Beryllium Research Articles

Leaching behavior and kinetics of beryllium in beryllium-containing sludge (BCS)

Beryllium-containing sludge (BCS) is a byproduct of the physicochemical treatment of beryllium smelting wastewater. The pollutant element beryllium within BCS is highly unstable and extremely toxic, characterized by its small ionic radius and low charge density, resulting in a high risk of leaching and migration. This study is the first to investigate the leaching behavior, influencing mechanisms, and kinetic processes of beryllium in BCS under various environmental conditions. The results indicate that, under national standard conditions, beryllium exhibits a rapid leaching phase within the first 5 h, which then stabilizes after 10 h, with the total leached content significantly exceeding the leaching toxicity identification standards. Under mildly acidic (pH ≤ 5) or highly alkaline (pH = 14) conditions, beryllium demonstrates pronounced leaching and migration behaviors. Notably, in acidic conditions, the leaching rate exceeds 80% within 5 h. Combining the treatment process of beryllium-containing wastewater with analytical methods such as SEM, XPS, ToF-SIMS, and FTIR, it is revealed that due to the heterogeneous nature of BCS, the particle aggregates dissociate over time under acidic conditions. The particle surfaces become increasingly rough, leading to dissolution and the emergence of more reactive sites, resulting in a high proportion of beryllium leaching. Under these conditions, the gradual reaction of Be(OH)2 in BCS to form soluble Be2+ and its hydrolytic complexes is identified as the primary mechanism for extensive beryllium migration. The process encounters minimal diffusion resistance and is classified as reaction-controlled. In acidic conditions with pH = 4, the leaching rate of beryllium significantly increases with rising temperature. The leaching kinetics equation is [(1−x)−0.44]=e(18.26−53050RT)·t, with an apparent activation energy of 53.05 kJ mol−1.

Anthropogenic Coal Ash as a Contaminant in a Micro-meteoritic Underwater Search

Chemical composition for spherules recovered from the search area of CNEOS 2014-01-08 in the Pacific Ocean has been recently released. A three-order of magnitude difference from CI-chondrites has been identified for elements beryllium, lanthanum and uranium in five samples. The lack of consensus regarding atmospheric survival and precision of path estimates motivate an examination of possible contaminants. Contents of nickel, beryllium, lanthanum and uranium are examined in the context of a known anthropogenic source of contamination, and found to be consistent with coal ash as suggested from a publicly available coal chemical composition database (COALQUAL). The meteoritic origin is disfavored.

Effect of the various tritium breeding materials on the tritium breeding ratio in ARC fusion reactor

This study deals with TBR (Tritium Breeding Ratio) performance of the four different types of molten salt (FLiBe, FLiNaK, FLiNaBe, FLiNaRb) which has four different Li-6 enrichment ratios (0%, 30%, 60%, 90%) Moreover, two different vacuum vessel materials (SiC composite and V4Cr4Ti alloy) have been used in ARC reactor geometry. In models with TBR ≥1.05, it has been desired to examine the sustainability of the tritium production of the reactor by removing the neutron multiplication layer from the design without using the toxic Beryllium element. The neutronic performance studies have been examined in OpenMC, which is an open-source Monte Carlo neutron and photon transport code. The TBR values of the different models obtained and the change of these values according to Li-6 enrichment were examined. Obtaining result showed that the FLiBe molten salt and V4Cr4Ti alloy vacuum vessel wall material could be the best choice for the ARC reactor.

Interfacial Reaction between SAC3807 Lead-Free Solders and Different Copper Substrate via Reflow Soldering Process

The different composition material of copper substrate significantly affects the intermetallic compound (IMC) formation and the solder joints durability. This study was conducted on the interfacial reaction between lead-free solder and the different copper substrates via reflow soldering. The selected substrate is copper (Cu) and copper-beryllium (Cu-Be). The lead-free solder involved is Sn-3.8Ag-0.7Cu (SAC3807) solder ball with a diameter of 700 μm. All the samples were subjected to the isothermal aging process. The material characterization and analysis on the IMC formation were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscope (OM), and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). After the reflow process, the result revealed that Cu3Sn, Cu6Sn5 IMC layer formed at SAC3870/Cu and SAC3870/Cu-Be interface. The changes to a rod-like shape Cu6Sn5 and irregular needle-shaped Cu3Sn4 occur after the aging treatment on SAC3870/ Cu. Meanwhile, the IMC layer for SAC3870/Cu-Be shows a rod-like shape transformed into a blocky-like shape Cu6Sn5 and Cu3Sn4 diamond-shape. This result indicates that Ag3Sn nanosized was formed on the intermetallic surface during the aging process for both SAC3807/Cu and SAC3807/Cu-Be. The Ag3Sn nanosized element at SAC3807/Cu-Be is many compared to SAC3807/Cu. In addition, IMC thickness for SAC3807/Cu-Be shows a thicker layer than SAC3807/Cu. Lastly, in this research, the element of Be in SAC3807/Cu-Be cannot be defined because the beryllium element is not easily detected as the percentage was very low.

