Enhanced uranium bioleaching high-fluorine and low-sulfur uranium ore by a mesophilic acidophilic bacterial consortium with pyrite

The high level of fluorine and low sulfur in the ore could significantly undermine the bioleaching effectiveness. Here, a strategy to improve the bioleaching efficiency by introducing fluoride-resistant mesophilic eosinophils coupled with pyrite supplement was investigated in a bioleaching system with such ore. The results of column and heap bioleaching showed that 89.25% and 90.40% of uranium were recovered with the consortium and pyrite addition, which increased the uranium leaching rates by 13.22% and 8.96% as compared with the sulfuric acid leaching. Hence, it provides a method to improve uranium bioleaching efficiency of the high-fluorine and low-sulfur uranium ore by the consortium adding pyrite.

     

Optimization of operating parameters and rate of uranium bioleaching from a low-grade ore

In this study the bioleaching of a low-grade uranium ore containing 480 ppm uranium has been reported. The studies involved extraction of uranium using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans derived from the uranium mine samples. The maximum specific growth rate (µ ^max) and doubling time (t _d) were obtained 0.08 h^?1 and 8.66 h, respectively. Parameters such as Fe²⁺ concentration, particle size, temperature and pH were optimized. The effect of pulp density (PD) was also studied. Maximum uranium bio-dissolution of 100 ± 5 % was achieved under the conditions of pH 2.0, 5 % PD and 35 °C in 48 h with the particles of d ₈₀ = 100 μm. The optimum concentration of supplementary Fe²⁺ was dependent to the PD. This value was 0 and 10 g of FeSO₄·7H₂O/l at the PD of 5 and 15 %, respectively. The effects of time, pH and PD on the bioleaching process were studied using central composite design. New rate equation was improved for the uranium leaching rate. The rate of leaching is controlled with the concentrations of ferric and ferrous ions in solution. This study shows that uranium bioleaching may be an important process for the Saghand U mine at Yazd (Iran).     

Heap bioleaching of uranium from low-grade granite-type ore by mixed acidophilic microbes

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - We evaluated uranium bioleaching from low-grade, granite-type uranium ore using mixed acidophilic microbes from uranium mine leachate. A 4854-ton...     

Bioleaching of UO2 2+ ions from a Romanian poor uranium ore

The present paper deals with an experimental study on the bioleaching of a poor uranium ore by means of hydrophytic plants Lemna minor and Riccia fluitans, under various operating conditions. The maximum degree of bioleaching (42%) of the reduced uranium species to U(VI) has been attained for the ore-Lemna minor-alkaline carbonate solution system. The UO₂ ²⁺ ions amount accumulated in the plants is negligible as compared to the dissolved quantity, owing to the ionic competition between uranyl ions and the cations necessary to the mineral nutrition. The X-ray diffraction patterns prove that the uranium species in pyrochlore mineral are completely oxidized to U(VI), while thucolite is only partially turned into UO₂ ²⁺ ions, in the presence of living plants.     

Metal-Organic Frameworks as Sorbents for Purification of Vegetable Oils

The ability of cobalt-, iron-, and zinc-containing framework compounds to take up impurities (free fatty acids and peroxide compounds) from linseed, false fl ax, and sunfl ower oil was studied. These framework structures improve the physicochemical properties and quality of the vegetable oils tested. The metal-organic frameworks surpass in performance the traditionally used industrial and natural sorbents. The sorbents tested preserve the performance for no less than five cycles.

     

New methodology for uranium analysis in swipe samples for nuclear safeguards purposes

Environmental swipe sampling for safeguards purpose has been used by International Atomic Energy Agency since 1997, being a powerful tool to detect undeclared materials and activities. This work describes a new methodology for swipe samples analysis based on ultrasound-assisted acid leaching and compares it with traditional total digestion bulk analysis. The proposed method requires few preparation steps, decreasing the risk of contamination, reduced amounts of reagents and a good option to extract uranium from swipe sample. In a real case study, the swipe samples were collected in a conversion plant at IPEN/CNEN, Brazil. The measurements were carried out by ICP-MS and the results showed relative error lower than 0.96 % for uranium isotopic ratios for the certified reference material (NBS U200). The uncertainties were estimated by following the ISO GUM, with a confidence level of 95 %. The uncertainties percentage for n(²³⁵U)/n(²³⁸U) ratio of the samples ranged from 2.5 to 4.3 %. The values of uranium isotopic ratio obtained for each method demonstrate the viability of using the methodology proposed in this work.     

