Americium,plutonium and uranium contamination and speciation in well waters,streams and atomic lakes in the Sarzhal region of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site,Kazakhstan

New data are reported on the concentrations, isotopic composition and speciation of americium, plutonium and uranium in surface and ground waters in the Sarzhal region of the Semipalatinsk Test Site, and an adjacent area including the settlement of Sarzhal. The data relate to filtered water and suspended particulate from (a) streams originating in the Degelen Mountains, (b) the Tel′kem 1 and Tel′kem 2 atomic craters, and (c) wells on farms located within the study area and at Sarzhal. The measurements show that ²⁴¹Am, ^239,240Pu and ²³⁸U concentrations in well waters within the study area are in the range 0.04–87 mBq dm⁻³, 0.7–99 mBq dm⁻³, and 74–213 mBq dm⁻³, respectively, and for ²⁴¹Am and ^239,240Pu are elevated above the levels expected solely on the basis of global fallout. Concentrations in streams sourced in the Degelen Mountains are similar, while concentrations in the two water-filled atomic craters are somewhat higher. Suspended particulate concentrations in well waters vary considerably, though median values are very low, at 0.01 mBq dm⁻³, 0.08 mBq dm⁻³ and 0.32 mBq dm⁻³ for ²⁴¹Am, ^239,240Pu and ²³⁸U, respectively. The ²³⁵U/²³⁸U isotopic ratio in almost all well and stream waters is slightly elevated above the ‘best estimate’ value for natural uranium worldwide, suggesting that some of the uranium in these waters is of test-site provenance. Redox analysis shows that on average most of the plutonium present in the microfiltered fraction of these waters is in a chemically reduced form (mean 69%; 95% confidence interval 53–85%). In the case of the atomic craters, the proportion is even higher. As expected, all of the americium present appears to be in a reduced form. Calculations suggest that annual committed effective doses to individual adults arising from the daily ingestion of these well waters are in the range 11–42 μSv (mean 21 μSv). Presently, the ground water feeding these wells would not appear to be contaminated with radioactivity from past underground testing in the Degelen Mountains or from the Tel′kem explosions.     

Long-term evaluation of coal fly ash and mine tailings co-placement: A site-specific study

This study presents the results of a laboratory investigation conducted to evaluate the efficiency of coal fly ash to control the formation of acid mine drainage (AMD) from mine waste. Site-specific materials, coal fly ash from Atikokan Thermal Generating Station and mine tailings from Musselwhite mine, were mixed at different proportions for the investigation of the drainage chemistry and the optimal mix using static testing (acid–base accounting) and kinetic (column) testing. The acid–base accounting (ABA) results indicated that the fly ash possessed strong alkaline (neutralization) potential (NP) and could be used in the management of reactive mine tailings, thus ensuring prevention of AMD in the long-term. Column tests conducted in the laboratory to further investigate long-term performance of fly ash in the neutralization and prevention of acid mine drainage from tailings similarly showed that mixing fly ash with mine tailings reduces dissolution of many heavy metals from tailings by providing alkalinity to the system. It was found that a fly ash to tailings mass ratio equal to or greater than 15% can effectively prevent AMD generation from Musselwhite mine tailings in the co-placement approach.     

基于集对分析的尾矿库安全评价研究

为更好地对尾矿库的安全状况进行综合评价,针对尾矿库的特点建立了指标体系,并采用层次分析法确定各指标权重.将集对分析理论用于尾矿库的安全评价,并通过实例证明该理论适合于尾矿库的安全评价.集对分析中差异度I取1和-1.研究表明,当I=1时,指标体系中所有处于"一般安全"状态的指标项经过整改后能处于"安全"状态,此时联系度μ=0.736,尾矿库处于"安全"状态; 当I=-1时,指标体系中所有处于"一般安全"状态的指标项,在安全管理水平下降的情况下全部转为"不安全"状态,此时μ=0.114,尾矿库处于"不安全"状态.I的不同取值可反映尾矿库的具体安全状态,同时也反映尾矿库的安全管理水平,并充分体现了安全管理的重要性.研究为尾矿库的安全评价提供了一条新途径.     

Filterability of oil sands tailings

In Canadian oil sands mining operations, bitumen is extracted from oil sands using the hot water extraction process, which produces tremendous amounts of tailings. Currently, these tailings are disposed of in large ponds, in which coarse particles settle out relatively quickly and fine particles remain suspended in water and settle very slowly. After years of settling, the fine particles form a stable suspension in water known as mature fine tailings (MFTs). Long-term storage of the MFT is costly and poses a major environmental liability.Oil sands companies are now actively investigating different approaches to replace or reduce the use of oil sands tailings ponds. Filtration of the tailings to produce “dry tailings” for stacking is now being investigated as an alternative by a number of companies. Fast water drainage is a critical step for the filtration process. In this paper, we use simple laboratory-scale filtration tests to evaluate the filterability of the oil sands tailings and to generate a parameter that can be used in filtration scale-up. It was found that the filterability of the original coarse oil sands tailings was relatively low. However, after the fines are flocculated with the coarse particles to form uniform flocs the filterability was improved by several orders of magnitude. The results demonstrate that filtration of the flocculated coarse tailings to produce the “dry” stackable tailings may be viable.     

