The Effect of Practitioner Empathy on Patient Satisfaction : A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials.

BACKGROUND: Practitioners who deliver enhanced empathy may improve patient satisfaction with care. Patient satisfaction is associated with positive patient outcomes ranging from medication adherence to survival. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of health care practitioner empathy on patient satisfaction, using a systematic review of randomized trials. DATA SOURCES: Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus to 23 October 2023. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized trials published in any language that evaluated the effect of empathy on improving patient satisfaction as measured on a validated patient satisfaction scale. DATA EXTRACTION: Data extraction, risk-of-bias assessments, and strength-of-evidence assessments were done by 2 independent reviewers. Disagreements were resolved through consensus. DATA SYNTHESIS: Fourteen eligible randomized trials (80 practitioners; 1986 patients) were included in the analysis. Five studies had high risk of bias, and 9 had some concerns about bias. The trials were heterogeneous in terms of geographic locations (North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa), settings (hospital and primary care), practitioner types (family and hospital physicians, anesthesiologists, nurses, psychologists, and caregivers), and type of randomization (individual patient or clustered by practitioner). Although all trials suggested a positive change in patient satisfaction, inadequate reporting hindered the ability to draw definitive conclusions about the overall effect size. LIMITATIONS: Heterogeneity in the way that empathy was delivered and patient satisfaction was measured and incomplete reporting leading to concerns about the certainty of the underpinning evidence. CONCLUSION: Various empathy interventions have been studied to improve patient satisfaction. Development, testing, and reporting of high-quality studies within well-defined contexts is needed to optimize empathy interventions that increase patient satisfaction. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Stoneygate Trust. (PROSPERO: CRD42023412981).

Dispersant-enhanced migration of radiocesium among soil size fractions: A novel strategy for volume reduction of radioactively contaminated soil.

In the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, a pioneering large-scale decontamination project was initiated, aiming to enable the return of evacuees. This project, the first of its kind in human history, involved the transportation of soils collected during decontamination to interim storage facilities. Before recycling or disposal, these soils undergo processes like volume reduction. However, there's a need for innovative methods to reduce volume effectively and treat secondary wastes more efficiently. The current study explores the impact of a dispersant, sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP), on the behavior of radiocesium (r-Cs: 137Cs) dynamics in different size fractions of radioactively contaminated soils from Fukushima. The solid-phase speciation analysis of Fukushima soils validated that at least 50% of the 137Cs or other minerals are associated with difficult-to-extract soil phases. Nonetheless, the low 137Cs/133Cs ratio in corresponding soil phases implies a slower r-Cs fixation mechanism. The wet-sieving of r-Cs contaminated soil fraction, < 2 mm, with SHMP, resulted in different soil subfractions (2000-212, 212-53, and < 53 µm). Following SHMP treatment, dispersion of > 92% of 137Cs associated with < 212 µm soil size fractions was observed. The migration of 137Cs towards smaller soil size fractions can be attributed to either SHMP-induced cation exchange or the formation of polyvalent complexes involving SHMP and soil minerals. The condensation of 137Cs in < 212 µm, as induced by SHMP, enabled the subsequent reuse of the larger soil fraction (> 212 µm), which was less contaminated. This study provides a new perspective on the effects of dispersants and contributes to a better understanding of the complex interactions among organic carbon, 137Cs, monovalent and polyvalent cations, and soil functional groups concerning the volume reduction of soils contaminated with r-Cs.

Management of arsenic-contaminated excavated soils: A review.

Ongoing global sustainable development and underground space utilization projects have inadvertently exposed many excavated soils naturally contaminated with geogenic arsenic (As). Recent investigations have revealed that As in certain excavated soils, especially those originating from deep construction projects, has exceeded regulatory limits, threatening the environment and human health. While numerous remediation techniques exist for treating As-contaminated soil, the unique characteristics of geogenic As contamination in excavated soil require specific measures when leachable As content surpasses established regulatory limits. Consequently, several standard leaching tests have been developed globally to assess As leaching from contaminated soil. However, a comprehensive comparative analysis of these methods and their implementation in contaminated excavated soils remains lacking. Furthermore, the suitability and efficacy of most conventional and advanced techniques for remediating As-contaminated excavated soils remained unexplored. Therefore, this study critically reviews relevant literature and summarize recent research findings concerning the management and mitigation of geogenic As in naturally contaminated excavated soil. The objective of this study was to outline present status of excavated soil globally, the extent and mode of As enrichment, management and mitigation approaches for As-contaminated soil, global excavated soil recycling strategies, and relevant soil contamination countermeasure laws. Additionally, the study provides a concise overview and comparison of standard As leaching tests developed across different countries. Furthermore, this review assessed the suitability of prominent and widely accepted As remediation techniques based on their applicability, acceptability, cost-effectiveness, duration, and overall treatment efficiency. This comprehensive review contributes to a more profound comprehension of the challenges linked to geogenic As contamination in excavated soils.