Determination of 18 Trace Elements in 10 Batches of the Tibetan Medicine Qishiwei Zhenzhu Pills by Direct Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry.

Qishiwei Zhenzhu pills (QSW) was first recorded in the Tibetan medicine classic Si Bu Yi Dian and has been used to treat “Baimai” disease, stroke, paralysis, hemiplegia, cerebral hemorrhage, and other diseases till today. This prescription contains more than 70 medicines including myrobalan, pearl, agate, opal, bezoar, coral, musk, gold, silver, and a mineral mixture Zuotai. As a result, QSW contains a large amount of mercury, copper, lead, and other trace elements. The aim of this study was to determine the 18 trace elements (lithium, beryllium, scandium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, arsenic, strontium, argentum, cadmium, cesium, barium, lead, aurum, and mercury) in 10 batches of QSW produced by 5 pharmaceutical companies (Ganlu Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd. has 6 different batches) by direct inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). ICP-MS is a rapid, sensitive, accurate methodology allowing the determination of 18 elements simultaneously. The results showed that each element had an excellent linear relationship in the corresponding mass concentration range. The results showed that the rank order of the elements in QSW was copper > mercury > lead from high to low, with the mass fraction higher than 6000 μg/kg; the mass fractions of argentum, arsenic, manganese, aurum, strontium, barium, chromium, and nickel were in the range of 33–1034 μg/kg; and the mass fractions of vanadium, cobalt, lithium, beryllium, cadmium, scandium, and cesium were lower than 10 μg/kg. The reproducibility from the same manufacturer (Tibet Ganlu Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd.) was relatively high; however, the element amounts among 5 manufacturers were different, which could affect the efficacy and toxicity of QSW. All in all, ICP-MS can be used as an effective tool for the analysis of trace elements in QSW and standard quality control needs to be enforced across different manufactures.

Quantitative analysis of ultra-light elements beryllium by electron microprobe: Constraints of analysis conditions

铍（Be）是战略性资源，属于关键金属。Be在电子探针（EMPA）可分析的元素范围内属于最难测准的一个元素。难测准的原因在于Be属于超轻元素，其特征X-射线不但信号弱、能量低，而且易受其他元素强烈吸收效应的影响，因此硬件上需要EMPA配置大面网间距的特殊分光晶体。而不同厂家不同大面网间距分光晶体配置的EMPA在铍矿物的测试条件存在明显差异，即使同一EMPA测试不同Be矿物分析条件也不一致。尤其是占据国内市场主流的JEOL电子探针目前也只尝试分析过绿柱石一种Be的矿物。本文利用配置LDE3H分光晶体的JXA-8100（JEOL）电子探针，对除绿柱石之外的金绿宝石、硅铍石、硼铍石和锌日光榴石四种Be矿物开展了Be等元素最佳定量分析方法的研发。通过不同铍矿物的全元素扫描，发现与CAMECA电子探针不同，JEOL电子探针不存在Be_Kα峰被Si_L2，3，M1峰干扰问题。同时发现每种含Be矿物Be_Kα峰位存在不同程度的漂移现象，并结合原子轨道杂化及吸收效应等理论对该现象进行了合理的解释。在此基础上，建立起配置LDE3H分光晶体的JEOL电子探针定量分析金绿宝石、硅铍石、硼铍石和锌日光榴石不同Be矿物中Be等元素含量的有效方法。该Be矿物原位分析方法的探索，不仅为JEOL EMPA用户提供Be矿物分析的成熟经验，也必将为铍资源的相关研究和找矿勘查提供有力的技术支撑。

Transition-Metal Chemistry of the Heavier Alkaline Earth Atoms Ca, Sr, and Ba.

