Argonne National Lab

Review of arsenic removal technologies for contaminated groundwaters( Book )
1 edition published in 2003 in English and held by 3 libraries worldwide
This review was compiled to summarize the technologies currently being investigated to remove arsenic from drinking waters, with a special focus on developing and third-world countries where the problem is exacerbated by flooding and depressed economic conditions. The reason for compiling this report is to provide background material and a description of competing technologies currently described in the literature for arsenic removal. Based on the sophistication and applicability of current technologies, Argonne National Laboratory may develop an improved method based on magnetic particle technology. Magnetic particle sorbents may afford improved reaction rates, facilitate particle-water separation, and offer reusability. Developing countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh cannot afford expensive, large-scale treatments to remove arsenic from drinking waters to acceptable limits (from 50 ppb to 10 ppb, depending on the country). Low-cost, effective technologies that can be readily available at the household or community level are needed to solve the present crisis. Appropriate technologies should meet certain criteria, including the following: The treatment must be applicable over a wide range of arsenic concentrations; It should be easy to use without running water or electricity; and The materials for the treatment should be cheap and readily available, and/or suitable for reuse. Our review of arsenic removal technologies and procedures indicates that iron filings, ferric salts, granular ferric hydroxide, alumina manganese oxide, Aqua-bind., and Kimberlite tailings are potentially low-cost sorbents that can remove arsenic after simple mixing in a relatively short time. However, all these technologies suffer from significant shortcomings. Ferric salts are cheap and very effective at removing arsenic but the reaction rates are slow. Fixed-bed columns make use of activated alumina and iron-coated sands but do not work well with groundwater having high concentrations of iron because iron precipitates in the presence of air, which could clog and foul the column. Synthetic sorbents are highly selective and effective and do not pose a significant waste disposal concern because they are generally non-hazardous. Aqua-bind. is perhaps the most effective synthetic sorbent available for removing arsenic, but it must be mass-produced to realize low cost. Naturally occurring solids are cheap and remove arsenic well; however, the removal rate is often very slow and the solids can harbor bacteria. This report reviews competing technologies for removal of water-borne arsenic to establish a baseline for technology improvements. Specifically, the information in this report will serve as a basis for developing a low-cost separation technology using functionalized magnetic particles to adsorb arsenic and permanent magnets to separate the arsenic-loaded magnetic particles from the cleaned water.

Aqueous Complexation Reactions Governing the Rate and Extent of Biogeochemical U(VI) Reduction( Book )
5 editions published in 2006 in English and held by 2 libraries worldwide
The proposed research will elucidate the principal biogeochemical reactions that govern the concentration, chemical speciation, and reactivity of the redox-sensitive contaminant uranium. The results will provide an improved understanding and predictive capability of the mechanisms that govern the biogeochemical reduction of uranium in subsurface environments. In addition, the work plan is designed to: (1) Generate fundamental scientific understanding on the relationship between U(VI) chemical speciation and its susceptibility to biogeochemical reduction reactions. (2) Elucidate the controls on the rate and extent of contaminant reactivity. (3) Provide new insights into the aqueous and solid speciation of U(VI)/U(IV) under representative groundwater conditions.

A new method for infrared imaging of air currents in and around critical hazard fume hoods( Book )
3 editions published between 1992 and 1994 in English and held by 2 libraries worldwide
A real time method of measuring and recording the efficacy of vapor containment in and around critical hazard fume hoods is being developed. An infrared camera whose response is restricted to a spectral range that overlaps a strong absorption band in a non-toxic gas is used to render real-time video images of the presence and flow of the gas. The gas, nitrous oxide, is ejected in a continuous stream in and around fume hoods that are to be certified capable of containing hazardous fumes. The principle advantage is that various scenarios of air flow displacement in and outside the hood can be easily investigated; the principle limitation is the necessity of high tracer gas concentration to obtain strong visualizations. We hope that this technique can be found to be an effective and safe method to test hoods in locations that were built before present regulations were promulgated.

Investigation of the Transformation of Uranium under Iron-Reducing Conditions Reduction of UVI by Biogenic FeII/FeIII Hydroxide (Green Rust)( Book )
2 editions published between 2004 and 2006 in English and held by 2 libraries worldwide
The recent identification of green rusts (GRs) as products of the reduction of FeIII oxyhydroxides by dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria, coupled with the ability of synthetic (GR) to reduce UVI species to insoluble UO2, suggests that biogenic green rusts (BioGRs) may play an important role in the speciation (and thus mobility) of U in FeIII-reducing environments. The objective of our research was to examine the potential for BioGR to affect the speciation of U under FeIII-reducing conditions. To meet this objective, we designed and executed a hypothesis-driven experimental program to identify key factors leading to the formation of BioGRs as products of dissimilatory FeIII reduction, to determine the key factors controlling the reduction of UVI to UIV by GRs, and to identify the resulting U-bearing mineral phases. The results of this research significantly increase our understanding of the coupling of biotic and abiotic processes with respect to the speciation of U in iron-reducing environments. In particular, the reduction of UVI to UIV by BioGR with the subsequent formation of U-bearing mineral phases may be effective for immobilizing U in suboxic subsurface environments. This information has direct applications to contaminant transport modeling and bioremediation engineering for natural or enhanced in situ remediation of subsurface contamination.