Development of a Haddon Matrix Framework for Higher Education Pandemic Preparedness: Scoping Review and Experiences of Malaysian Universities During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Managing education and research during pandemics has increased in importance since the onset of epidemics such as avian flu, SARS and now CoViD-19. Successful management in times of crisis ensures business continuity and institutional survival, making preparedness preceding an impending pandemic essential. Institutions of higher education (IHEs) must maintain balance between academic continuity and preventing morbidity during a pandemic crisis. To date, however, no general pandemic preparedness frameworks exist for IHEs. The aim of this paper is to report on the development of a Haddon matrix framework for IHE pandemic preparedness based on a scoping literature review of past IHE responses including pre-, during and post-pandemic phases. First, a review of previous global responses by IHEs during past pandemics was carried out. The review findings were then collated into a new IHE-centric Haddon matrix for pandemic preparedness. The content of the matrix is then illustrated through the documented responses of Malaysian universities during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The resulting IHE Haddon matrix can be used by universities as a general guide to identify preparedness gaps and intervention opportunities for business continuity during pandemics.

Dynamics of Strontium and geochemically correlated elements in soil during washing remediation with eco-complaint chelators.

In the study, the dynamics of Sr2+ and geochemically correlated elements (Ca2+, Ba2+, and Y3+) in soil with chelators in the mix (soil to chelator ratio, 1:10; matrix, H2O) were assessed to understand chemical-induced washing remediation of radiogenic waste solids. Specifically, EDTA (2,2',2″,2‴-(ethane-1,2-diyldinitrilo)tetraacetic acid), EDDS (2-[2-(1,2-dicarboxyethylamino)ethylamino]butanedioic acid), GLDA (2-[bis(carboxymethyl)amino]pentanedioic acid), and HIDS (2-(1,2-dicarboxyethylamino)-3-hydroxy-butanedioic acid) are chelators that are used as extractants. The effect of solution pH on chelator-induced extractions of the target elements (t-Es: Sr2+, Ca2+, Ba2+, or Y3+) from soil and stability constants of the t-Es complexes with chelators were used to explain the trends and magnitudes in interactions. Pre- and post-extractive solid-phase speciation was used to define the extent of the competence of each chelator in persuading dissolution of t-Es in the soil. The effects of ultrasonic energy, admixtures of biodegradable chelators, and excess chelators in solution (1:20) were also analyzed on the extractive removal of t-Es from soil. The results indicate that the Sr2+ removal with biodegradable chelators significantly exceeded (approximately 70%) when compared to that of environmentally-persistent EDTA at lower solution pHs and a higher soil to chelator ratio (GLDA > HIDS > EDDS ≈ EDTA). However, the extraction of the geochemically related element was significantly lower.

Does open-beach ship-breaking affect the mineralogical composition of soil more adversely than typical industrial activities?

In Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan the ship breaking (SB) sector dismantles end-of-life ships on open beaches, exposing the environment to the resulting pollution, especially the soil and water. Because SB occurs in the vicinity of other poorly-regulated activities in industrial zones (IZ) in these countries, there is some ambiguity concerning the relative roles played by SB and IZ in the accumulation of hazardous materials in the soil. In the absence of comparative studies, this study investigated the relative levels of soil contamination due to SB or IZ in the same geographic region by taking soil samples from SB and unrelated IZs in Chittagong, Bangladesh. The technogenic input of sixty-four chemical elements into the soil at the SB or IZ were compared with off-site reference values or the natural content of these elements in the Earth's crust and surface. The magnitude of soil contamination by ecotoxic elements, the corresponding bioavailability, and the ecological risks were assessed based on the regulatory reference values (RRVs) and with other approaches using data aggregation. Among the different potentially toxic elements, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were found to be above the maximum allowable concentration (p < 0.05) in both SB and IZ. Moderate-to-high soil contamination from SB and moderate-to-considerable soil contamination in the IZ were observed. However, the element-bioavailability as ascertained via solid-phase speciation or weak-acid induced leaching, and the evaluation of associated ecological risk both indicated a low hazard quotient for soils from both SB and IZ. The outcome of the current research marked both SB and IZ soils as contaminated but not polluted, yet remediation is suggested. The level of contamination in SB soils was relatively higher than that of IZ. The comparative results presented in this study for the first time will hopefully be useful as a reference for future ecological and geochemical studies concerning the environmental contamination associated with both ship recycling on open beaches and other typical industrial activities.

