An analysis of the environmental mobility of radiostrontium from weapons testing and Chernobyl in Finnish river catchments

The mobility of radiostrontium within the Arctic environment and surrounding area has been studied by analysing the mobility of 90Sr in river catchments that are within Finland. The environmental mobility of 90Sr deposited by both nuclear weapons testing and the Chernobyl accident has been investigated in five Finnish river catchments. Different models assessing the time-dependent mobility of 90Sr have been evaluated. No significant differences were found between the mobility of 90Sr from nuclear weapons tests and from the Chernobyl accident. Model parameters obtained by fitting to the measurements of the deposition and runoff rates of the nuclear weapons test fallout gave predictions which were consistent with the mid- and long-term contamination by the Chernobyl fallout. A comparison of 90Sr with 137Cs showed that they had similar mobility on deposition but, as time passed, the relative mobility of 90Sr increased with respect to 137Cs over a period of 5-8 years. Once the relative migration of 90Sr with respect to 137Cs reached equilibrium, its runoff rate was, on average, approximately an order of magnitude greater than 137Cs.     

Immobilization of iodide on copper(I) sulfide minerals

In the goal of finding efficient scavengers for radioiodide in conditions (pH, pE) close to those encountered in deep geological sites, sorption of iodide ions on cuprous sulfide minerals (especially roxbyite, Cu(1.75)S) has been studied. Surface analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has shown that commercial cuprous sulfides are covered by an oxidized overlayer (mainly in the form of CuSO(4)). Therefore, a synthetic procedure to get roxbyite (typically by mixing Na(2)S with an aqueous suspension of commercial Cu(2)O) was applied to produce pure samples with clean surfaces. Batch equilibration of cuprous sulfide particles suspended in aqueous solutions containing iodide species has revealed significant consumption of iodide. The sorption mechanism involves the formation of a surface complex via the exchange of surface hydroxyl groups by iodide anions, as highlighted by a transient pH increase during the immobilization process. Other copper and mixed copper-iron sulfides (e.g. CuS, CuFeS(2)), which are stable over wide pH and potential ranges are also likely to accumulate iodide species. Because of the specific interaction between iodide and copper(I) centers on the minerals, high distribution coefficients (>1000 ml/g) were observed.     

Effect of culture conditions on the formation of struvite by Myxococcus xanthus

The amount of struvite (MgNH₄PO₄·6H₂O) produced by Myxococcus xanthus as well as the culture parameter values (pH, total phosphorus, total Kjeldahl nitrogen) were dependent on the culture medium used. Struvite formation started during the exponential phase and the maximum concentration was observed at the beginning of stationary growth phase. The addition of each medium component to the liquid culture influenced the amount of crystal produced. This amount did not depend on the pH increase during the culture period. The moment of the bacterial growth phase, at which each medium component was added, influenced the struvite formation.     

Adsorption of imidazolinone herbicides on ferrihydrite-humic acid associations.

Adsorption of the imidazolinone herbicides imazapyr, imazethapyr and imazaquin was studied on two binary systems (ferrihydrite-humic acid) prepared by treating ferrihydrite (Fh) immediately after its precipitation with a soil humic acid (HA) at different loadings (4% and 8% HA content), and on a blank ferrihydrite sample prepared in the same way, but without HA addition. Imidazolinone adsorption on pure Fh and on the 4% Fh-HA decreased with increasing of the herbicide hydrophobicity (imazaquin相似文献