Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ding-mi Fu, Mi Li, Yi-long Hua, Fang-ying Gao, Xiao-yan Wu, Xiao-wen Zhang, Qi Fang, Lei Bi, Tao Cai
Summary: This study investigated the pathway and properties of uranium incorporation into magnetite crystals by simultaneously controlling sacrificial Fe-anode during electrochemical reaction. The results revealed that U(VI) enters the crystal by substituting Fe atoms and undergoes partial reduction to U(IV) by Fe(II) in the crystal. The coexistence of U(IV) and U(VI) significantly increases the incorporation capacity. Within a 400-day experiment, 10.21% and 4.23% of total uranium were released at pH = 9.0 and pH = 5.6, respectively.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
G. Scullett-Dean, J. L. Hamilton, O. Repina, H. E. A. Brand, E. D. Burton, M. Saunders, T. C. Santini
Summary: This study investigated the incorporation of various minor and trace elements into hematite and their effects on the physical and chemical properties of the mineral. It was found that the simultaneous incorporation of Al, Cr, V, and Zn showed both synergistic and antagonistic effects among certain element combinations. However, Mo had minimal association with hematite, while As completely prevented its formation. The results provide new insights into trace element geochemistry in hematite and emphasize the importance of multi-element studies in understanding natural and anthropogenic systems.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Marcel G. Goren, Ralph M. Bolanz, Stephen Parry, Jorg Goettlicher, Ralph Steininger, Juraj Majzlan
Summary: This study investigated the structural incorporation of molybdenum in hematite, goethite, and six-line ferrihydrite using a combination of X-ray absorption spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and inductively-coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The results showed that molybdenum could be structurally incorporated in these minerals, forming coordination environments similar to iron. X-ray absorption and diffraction analyses revealed differences in the structural incorporation of molybdenum in different iron oxide minerals.
CLAYS AND CLAY MINERALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Meijun Yang, Xiaoliang Liang, Ying Li, Hongping He, Runliang Zhu, Yuji Arai
Summary: The study found that heavy REEs tended to partition more in aged ferrihydrite during the transformation process, and the presence of REEs slowed down the transformation of ferrihydrite to goethite at pH 5. The structural substitution of heavy REEs such as Yb and Lu was identified as a critical factor in suppressing ferrihydrite transformation.
ACS EARTH AND SPACE CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiuling Yin, Guoqing Zhang, Rui Su, Xiangfeng Zeng, Zelong Yan, Danni Zhang, Xu Ma, Lei Lei, Jinru Lin, Shaofeng Wang, Yongfeng Jia
Summary: This study investigated the transformation and redistribution of adsorbed antimonite (Sb(III)) during Fe(II)-catalyzed recrystallization of 2-line ferrihydrite under anaerobic conditions. The results showed that a great part of Sb(III) was oxidized to Sb(V) by ROS during the transformation process, reducing the mobility of Sb significantly. Antimony was transformed to phosphate-unextractable phase with 50%-70% of initially adsorbed Sb(III), and incorporated into secondary minerals by substituting the Fe atoms.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lixia Yan, Qingze Chen, Yixuan Yang, Runliang Zhu
Summary: The study found that under high temperature conditions, montmorillonite has a positive impact on the transformation of ferrihydrite into hematite nanoparticles, dispersing particles and reducing their size. Strong interactions between montmorillonite and ferrihydrite can reduce aggregation, contributing to the understanding of the formation and preservation of natural nano-sized minerals in nature.
APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Yan Yuan, Tianyu Chen, Feifei Zhang, Yuanyuan Liu, Guolin Xiong, Guang-Yi Wei, Tais W. Dahl, Wen Yan, Hong-Fei Ling, Hai Cheng, Shu-Zhong Shen
Summary: The uranium isotope ratio in marine carbonates is an important tool for reconstructing past oceanic redox conditions. However, diagenetic processes may complicate this proxy by introducing isotopically heavy uranium into the carbonates. This study quantifies the valence states of trace amounts of uranium in geological carbonate samples and finds that modern coral carbonates faithfully record uranium from seawater. Surprisingly, drill core samples from a modern coral carbonate platform show a significant positive correlation between a specific valence state of uranium and the uranium isotope ratio, suggesting the presence of this valence state in marine carbonates and its influence on the uranium isotope ratio. The study suggests that coupled valence and isotope analyses of uranium in marine carbonates could provide critical constraints for reconstructing marine redox evolution.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tingsong Zhang, Bing Tang, Fenglian Fu
Summary: This study investigates the role of calcium montmorillonite or sodium montmorillonite in the coprecipitation process of ferrihydrite and Cr(VI). It is found that the addition of montmorillonite inhibits the transformation of ferrihydrite, delays the migration and redistribution of Cr(VI), and retains more Cr(VI) in the coprecipitates.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chenchen Qu, Jinzhao Chen, Monika Mortimer, Yichao Wu, Peng Cai, Qiaoyun Huang
Summary: The association of iron (hydr)oxides with organic matter plays a significant role in heavy metal mobility in natural soils and sediments. This study investigates the behavior of cadmium (Cd) during the formation of crystalline iron (hydr)oxides in the presence of humic acid (HA). The results show that HA promotes the adsorption of Cd onto amorphous iron (hydr)oxides but limits its partition to mineral aggregates.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Jing Liu, Runliang Zhu, Lingya Ma, Haoyang Fu, Xiaoju Lin, Stephen C. Parker, Marco Molinari
Summary: This study demonstrates that ferrihydrite has the strongest adsorption capacity for phosphate and cadmium among the three iron (oxyhydr)oxides studied, with synergistic adsorption of phosphate and cadmium observed. The research reveals the adsorption behaviors and mechanisms of different minerals, providing insights for developing surface complexation models.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mi Li, Wanqin Xu, Xiaoyan Wu, Xiaowen Zhang, Qi Fang, Tao Cai, Jianping Yang, Yilong Hua
Summary: Doping uranium into a stable Fe3O4 lattice structure reduces migration, but the presence of coexisting ions in an aqueous solution affects uranium mineralization efficiency and the stability of uranium-bearing Fe3O4. Calcium incorporation increases the level and stability of doped uranium in Fe3O4 due to strong hybridization effects. Phosphate, however, inhibits Fe3O4 crystallization. These findings offer new possibilities for multi-metal co-doping technologies and optimization in treating uranium-containing complex wastewater.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Xiaofeng Lin, Yang Lu, Zhenqing Shi
Summary: A quantitative model was developed to study the release of Cu(II) from Fe oxides or Fe oxide-humic substance composites. The results showed that Cu(II) release rates decreased with Fe oxide aging processes, while the presence of humic substances increased Cu(II) mobility.
APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Keisuke Kawamoto, Hiroki Yokoo, Asumi Ochiai, Yuriko Nakano, Ayaka Takeda, Takumi Oki, Masato Takehara, Motoki Uehara, Kenjin Fukuyama, Yoshiyuki Ohara, Toshihiko Ohnuki, Michael F. Hochella, Satoshi Utsunomiya
Summary: Through investigating mine tailings material from the Ningyo-toge uranium deposit in Japan, the natural attenuation mechanisms of contaminants controlled by ferrihydrite and amorphous silica aggregates were understood. It was found that at this site, ferrihydrite and amorphous silica aggregates play a crucial role in adsorbing toxic elements like arsenic.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Rinat Gabitov, Artas Migdisov, Anh Nguyen, Noah Van Hartesveldt, Alberto Perez-Huerta, Aleksey Sadekov, Kirsten Benedict Sauer, Jason Baker, Varun Paul, Florie Caporuscio, Hongwu Xu, Robert Roback
Summary: This study evaluated the immobilization of uranium in calcite under varied redox conditions, finding that tetravalent uranium was absorbed by calcite at a higher rate than hexavalent uranium by up to four orders of magnitude. It was estimated that a few milligrams of calcite crystallization under reduced hydrothermal conditions could immobilize all dissolved uranium in a UO2-saturated solution.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Chengjun Zhang, Mengchang He, Chunye Lin, Wei Ouyang, Xitao Liu