Modification of glass ionomer cements on their physical-mechanical and antimicrobial properties.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review was to provide an insight about the factors affecting the properties of glass ionomer cements and provides a review regarding studies that are related to modification of glass ionomer cements to improve their properties, particularly on physical-mechanical and antimicrobial activity. METHODS: PubMed and Science Direct were searched for papers published between the years 1974 and 2018. The search was restricted to articles written in English related to modification of glass ionomer cements. Only articles published in peer-reviewed journals were included. The search included literature reviews, in vitro, and in vivo studies. Articles written in other languages, without available abstracts and those related to other field were excluded. About 198 peer-review articles in the English language were reviewed. CONCLUSION: Based on the finding, most of the modification has improved physical-mechanical properties of glass ionomer cements. Recently, researchers have attempted to improve their antimicrobial properties. However, the attempts were reported to compromise the physical-mechanical properties of modified glass ionomer cements. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: As the modification of glass ionomer cement with different material improved the physical-mechanical and antimicrobial properties, it could be used as restorative material for wider application in dentistry.

SEM-PLS analysis of inhibiting factors of cost performance for large construction projects in Malaysia: perspective of clients and consultants.

This study uncovered inhibiting factors to cost performance in large construction projects of Malaysia. Questionnaire survey was conducted among clients and consultants involved in large construction projects. In the questionnaire, a total of 35 inhibiting factors grouped in 7 categories were presented to the respondents for rating significant level of each factor. A total of 300 questionnaire forms were distributed. Only 144 completed sets were received and analysed using advanced multivariate statistical software of Structural Equation Modelling (SmartPLS v2). The analysis involved three iteration processes where several of the factors were deleted in order to make the model acceptable. The result of the analysis found that R(2) value of the model is 0.422 which indicates that the developed model has a substantial impact on cost performance. Based on the final form of the model, contractor's site management category is the most prominent in exhibiting effect on cost performance of large construction projects. This finding is validated using advanced techniques of power analysis. This vigorous multivariate analysis has explicitly found the significant category which consists of several causative factors to poor cost performance in large construction projects. This will benefit all parties involved in construction projects for controlling cost overrun.

Genotoxicity evaluation of dental restoration nanocomposite using comet assay and chromosome aberration test.

Nanocomposite is used as a dental filling to restore the affected tooth, especially in dental caries. The dental nanocomposite (KelFil) for tooth restoration used in this study was produced by the School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia and is incorporated with monodispersed, spherical nanosilica fillers. The aim of the study was to determine the genotoxic effect of KelFil using in vitro genotoxicity tests. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of KelFil was evaluated using MTT assay, comet assay and chromosome aberration tests with or without the addition of a metabolic activation system (S9 mix), using the human lung fibroblast cell line (MRC-5). Concurrent negative and positive controls were included. In the comet assay, no comet formation was found in the KelFil groups. There was a significant difference in tail moment between KelFil groups and positive control (p < 0.05). Similarly, no significant aberrations in chromosomes were noticed in KelFil groups. The mitotic indices of treatment groups and negative control were significantly different from positive controls. Hence, it can be concluded that the locally produced dental restoration nanocomposite (KelFil) is non-genotoxic under the present test conditions.

Physiological responses of wild grass Holcus lanatus L. to potentially toxic elements in soils: a review.