Decolorization and Biodegradation of Rubine GFL by Microbial Consortium GG-BL in Sequential Aerobic/Microaerophilic Process

This study represents the development of a new batch method by consortium GG-BL using two microbial cultures viz., Galactomyces geotrichum MTCC 1360 and Brevibacillus laterosporus MTCC 2298, by varying environmental conditions for the decolorization and biodegradation of Rubine GFL. Consortium was found to give better decolorization and degradation of Rubine GFL as compared to the individual microorganism at aerobic/microaerophilic process. The consortial metabolic activity of these strains lead to 100% decolorization of Rubine GFL (50?mg/L) within 30?h with significant reduction in chemical oxygen demand (79%) and total organic carbon (68%). Induction in the activities of laccase, veratryl alcohol oxidase, tyrosinase, azo reductase, and riboflavin reductase suggested their role in the decolorization process. Nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis showed differential induction pattern of oxidoreductive enzymes during decolorization of the dye at different incubation temperatures. The degradation of Rubine GFL into different metabolites by individual organism and in consortium was confirmed using high performance thin layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis. Phytotoxicity studies revealed nontoxic nature of the metabolites of Rubine GFL.     

Arsenopyrite and pyrite bioleaching: evidence from XPS, XRD and ICP techniques

In this work, a multi-technical bulk and surface analytical approach was used to investigate the bioleaching of a pyrite and arsenopyrite flotation concentrate with a mixed microflora mainly consisting of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray-induced Auger electron spectroscopy mineral surfaces investigations, along with inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy and carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulphur determination (CHNS) analyses, were carried out prior and after bioleaching. The flotation concentrate was a mixture of pyrite (FeS₂) and arsenopyrite (FeAsS); after bioleaching, 95% of the initial content of pyrite and 85% of arsenopyrite were dissolved. The chemical state of the main elements (Fe, As and S) at the surface of the bioreactor feed particles and of the residue after bioleaching was investigated by X-ray photoelectron and X-ray excited Auger electron spectroscopy. After bioleaching, no signals of iron, arsenic and sulphur originating from pyrite and arsenopyrite were detected, confirming a strong oxidation and the dissolution of the particles. On the surfaces of the mineral residue particles, elemental sulphur as reaction intermediate of the leaching process and precipitated secondary phases (Fe–OOH and jarosite), together with adsorbed arsenates, was detected. Evidence of microbial cells adhesion at mineral surfaces was also produced: carbon and nitrogen were revealed by CHNS, and nitrogen was also detected on the bioleached surfaces by XPS. This was attributed to the deposition, on the mineral surfaces, of the remnants of a bio-film consisting of an extra-cellular polymer layer that had favoured the bacterial action.     

A modified method for the determination of uranium in Nb/Ta minerals by LED fluorimetry

A modified LED fluorimetry determination of uranium in Nb/Ta minerals has been developed. The mineral is brought into solution by fusion with mixed phosphate flux (NaH₂PO₄, H₂O and Na₂HPO₄). Iron quenches uranium fluorescence when it is present above the ratio of (iron to uranium) 100. Uranium is separated in ethyl acetate by solvent extraction and then stripped back into pyrophosphate buffer (pH ~ 7) prior to its LED fluorimetry determination. This modified method has been applied for the determination of uranium in synthetic mixtures and Nb/Ta minerals including Certified Reference Materials (X1807) with high degree of accuracy and precision.

     

A method for prompt in situ uranium assay and free acidity determination in uranyl nitrate solutions by density and Raman measurements

A precise and accurate compositional characterization methodology using wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometry for mixed oxide nuclear fuels is reported. The methodology involves pelletization of standards and samples. The calibration plots were made by plotting the percent intensity of analyte X-ray lines against their amount percent. The relative standard deviation were 0.4% and 0.25%, respectively for uranium and thorium, having U ranging from 2.85 to 4.2 (wt%). The analytical results were compared with chemical analysis method and were in good agreement. The developed WDXRF method is non-destructive, fast and better in comparison to chemical analysis methods.

     

Estimation of radiological indices in Indian Sundarbans: a mangrove habitat

Stereoscopic porous microspheres based gellan gum (GG–Ca) were successfully prepared by sol–gel method using ethyl acetate as porogen and glutaraldehyde as crosslinker. The obtained GG–Ca microspheres were mainly of mesoporous with the average pore diameter was about 4 nm. It displayed a higher ability for uranium removal. In addition, the uranium adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous following a pseudo-second-order and the adsorption isotherm was the best fit with the Freundlich model with maximum uranium capacity of 202.26 mg g⁻¹. The UO²⁺ adsorption mechanism is ion-exchange with Ca²⁺ based on SEM, EDX and XPS data analysis.