ConspectusAlkaline earth elements beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium with an ns2 valence-shell configuration are usually classified as main-group elements that belong to the s-block atoms. For a long time, the elements were considered to be rather chemically uninteresting atomic species due to preconceived ideas about bonding, structure, and reactivity. They typically use the two ns valence electrons in forming ionic salt compounds with the metal in a formal oxidation state of +2. For the heavier alkaline earth atoms, calcium, strontium, and barium, their (n - 1)d atomic orbitals (AOs) are empty but lie close in energy to the valence np orbitals. Earlier theoretical investigations have already suggested that these elements can employ the (n - 1)d AOs to some extent to form polar bonds in divalent species in which the alkaline earth metal centers are sufficiently positively charged. The d orbital involvement increases from Ca to Sr and markedly in Ba. Thus, barium has been termed an honorary transition metal.Recently, molecular complexes of Ca, Sr, and Ba were prepared in the gas phase and in a low-temperature solid neon matrix and were detected by infrared spectroscopy. An analysis of the electronic structures of [Ba(CO)]+, [Ba(CO)]-, saturated coordinated octacarbonyls [M(CO)8] and [M(CO)8]+, isoelectronic dinitrogen complexes [M(N2)8] and [M(N2)8]+, and the tribenzene complexes [M(Bz)3] (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) revealed that the metal-ligand bonding can be straightforwardly discussed using the traditional Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson (DCD) model as in classical transition-metal complexes. The metal-ligand bonds can be explained with metal → ligand π back donation from occupied metal (n - 1)d AOs to vacant antibonding π molecular orbitals of the ligands with concomitant σ donation from occupied MOs of the ligands to vacant metal d orbitals of the alkaline earth atoms. In addition, heteronuclear Ca-Fe carbonyl cation complexes were also produced in the gas phase. Bonding analysis of the coordination saturated [CaFe(CO)10]+ complex implies that it can be described by the bonding interactions between a [Ca(CO)6]2+ fragment and an [Fe(CO)4]- anion fragment in forming a Fe → Ca d-d dative bond. The nature of metal-ligand and metal-metal bonding was quantitatively elucidated by the energy decomposition analysis in conjunction with the natural orbitals for the chemical valence (EDA-NOCV) method, which indicate that the (n - 1)d AOs of the alkaline earth metals are the dominant orbitals participating in the covalent interactions, just as typical transition metals. The results indicate that the heavier alkaline earth elements have a much richer covalent chemistry than previously thought. These findings, along with earlier studies, suggest that the heavier alkaline earth atoms Ca, Sr, and Ba should be classified as transition metals rather than main group atoms in the periodic table of the elements. This interesting structural chemistry, together with some recently reported examples of spectacular reactivity, establishes these elements as exciting and promising research targets in current research.

Discovery of Beryllium in White Dwarfs Polluted by Planetesimal Accretion

Abstract The element beryllium is detected for the first time in white dwarf stars. This discovery in the spectra of two helium-atmosphere white dwarfs was made possible only because of the remarkable overabundance of Be relative to all other elements, heavier than He, observed in these stars. The measured Be abundances, relative to chondritic, are by far the largest ever seen in any astronomical object. We anticipate that the Be in these accreted planetary bodies was produced by spallation of one or more of O, C, and N in a region of high fluence of particles of MeV or greater energy.

Beryllium doubles down on nitrogen bonding

Beryllium doubles down on nitrogen bonding

Concentration changes of ten metal and metalloid elements in atmospheric PM_(2. 5) in two districts of Lanzhou City from 2015 to 2018