华东某铀矿区稻米中放射性核素铀污染特征及健康风险评价

为查明华东某铀矿区稻米中放射性核素铀污染现状及健康风险问题,测定铀矿区和对照区共136件稻米样品中放射性核素U含量,采用单因子污染指数法评价放射性铀污染,并开展U元素健康风险评价。结果表明:(1)研究区稻米中U含量平均值为1.46 ng·g~(–1),各亚区稻米中U含量平均值从大到小顺序为:开采矿井区水冶场区含矿未采区废弃矿井区江西省背景值对照区;(2)稻米单因子污染指数为1.25,属于轻度污染。其中,开采矿井区和水冶厂区为轻度污染,废弃矿井区和对照区未受污染;(3)首次计算提出江西省大米U元素致癌风险最大斜率系数为1.04×10~3(d·kg)·mg~(–1)。各亚区稻米中成人和儿童致癌风险指数高低顺序均为:开采矿井区水冶厂区含矿未采区废弃矿井区对照区。儿童直接饮食稻米具有一定的致癌风险;开采矿井区和水冶厂区的成人存在一定致癌风险,含矿未采区和废弃矿井区以及对照区均无致癌风险。     

尾矿库溃坝风险评价方法的研究进展

溃坝风险评价作为管理者开展尾矿库风险管理的重要手段,对减少和防止尾矿库溃坝事故的发生,保障其安全运行具有重要意义。因此,进行尾矿库溃坝风险评价相关理论和方法的研究非常必要。通过大量的文献调研和分析,较系统回顾和总结了中国尾矿库溃坝风险评价方法的运用现状,并对不同方法存在的问题和局限性进行了探讨。在此基础上,指出了尾矿库溃坝风险评价未来的研究方向。     

菱镁矿尾矿制备高活性MgO的性能表征

菱镁矿尾矿经预处理后,在一定条件下制备高活性MgO。使用热重-差热分析仪,分析菱镁矿尾矿的分解温度,应用X射线衍射、SEM分析不同煅烧温度、保温时间对MgO晶体结构的影响,并根据Scherrer公式计算MgO晶粒的尺寸。通过电导率仪测定MgO水化电导率,分析不同条件下的MgO活性,探讨煅烧温度、保温时间、颗粒细度与MgO活性之间的关系。结果发现:煅烧温度在1 050℃,保温时间60 min时,菱镁尾矿完全分解,MgO活性最佳;煅烧温度越高,保温时间越长,MgO的活性越差;MgO颗粒细度越小,活性越高。     

交联壳聚糖对铀的吸附研究

以壳聚糖(CTS)为原料,在碱性条件下用环氧氯丙烷对壳聚糖进行化学改性,制得不溶水的交联壳聚糖(CCTS)。利用CCTS吸附铀(UO22+),探讨吸附动力学规律以及初始浓度,pH值的影响。实验结果表明,CCTS对UO22+的吸附符合Langmu ir吸附等温模型,并能用准二级速率方程对吸附动力学加以描述。当在CCTS为10 mg,pH为3,UO22+初始浓度为50μg/mL条件下,CCTS对UO22+的吸附去除率为98%以上。     

Bioaccumulation and biological effects in the earthworm Eisenia fetida exposed to natural and depleted uranium

The accumulations of both natural (U) and depleted (DU) uranium in the earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were studied to evaluate corresponding biological effects. Concentrations of metals in the experimental soil ranged from 1.86 to 600 mg kg⁻¹. Five biological endpoints: mortality, animals’ weight increasing, lysosomal membrane stability by measuring the neutral red retention time (the NRRT), histological changes and genetic effects (Comet assay) were used to evaluate biological effects in the earthworms after 7 and 28 days of exposure. No effects have been observed in terms of mortality or weight reduction. Cytotoxic and genetic effects were identified at quite low U concentrations. For some of these endpoints, in particular for genetic effects, the dose (U concentration)-effect relationships have been found to be non-linear. The results have also shown a statistically significant higher level of impact on the earthworms exposed to natural U compared to depleted U.     

基于渗流-应力耦合分析的野鸡尾尾矿坝稳定性研究

基于渗流场与应力场耦合机理,对柿竹园野鸡尾尾矿坝进行稳定性研究。研究渗流-应力的耦合效应,提出了渗流-应力耦合以及渗流体积力计算的实施方案;建立二维的有限元渗流-应力耦合计算模型,分析了考虑耦合效应时的尾矿坝渗流场、位移场、应力场;最终分析了不同耦合关系对于渗流量、位移场、等效渗透集中力以及应力场的影响。研究结果表明:当前水力条件下,尾矿坝稳定性良好;尾矿坝主要受水平渗透力作用,初期坝坝顶、坝脚以及坝底等处应力集中;尾矿坝的渗流-应力作用不容忽视,不同的耦合关系对于x方向位移、渗透力的预测影响巨大;考虑渗流-应力耦合关系得到的主应力、剪应力以及竖向位移,比不考虑耦合效应时大。