     

Further study of extraction equilibrium of uranium(VI) with dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 and its application to separating uranium and thorium

In our publication (1), the extraction of uranium with dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 (mixed isomers) has been described. The extraction equilibrium of uranium(VI) from aqueous hydrochloric acid solution with dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 isomer A (Ia) and isomer B (Ib) in 1,2-dichloroethane is presented in this paper. The extracted species are found to be 1:2 (metal/crown) for Ia and 2:3 for Ib from slope analysis and direct determination of extracted complexes. The extraction equilibrium constants (Kex) have been determined at 25°C, and equal 29.5 for the former and 0.208 for the latter. It is concluded that Ia has stronger coordinate ability for uranium than Ib. The different orientation of the lone pairs of the oxygen atoms in both isomers will be taken into account for interpreting above results. The extraction of uranium(VI) with dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 (mixed isomers) or Ia from aqueous hydrochloric acid solution is effective and selective. In 0.1M crown ether-1,2-dichloroethane-6N HCl system, the separation factor U(VI)/Th(IV) exceeds 1000. The result can be taken in separating uranium and thorium.     

Synergistic Effect of Sarocladium sp. and Cryptococcus sp. Co-Culture on Crude Oil Biodegradation and Biosurfactant Production

This study was conducted to evaluate the co-culture ability of two yeast (Sarocladium sp. and Cryptococcus sp.) isolates as compared to their individual cultures in surfactant production and oil degradation. The results showed that individual culture of each strain was capable of producing surfactant, degrading oil, and pyrene; also, a synergistic effect was observed when a co-culture was applied. Oil removal and biomass production were 28 and 35% higher in the co-culture than in individual cultures, respectively. To investigate the synergistic effects of mix culture on oil degradation, the surface tension, emulsification activity (EA), and cell surface hydrophobicity of individual and co-culture were studied. A comparison between the produced biosurfactant and chemical surfactants showed that individual culture of each yeast strain could reduce the surface tension like SDS and about 10% better than Tween 80. The results showed that the microbial consortium could reduce the surface tension more, by 10 and 20%, than SDS and Tween 80, respectively. Both individual cultures of Sarocladium sp. and Cryptococcus sp. showed good emulsification activity (0.329 and 0.412, respectively) when compared with a non-inoculated medium. Emulsification activity measurement for the two yeast mix cultures showed an excellent 33 and 67% increase as compared to the individual culture of Sarocladium sp. and Cryptococcus sp., respectively. The cell surface hydrophobicity of Sarocladium sp. and Cryptococcus sp. increased (38 and 85%) when the cells were treated with pyrene as a hydrophobic substrate for four generations. Finally, a 40% increase for pyrene degradation was measured in a co-culture of the two yeast mix culture. According to the results of the present study, the co-culture system exhibited better performance and this study will enhance the understanding of the synergistic effects of yeast co-culture on oil degradation.

     

Synthesis of dihydroxamic acid chelating polymers and the adsorptive property for uranium in sea water

Preparation of new chelating polymers bearing dihydroxamic acid groups and the adsorptive ability for uranium in sea water are described. Chloromethylated polystyrene crosslinked with divinylbenzene was treated with diethyl malonate in N, N-dimethylformamide to give the polymer having diethyl malonate groups. This polymer was then treated with hydroxylamine in methanol to afford the dihydroxamic acid polymer. The presence of hydroxamic acid groups was confirmed by the appearance of IR absorption band at 1680 cm^?1. The dihydroxamic acid polymer contained carboxylic acid groups as well as hydroxamic acid ones, and the contents of carboxylic acid and hydroxamic acid groups were estimated from elemental analysis to be 2–3 and 2–4 mmol/g, respectively. The polymer showed the adsorptive ability of 40 μg-U/g in 8 days for uranium in sea water. In addition, the polymer showed the selective adsorptivity for iron, nickel, copper, and zinc as well as uranium. The macroreticular-type polymer showed much higher adsorption rate for uranium in sea water than the gel-type ones did, suggesting that the rate depends on the diffusion of the uranium in the polymer support.     

Validation of a Monte Carlo HPGe detector model against irradiated foil gamma-ray spectroscopy measurements

In order to separate and pre-concentrate uranium from aqueous phase, a novel silica-based adsorbent was prepared by impregnating nalidixic acid (HNA) into a macroreticular silica/polymer composite support (SiO₂-P) with a mean diameter of 60 μm. Adsorption behavior of uranium from aqueous solution onto the adsorbent was studied. Experimental results indicated that HNA/SiO₂-P showed strong adsorption for uranium in a wide range of pH from 3.5 to 10.0, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 35.4 mg g⁻¹. In addition, HNA/SiO₂-P exhibited good selectivity for U(VI) and showed weak or bare adsorption affinity to foreign ions. Kinetic and isotherm of uranium adsorption were in accordance with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm adsorption model, respectively. Moreover, U(VI) sorption was found to be an endothermic reaction and spontaneous under experimental state. The synthesized adsorbent showed an admirable stability at lower pH values in aqueous solution.