To detect the concentrations of ten metals and metalloid elements in the atmospheric PM_(2. 5) in Chengguan district and Xigu district of Lanzhou City from 2015 to 2018, and analyze the pollutant concentration and its change trend. From 2015 to 2018, 662 samples of PM_(2. 5) were collected from Chengguan district and Xigu district of Lanzhou City. The concentrations of 10 kinds of metals and metalloid elements such as lead(Pb), arsenic(As), mercury(Hg), cadmium(Cd), chromium(Cr), antimony(Sb), manganese(Mn), nickel(Ni), selenium(Se), beryllium(Be) were detected, and the change trends of different monitoring points, years, seasons and months were analyzed. There was a significant difference in lead content between Chengguan District and Xigu District(χ~2=4. 80, P<0. 05), the median of Pb content in Chengguan and Xigu District was 45. 30 and 37. 20 ng/m~3, which was higher than that in Xigu District; the difference of Mn content in the two districts was statistically significant(χ~2=21. 28, P<0. 05), the median in two District was 32. 04 and 23. 37 ng/m~3, which was higher than that in Xigu District; the median of Be content in the two districts was statistically significant(χ~2=11. 57, P<0. 05), and the median of Be content in two districts was 0. 05 and 0. 07 ng/m~3, Xigu Distric was higher than Chengguan, there was no significant difference in other seven elements(P>0. 05). From 2015 to 2018, the element content of PM_(2. 5) in Chengguan District decreased by 47. 66% compared with 2015; Xigu District in 2018 decreased by 43. 79% compared with 2015; the higher element Pb, Mn and As in Chengguan District decreased by 52. 93%, 47. 00% and 49. 37% compared with 2015; in Xigu District, the content in 2018 decreased by 46. 87%, 47. 49% and 41. 98%compared with 2015, the contents of the remaining seven elements decreased in 2018 compared with those in 2015. There was no statistical significance(P>0. 05) in different seasons except for the difference of Ni content(P<0. 05), and the content of other elements showed a significant seasonal change: winter>spring>autumn> summer. The trend of monthly concentration change in the two regions was basically the same, the concentrations of Sb, As, Pb, Mn, Cd, Ni, Se, Hg and Cr were higher in November and February of next year. In Chengguan District and Xigu District, Ni content was higher in July and August, respectively;and Hg in Xigu District was higher in June, and Be was higher in less months, especially in February, October and December. From 2015 to 2018, the levels of 10 metals and metalloids element pollutants in PM_(2. 5) samples from Chengguan District and Xigu District of Lanzhou City showed a decreasing trend year by year, and had obvious seasonal changes.

Sensitivity Analysis of an Advanced Transmission Measurement Method for Thermal Neutrons Absorbers Detection in Irradiated Beryllium

This paper presents an advanced optimization analysis of the newly developed transmission measurement method conducted in the MARIA MTR reactor for thermal neutrons absorbers estimation in irradiated beryllium elements. Several neutron sources in combination with various thermal neutron detectors are investigated, along with the optimization of the moderating polyethylene layer to improve the signal to background ratio. It was concluded that the use of 239PuBe or 241AmB neutron source with polyethylene of 0.95 g/cm3 density and ∼4.5 cm thickness, as well as either 235U lined fission chamber or BF3 detectors are meeting the requirements for the use in the experiment.

Connoisseur's Choice: Genthelvite, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

Genthelvite is a rare beryllium sulfosilicate. It is more rare as collector‐quality specimens. The group of crystals from Mont Saint‐Hilaire featured in this Connoisseur's Choice column is one of t...

Progress in the chemistry and biochemistry of beryllium

Progress in the chemistry and biochemistry of beryllium

Исследование сверхпластичности и образования встроенных зон в бериллии

Исследование сверхпластичности и образования встроенных зон в бериллии

Two-Dimensional Deep-Ultraviolet Beryllium-Free KBe2BO3F2 Family Nonlinear-Optical Monolayer.

A two-dimensional (2D) nonlinear-optical (NLO) material could generate a breakthrough in the development of a nanoscale laser, especially in the range of high-energy and short-wavelength deep ultraviolet (DUV; <200 nm). KBe2BO3F2 (KBBF) is the only bulk crystal actually used in the DUV region. In this letter, we designed the new 2D KBBF family monolayer Al3LiB2O6F4 (2D-ALBF), which was predicted to have a broad DUV-vis transparent range and an enhanced NLO effect that doubles the frequency. 2D-ALBF keeps the infinite planar [Be2BO3F2]∞ structure in KBBF but does not contain the toxic beryllium element.

Effect of Initial Microstructures on the Macroscopic Mechanical Properties of Polycrystalline Beryllium

Effect of Initial Microstructures on the Macroscopic Mechanical Properties of Polycrystalline Beryllium

Миш’як, берилій, фтор і ртуть у вугіллі пласта с8в шахти «Дніпровська» ПавлоградськоПетропавлівського геолого-промислового району