Summary: This study comprehensively investigated the effect of dissolved Mn(II) on the oxidation and adsorption of Sb(III) in the ferrihydrite/hematite-Mn(II) system under aerobic conditions. The results showed that Sb(III) was efficiently removed in the presence of ferrihydrite/hematite and Mn(II), with formation of Mn(III/IV) oxides as the main oxidants for Sb(III) oxidation. However, the removal mechanisms differed between the ferrihydrite-Mn(II) system and the hematite-Mn(II) system.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chris Foster, Samuel Shaw, Thomas S. Neill, Nick Bryan, Nick Sherriff, Louise S. Natrajan, Hannah Wilson, Laura Lopez-Odriozola, Bruce Rigby, Sarah J. Haigh, Yi-Chao Zou, Robert Harrison, Katherine Morris
Summary: This study investigated the colloidal stability of hydrotalcite and the U(VI) sorption mechanisms under various pH conditions and surface loadings, revealing that hydrotalcite can form pseudo-colloids with U(VI) under a wide range of pH conditions. These findings have clear implications for understanding the uranium behavior in specific environments where hydrotalcite is present.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Luke T. Townsend, Kurt F. Smith, Ellen H. Winstanley, Katherine Morris, Olwen Stagg, J. Frederick W. Mosselmans, Francis R. Livens, Liam Abrahamsen-Mills, Richard Blackham, Samuel Shaw
Summary: Neptunium (Np-237) is an important radionuclide in the nuclear fuel cycle, and its mobility can be significantly affected by various chemical processes. In this study, Np interactions with key iron minerals were investigated using X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy, revealing that Np may undergo different speciation changes in different systems.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jing Zhang, Victoria S. Coker, J. Frederick W. Mosselmans, Samuel Shaw
Summary: In this study, the adsorption of molybdate to hematite was characterized using adsorption isotherms, PHREEQC geochemical modeling, Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS). The results showed that both pH and Mo concentration are important factors in the formation of mono- and polymolybdate species, with low pH and high Mo(VI) concentration contributing to the formation of a polymolybdate surface species on hematite. XAS analysis also revealed the presence of octahedrally coordinated Mo(VI) adsorption species on hematite, providing important insights into the mobility and transport of Mo as a contaminant in the environment.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Thomas S. Neill, Katherine Morris, Carolyn Pearce, Nicholas K. Sherriff, Nick Bryan, Bruce Rigby, Samuel Shaw
Summary: This article explores the interactions between uranium (U) and strontium (Sr) in spent nuclear fuel processing and storage, finding that different U phases exhibit varying sorption behaviors towards Sr at different pH levels. These complex interactions highlight an important control mechanism on the mobility of Sr-90 in environments relevant to spent nuclear fuel management and storage.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Matthieu Amor, J. Frederick W. Mosselmans, Ernesto Scoppola, Chenghao Li, Damien Faivre, Daniel M. Chevrier
Summary: Magnetite nanoparticles can have various applications, and their magnetic properties can be tuned by incorporating trace elements. In abiotic magnetite nanoparticles, element incorporation is mainly controlled by cation size and valence, while in biologically synthesized magnetite nanoparticles, there is biological control over element transfer. This understanding can help in predicting and tailoring the composition of magnetite nanoparticles for desired magnetic properties.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Connaugh M. Fallon, William R. Bower, Brian A. Powell, Francis R. Livens, Ian C. Lyon, Alana E. McNulty, Kathryn Peruski, J. Frederick W. Mosselmans, Daniel Kaplan, Daniel Grolimund, Peter Warnicke, Dario Ferreira-Sanchez, Marja Siitari Kauppi, Gianni F. Vettese, Samuel Shaw, Katherine Morris, Gareth T. W. Law
Summary: Uranium dioxide (UO2) and metaschoepite (UO3 center dot nH(2)O) particles were studied under dynamic conditions representative of a contaminated site. The study revealed the oxidative dissolution and migration of UO2 over 1-2 cm in the direction of waterflow and against it. Metaschoepite particles also showed significant dissolution with marginal U migration. However, in both particle systems, the released U was retained in sediment as different U(IV) and U(VI) phases and no U was detected in the effluent.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Mallory S. Ho, Gianni F. Vettese, Paula H. Keto, Suvi P. Lamminmaki, Minna Vikman, Emmi Myllykyla, Kathy Dardenne, Gareth T. W. Law
Summary: Flow-through columns were used to study the long-term trends in Sr-90 biogeochemistry and transport in a low-level waste repository. The experiments showed that Sr removal from the water was initially high but gradually decreased over time. The analysis of the effluents indicated that colloids did not form, suggesting that Sr output was likely to be in an aqueous form.
