铀浓度及其变化。结果表明，上海市自来水中铀浓度在０．０２５￣０．２８μｇ／Ｌ之间，年均值为０．１１２μｇ／Ｌ；一年中的１２月－１５月浓度较高，６－１１月浓度略低，其中３月份浓度最高，８月份深度最低，上海市自来水中铀浓度较低，比全国平均浓度低一个数量级。     

Aqueous suspensions of carbon nanotubes: Surface oxidation, colloidal stability and uranium sorption

The objective of this study is to obtain information on the behaviour of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as potential carriers of pollutants in the case of accidental CNT release to the environment and on the properties of CNTs as a potential adsorbent material in water purification. The effects of acid treatment of CNTs on (i) the surface properties, (ii) the colloidal stability and (iii) heavy metal sorption are investigated, the latter being exemplified by uranium(VI) sorption. There is a pronounced influence of surface treatment on the behaviour of the CNTs in aqueous suspension. Results showed that acid treatment increases the amount of acidic surface groups on the CNTs. Therefore, acid treatment has an increasing effect on the colloidal stability of the CNTs and on their adsorption capacity for U(VI). Another way to stabilise colloids of pristine CNTs in aqueous suspension is the addition of humic acid.