Мета роботи - встановлення закономірностей в розподілі токсичних елементів у вугіллі пласта с8в поля шахти «Дніпровська» Павлоградсько-Петропавлівського геолого-промислового району Західного Донбасу. Дослідження в цьому напрямку проводяться з метою зниження ступеня негативних наслідків і додаткового забруднення навколишнього середовища. В результаті виконаних досліджень установлено варіації вмісту і середні концентрації токсичних елементів у вугіллі пласта с8в, побудовано карти ізоконцентрат токсичних елементів і карти регіональної складової їх вмісту по площі шахтного поля. Розраховано лінійні рівняння регресії між концентраціями токсичних елементів і основними технологічними параметрами вугілля. Аналізуючи результати статистичної обробки геохімічної інформації і геолого-структурної характеристики пласта с8в поля шахти «Дніпровська» можна зробити висновок, що берилій - єдиний елемент, переважно пов'язаний з органічною складовою вугілля. Геохімічна асоціація ртуті і миш'яку зумовлена їх генетичним зв'язком із сульфідною мінералізацією тріщинуватих зон тектонічної природи. Основне наукове значення результатів виконаних досліджень полягає у встановленні генетичних причин, які чинять істотний вплив на особливості розподілу токсичних елементів у вугіллі пласта с8в.

Conceptual Model of the Psychosocial Effects of Beryllium Sensitization and Chronic Beryllium Disease

The objective of this research was to develop a theoretical model that describes the psychosocial effects of beryllium sensitization (BeS) and chronic beryllium disease (CBD). The medical, nursing, health education, and psychological literature was reviewed to identify theories that might support the development of a psychosocial model of BeS and CBD. A proposed model was synthesized based upon elements from multiple academic disciplines. The conceptual model is based on three prominent psychological theories: 1) health, stress, and coping, 2) uncertainty and illness, and 3) psychosocial adjustment to illness. The model hypothesizes that workers who are diagnosed with BeS or CBD experience a great deal of uncertainty that has a detrimental effect on their health quality of life. The focal relationship in this model is between the independent variable uncertainty and the dependent variable health quality of life. It is further hypothesized that the relationship between these two variables is affected by an intermediate variable, the ability to make psychosocial adjustments to disease. Creating this model is a step toward filling a void in our understanding of the natural history of CBD. Once validated it will establish a foundation for future research, interventions and program evaluations and may lead to changes in the psychological, social, financial, and disease management support provided to this population.

Measuring the Psychosocial Effects of Beryllium Sensitization and Chronic Beryllium Disease in Current and Retired Workers

Current and former workers from the U.S. Department of Energy complex were surveyed to measure the psychosocial effects of beryllium sensitization (BeS) and chronic beryllium disease (CBD). Questionnaires were administered to measure uncertainty in illness, psychosocial adjustment to illness, and health quality of life. Hypotheses were tested and relationships between variables determined. There were 126 participants; 52 with CBD and 74 with BeS. The health quality of life survey indicated participants with CBD had significantly different physical component summary scores than those with BeS. Mental component summary scores were similar. Psychosocial adjustment scores were also significantly different. Uncertainty scores were approximately equal. Moderate to strong correlations were found between the three variables. As uncertainty increased, health quality of life decreased unless the effects were mediated by psychosocial adjustments to the illness. It was concluded that BeS may have as much impact on mental health as CBD. If true, this adds an important new component to the spectrum of CBD that has implications for treatment and workers compensation.

Corrosion behavior and pitting susceptibility of in-situ Ti-based metallic glass matrix composites in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solutions

The Ti62Zr12V13Cu4Be9, Ti58Zr16V10Cu4Be12, Ti46Zr20V12Cu5Be17, and Ti40Zr24V12Cu5Be19 metallic glass matrix composites (MGMCs) were prepared by copper mould casting. The corrosion resistance and the pitting susceptibility of Ti-based MGMCs were tested on their cross-sectional areas in 3.5wt.% NaCl solutions by potentiodynamic polarization measurements. The composites with lower Ti contents (Ti40Zr24V12Cu5Be19 and Ti46Zr20V12Cu5Be17) exhibit a low resistance to the chloride induced pitting and local corrosion. The preferential dissolution of amorphous matrix is explained by the high chemical reactivity of beryllium element compared to that of stable dendrites and by the detected lower Ti and V contents. However, fairly good passivity was found in the composite with higher Ti contents (Ti62Zr12V13Cu4Be9). XPS measurements revealed that protective Ti-enriched oxide film was formed on the composite surface, additionally, lower content of beryllium element in amorphous matrix hinder the selective corrosion of amorphous matrix. The assessment of experimental observation leads to a proposed corrosion mechanism involving selective dissolution of amorphous matrix and chloride induced pitting process.