     

Sorption of uranium from alkaline waste onto radiation grafted phosphoryl-g-Teflon matrix

High energy ⁶⁰Co γ-radiation was used to graft glycidylmethacrylate onto Teflon scrap through mutual radiation grafting technique. The epoxy ring of grafted polyGMA chains were later converted to U selective phosphoryl group, chemically. The grafted matrix was used as solid–liquid adsorbent of uranium from alkaline waste solution. More than 98% recovery of uranium from alkaline waste (~pH 8) solution was achieved. The effect of grafting extent on adsorption kinetics was also investigated. The selectivity of uranium extraction over other fission products was established. The uptake of other fission products was <5% for equilibration time of ~1 h.

     

Anthracene and Pyrene Biodegradation Performance of Marine Sponge Symbiont Bacteria Consortium

Every petroleum-processing plant produces sewage sludge containing several types of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The degradation of PAHs via physical, biological, and chemical methods is not yet efficient. Among biological methods, the use of marine sponge symbiont bacteria is considered an alternative and promising approach in the degradation of and reduction in PAHs. This study aimed to explore the potential performance of a consortium of sponge symbiont bacteria in degrading anthracene and pyrene. Three bacterial species (Bacillus pumilus strain GLB197, Pseudomonas stutzeri strain SLG510A3-8, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strain SLCDA 976) were mixed to form the consortium. The interaction between the bacterial consortium suspension and PAH components was measured at 5 day intervals for 25 days. The biodegradation performance of bacteria on PAH samples was determined on the basis of five biodegradation parameters. The analysis results showed a decrease in the concentration of anthracene (21.89%) and pyrene (7.71%), equivalent to a ratio of 3:1, followed by a decrease in the abundance of anthracene (60.30%) and pyrene (27.52%), equivalent to a ratio of 2:1. The level of pyrene degradation was lower than that of the anthracene due to fact that pyrene is more toxic and has a more stable molecular structure, which hinders its metabolism by bacterial cells. The products from the biodegradation of the two PAHs are alcohols, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, and a small proportion of aromatic hydrocarbon components.     

Continuous‐Flow PCR Microfluidics for Rapid DNA Amplification Using Thin Film Heater with Low Thermal Mass

Abstract

We have described a compact capillary‐based continuous‐flow polymerase chain reaction (PCR) microfluidics device, which uses flexible thin film heaters with low thermal mass to construct three isothermal zones. Due to the decreased thermal mass of flexible thin film heater, the low power supply and rapid thermal response was obtained. The energy consumption of a 33‐cycle continuous‐flow PCR was less than 0.0088 kW h, which is much lower than that of the metal block or liquid bath based capillary continuous‐flow PCR microfluidics. Special attention was also paid on the surface passivation of the capillary inner surface based on the competing bovine serum albumin (BSA), and the results showed the effect of dynamic passivation was superior to that of static passivation. With the help of the dynamic passivation, the 249 bp human β‐actin gene fragment was amplified in 15 min, which is several times faster than that of the conventional PCR machine. In addition, the effect of initial DNA template concentrations on continuous‐flow PCR was also investigated. The concentration limit of DNA template reached 0.18 ng µl^?1, which can satisfy the requirements from different application fields.     

Depth-induced deviation of column bioleaching for uranium embedded in granite porphyry by defined mixed acidophilic bacteria

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The bioleaching performance in column reactors from a refractory uranium ore by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans),...     

Chitosan impregnated Ca-alginate: a new hybrid material for removal of uranium from potable water

Novel sorbent, chitosan impregnated calcium alginate (Cal-Alg-Chi) bead was developed to sorb uranium from potable water without compromising water quality parameters. The uptake study in batch mode, showed more than 98% sorption of uranium in the concentration range of 0.1–50 µg mL⁻¹. Cal-Alg-Chi beads, reduced the concentration of uranium below 15 ng mL⁻¹ from 100 to 450 ng mL⁻¹ in groundwater collected from effected regions in India. Sorption isotherm followed Langmuir model and maximum sorption capacity was evaluated as 36.04 mg g⁻¹. The sorption was endothermic with ΔG ⁰ value of −9.76 kJ mol⁻¹ and kinetics followed pseudo-second order rate law.