Studies of multi-heme cytochromes from Geobacter sulfurreducens( Book )
2 editions published between 2004 and 2006 in English and held by 2 libraries worldwide
The Geobacteraceae family predominates in the reduction of uranium in subsurface environments. We are focusing on the model organism, Geobacter sulfurreducens; its genome contains a large number (>100) of cytochromes c that function in metal reduction pathways. Intensive functional genomics and physiological studies are in progress in Prof. Derek Lovley's laboratory, and the complete genome sequence of this organism has been determined by Methe et al. 2003. We are studying cytochromes from the c{sub 7} family that are required for the reduction of Fe(III). Previously, we expressed in E. coli (Londer et al., 2002) and determined the three-dimensional structure at 1.45 {angstrom} resolution (Pokkuluri et al., 2004a) of the three-heme cytochrome c{sub 7} (PpcA, coded by ORF01023) characterized by Lloyd et al., 2003. Further we identified in the G. sulfurreducens genome ORFs for several of its homologs (Pokkuluri et al., 2004a). Four of the ORFs are the same size as PpcA; three other ORFs are polymers of c{sub 7}-type domains, two of which consist of four domains and one of nine domains, that contain 12 and 27 hemes respectively.

Erosion( Book )
5 editions published between 1988 and 2000 in English and held by 1 library worldwide
Carbon and tungsten sputtering and transport in the DIII-D divertor is analyzed with the impurity transport codes REDEP and WBC. Analysis is carried out for a recent DiMES experiment in which a carbon sample with a tungsten marker in the center was exposed to six well controlled ELM-free plasma discharges. WBC analysis predicts a high rate of ionization of tungsten neutrals within the sheath and subsequent redeposition on the DiMES sample. Qualitative comparison of the tungsten redeposited flux agrees well with measurements. REDEP analysis of net carbon erosion shows a factor of 2-3 agreement with measured data on the outboard side of DiMES and poor agreement on the inboard side.

Vehicle( Book )
5 editions published between 1992 and 1993 in English and held by 1 library worldwide
Dynamic interactions between vehicles and guideways of a high speed ground transportation system based on magnetically levitated vehicles are studied with an emphasis on the effects of vehicle and guideway parameters. Two dynamic models for vehicles are presented: first, the vehicle is considered as a moving force traveling on a simply-supported single-span or two-span beams with various speeds; and second, the vehicle is considered as a one dimensional model with two-degrees-of-freedom which represents the primary and secondary suspensions of a vehicle with lumped masses, linear springs, and dampings. The Bernoulli-Euler beam equation is used to model the characteristics of a flexible guideway, and the guideway synthesis is based on a model analysis method. A series of analysis has been performed to understand the response characteristics under different loading conditions and provide some benchmark data for verifications of other comprehensive computer programs and some basic design guideline for maglev systems. 16 refs.

Floodplain( Book )
5 editions published between 1995 and 2005 in English and held by 1 library worldwide
The US Department of Energy proposes to construct a groundwater interceptor trench near the Weldon Spring Quarry at the Weldon Spring Site in Missouri. The trench would be located near two palustrine wetland areas. Impacts to wetland hydrology and biotic communities are expected to be negligible. No long-term adverse impacts to floodplains are expected.

Environmentally assisted cracking in light water reactors( Book )
4 editions published between 1987 and 2007 in English and held by 1 library worldwide
Topics that have been investigated during this year include (1) SCC of A533-Gr B steel used in steam generator and reactor pressure vessels, (2) fatigue of Type 316NG SS, and (3) SCC of Type 347 and CF-3 cast duplex stainless steels in simulated BWR water. Crack-growth-rate (CGR) tests were performed on a composite A533-Gr B/Inconel-182 specimen in which the stress corrosion crack in the Inconel-182 weld metal penetrated and grew into the A533-Gr B steel. CGR tests were also conducted on conventional (unplated) and nickel- or gold-plated A533-Gr B specimens to provide insight into whether the nature of the surface layer on the low-alloy steel, either oxide corrosion products or a noble metal, influences the overall SCC process. CGR data on the A533-Gr B specimens were compared with the fatigue crack reference curves in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section XI, Appendix A. Fatigue tests were conducted on Type 316NG SS in air and simulated BWR water at low strain ranges and frequencies to better establish margins in the ASME Code Section III Fatigue Design Curves. CGR tests were also conducted on specimens of Type 347 SS with different heat-treatment conditions, and a specimen of CF-3 cast stainless steel with a ferrite content of 15.6%. The results were compared with previous data on another heat of Type 347 SS, which was very resistant to SCC, and a CF-3M steel with a ferrite content of 5%. 37 refs., 15 figs., 8 tabs.

Engineering evaluation( Book )
4 editions published between 1990 and 1996 in English and held by 1 library worldwide
This engineering evaluation/cost analysis (EE/CA) has been prepared in support of the proposed removal action for cleanup of radioactively contaminated concrete and soil beneath a building on privately owned commercial property in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The property, known as the Elza Gate site, became contaminated with uranium-238, radium-226, thorium-232, thorium-230, and decay products as a result of the Manhattan Engineer District storing uranium ore and ore processing residues at the site in the early 1940s. The US Department of Energy (DOE) has responsibility for cleanup of the property under its Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP). The DOE plans to remove the cracked and worn concrete pad and contaminated subsoil beneath the pad, after which the property owner/tenant will provide clean backfill and new concrete. Portions of the pad and subsoil are contaminated and, if stored or disposed of improperly, may represent a potential threat to public health or welfare and the environment. The EE/CA report is the appropriate documentation for the proposed removal action, as identified in guidance from the US Environmental Protection Agency. The objective of the EE/CA report, in addition to identifying the planned removal action, is to document the selection of response activities that will mitigate the potential for release of contaminants from the property into the environment and minimize the related threats to public health or welfare and the environment. 7 refs., 2 figs., 3 tabs.