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Nicholas T. T. Tran, Daniel Sier, Tony Kirk, Chanh Q. Tran, J. Frederick W. Mosselmans, Sofia Diaz-Moreno, Christopher T. Chantler
Summary: The discovery of a new physical process in manganese metal is reported. This process will also be present for all manganese-containing materials in condensed matter. The process was discovered using the XRHERFD technique, developed from the high-resolution RIXS and HERFD approaches. The findings have important implications for X-ray absorption spectroscopy and the interpretation of X-ray absorption fine-structure spectra.
JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Joyce W. L. Ang, Arthur Bongrand, Samuel Duval, Jeerome Donnard, Joni Parkkonen, Satoshi Utsunomiya, Risto Koivula, Marja Siitari-Kauppi, Gareth T. W. Law
Summary: Cesium-134 and -137 are long-lived, radio-toxic contaminants released during nuclear accidents. We propose an improved method, real-time autoradiography, for detecting Cs-bearing microparticles. This technique provides spatially resolved measurement of radioactivity and could be a valuable tool for forensic analysis after nuclear accidents.
Article
Soil Science
Shauna L. McLoughlin, Richard A. D. Pattrick, J. Frederick W. Mosselmans, Joe Kelleher, Bart E. van Dongen
Summary: The agricultural soils of West Limerick, Ireland, have extremely high natural selenium concentrations due to the Carboniferous shales, which originated in anoxic marine environments and were reprecipitated in post-glacial marshes. This has led to selenosis and molybdenosis in grazing livestock. The study found high concentrations of selenium, molybdenum, and uranium in the soils, with a positive correlation to organic matter. Pasture grasses and the accumulator species Brassica oleracea showed high levels of selenium and molybdenum. The Se in the soil-plant system was mainly present as elemental Se and selenomethionine, leading to selenosis in dairy herds. The hyperaccumulating Brassica oleracea could be used to extract selenium and molybdenum and reduce toxicity. Evaluation: 8/10.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Olwen Stagg, Katherine Morris, Luke T. Townsend, Eugene S. Ilton, Liam Abrahamsen-Mills, Samuel Shaw
Summary: Iron (oxyhydr)oxide minerals are commonly found in the sub-surface environment and can act as long-term barriers to the migration of radionuclides. The substitution and stability of actinides in these minerals are important factors for the remediation of contaminated land and the disposal of radioactive wastes.
APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Jenna Kasko, Xiaodong Li, Katharina Mueller, Yanling Ge, Gianni F. Vettese, Gareth T. W. Law, Marja Siitari-Kauppi, Nina Huittinen, Johannes Raff, Malin Bomberg, Merja Herzig
Summary: This study investigated the uranium bioassociation by Pseudomonas sp. isolated from a boreal bog. The strains were able to remove uranium from the solution, and the efficiency of uranium bioassociation was influenced by nutrient source, incubation temperature, time, and pH. Infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed that carboxyl groups on the cell surface and phosphate groups inside the cells were responsible for uranium binding. The removal efficiency of uranium depended on the U(VI) speciation under different pH conditions.
APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chris Foster, Samuel Shaw, Thomas S. Neill, Nick Bryan, Nick Sherriff, Scott Harrison, Louise S. Natrajan, Bruce Rigby, Katherine Morris
Summary: The decommissioning of legacy spent fuel storage facilities at Sellafield nuclear facility in the UK requires the retrieval of radioactive sludge resulting from Magnox fuel corrosion. The interactions between colloidal hydrotalcite and different forms of nanoparticulate U(IV) were investigated using a multi-technique approach. The study highlights the potential for U(IV) nanoparticles to form a new type of colloid-colloid interaction with hydrotalcite, especially when silica is present.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Callum Robinson, Samuel Shaw, Jonathan R. Lloyd, James Graham, Katherine Morris
Summary: Injection of saturated calcium phosphate solution has the potential to reduce the concentration of strontium-90 in contaminated groundwater, making it a valuable tool for remediating radioactivity at nuclear sites.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Gianni F. Vettese, Katherine Morris, Matthew White-Pettigrew, Luke T. Townsend, Samuel Shaw, Christopher Boothman, Jonathan R. Lloyd
Summary: The past 60+ years of global nuclear activity have led to a significant amount of radioactive contaminated lands, which require costly remediation. Developing environmentally friendly, economically viable, and effective clean-up technologies is crucial. In situ remediation techniques are an important option, but questions remain regarding the most favorable methods and long-term stability.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-ADVANCES
(2023)