Abstract
Anthropogenic radionuclides contaminate a range of environments as a result of nuclear activities, for example, leakage from waste storage tanks/ponds (e.g. Hanford, USA or Sellafield sites, UK) or as a result of large scale nuclear accidents (e.g. Chernobyl, Ukraine or Fukushima, Japan). One of the most widely applied remediation techniques for contaminated waters is the use of sorbent materials (e.g. zeolites and apatites). However, a key problem at nuclear contaminated sites is the remediation of radionuclides from complex chemical environments. In this study, biogenic hydroxyapatite (BHAP) produced by Serratia sp. bacteria was investigated for its potential to remediate surrogate radionuclides (Sr2+ and Co2+) from environmentally relevant waters by varying pH, salinity and the type and concentration of cations present. The sorption capacity of the BHAP for both Sr2+ and Co2+ was higher than for a synthetically produced hydroxyapatite (HAP) in the solutions tested. BHAP also compared favorably against a natural zeolite (as used in industrial decontamination) for Sr2+ and Co2+ uptake from saline waters. Results confirm that hydroxyapatite minerals of high surface area and amorphous calcium phosphate content, typical for biogenic sources, are suitable restoration or reactive barrier materials for the remediation of complex contaminated environments or wastewaters.
Highlights
Anthropogenic radionuclides contaminate a range of environments as a result of nuclear activities, for example, leakage from waste storage tanks/ponds (e.g. Hanford, USA or Sellafield sites, UK) or as a result of large scale nuclear accidents (e.g. Chernobyl, Ukraine or Fukushima, Japan)
This study compares the potential suitability of HAP and biogenic hydroxyapatite (BHAP) to clean up complex waters by investigating the sorption of radionuclide surrogate metals (Sr2+ and Co2+). These materials were compared against a natural zeolite to determine the suitability of materials for cleaning up saline contaminated environments, such as those found at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (FDNPP)
Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the identity of the clinoptilolite (general formula: KNa2Ca2(Si29Al7) O72.24H2O; Supplementary Fig. S3) and the minor metal impurities were determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) (Supplementary Table S1)
Summary
Anthropogenic radionuclides contaminate a range of environments as a result of nuclear activities, for example, leakage from waste storage tanks/ponds (e.g. Hanford, USA or Sellafield sites, UK) or as a result of large scale nuclear accidents (e.g. Chernobyl, Ukraine or Fukushima, Japan). One of the most widely applied remediation techniques for contaminated waters at both nuclear and non-nuclear sites is the use of sorbent mineral materials (e.g. zeolites and apatites). A natural zeolite, clinoptilolite, with a high Cs+ and Sr2+ sorption capacity, is currently used at the Site Ion Exchange Effluent Treatment Plant (SIXEP) at Sellafield Ltd, UK to clean up wastewaters[7] and is used in this study as a comparison material. Apatites, such as hydroxyapatite (HAP; Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2), have suitable properties for the immobilization of radionuclides, toxic metals, actinides and lanthanides[8,9]. Apatites are being tested as a potential remediation material at the FDNPP site[15]
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