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils accumulate in plants, obstruct their growth, and pose hazards to the consumer via the food chain. Many kinds of grass, grass-like plants, and other higher plant species have evolved a tolerance to PTEs. Holcus lanatus L., a wild grass, is also tolerant (an excluder) of PTEs, such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). However, the extent of tolerance varies among ecotypes and genotypes. The PTE tolerance mechanism of H. lanatus curtails the typical uptake process and causes a reduced translocation of PTEs from the roots to the shoots, while such a characteristic is useful for contaminated land management. The ecology and response patterns of Holcus lanatus L. to PTEs, along with the associated mechanisms, are reviewed in the current work.

Influence of Different Arsenic Species on the Bioavailability and Bioaccumulation of Arsenic by Sargassum horneri C. Agardh: Effects under Different Phosphate Conditions.

The growth response and incorporation of As into the Sargassum horneri was evaluated for up to 7 days using either arsenate (As(V)), arsenite (As(III)) or methylarsonate (MMAA(V) and DMAA(V)) at 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 µM with various phosphate (P) levels (0, 2.5, 5 and 10 µM). Except As(III), algal chlorophyll fluorescence was almost similar and insignificant, regardless of whether different concentrations of P or As(V) or MMAA(V) or DMAA(V) were provided (p > 0.05). As(III) at higher concentrations negatively affected algal growth rate, though concentrations of all As species had significant effects on growth rate (p < 0.01). Growth studies indicated that toxicity and sensitivity of As species to the algae followed the trend: As(III) > As(V) > MMAA(V) ~ DMAA(V). As bioaccumulation was varied significantly depending on the increasing concentrations of all As species and increasing P levels considerably affected As(V) uptake but no other As species uptake (p < 0.01). The algae accumulated As(V) and As(III) more efficiently than MMAA(V) and DMAA(V). At equal concentrations of As (4 µM) and P (0 µM), the alga was able to accumulate 638.2 ± 71.3, 404.1 ± 70.6, 176.7 ± 19.6, and 205.6 ± 33.2 nM g-1 dry weight of As from As(V), As(III), MMAA(V), and DMAA(V), respectively. The influence of low P levels with increased As(V) concentrations more steeply increased As uptake, but P on other As species did not display similar trends. The algae also showed passive modes for As adsorption of all As species. The maximum adsorption of As (63.7 ± 6.1 nM g-1 dry weight) was found due to 4 µM As(V) exposure, which was 2.5, 7.3, and 6.9 times higher than the adsorption amounts for the same concentration of As(III), MMAA(V), and DMAA(V) exposure, respectively. The bioavailability and accumulation behaviors of As were significantly influenced by P and As species, and this information is essential for As research on marine ecosystems.

Human health risk assessment due to consumption of dried fish in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India: a baseline report.

The current study sought to determine the levels of radioactivity and heavy metal contamination in 22 dried fish samples collected in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The study found that there were substantial heavy metals concentrations for Pb, Mn, Cr, Co, and Cd. The concentration of heavy metal Pb being alarmingly high (32.85 to 42.09 mg/kg), followed by Cd (2.18 mg/kg to 3.51 mg/kg) than the permissible limit of WHO (2.17 mg/kg) for Pb and (0.05 mg/kg) for Cd. In terms of radioactivity, the gross alpha activity in the dried fish samples ranged 6.25 ± 0.12 to 48.21 ± 0.11 Bg/kg with an average of 20.35 Bg/kg and with a gross beta activity from 6.48 ± 0.02 to 479.47 ± 0.65 Bg/kg, for an average of 136.83 Bg/kg. The study found that the internal radiation dose that people receive upon consuming the fish species Sphyraena obtusata, Rachycentron canadum, Lepidocephalichthys thermalis, Synodontidae, Carangoides malabaricus, Sardina pilchardus, Scomberomorus commerson, Sillago sihama, Gerres subfasciatus, and Amblypharyngodon mola is above the ICRP-recommended limit of less than 1 mSv/year. Annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) and total excessive lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) ranged 0.488 µSv year-1 and 0.004 µSv year-1 respectively, the values of AGDE being higher than the global average value. The findings of the study indicate that the analyzed dried fish samples are contaminated with Pb and Cd, which shall pose cancer risk to the consumers as a result.

Evaluation of newly designed flushing techniques for on-site remediation of arsenic-contaminated excavated debris.

Excavated debris (soil and rock) contaminated with geogenic arsenic (As) is an increasing concern for regulatory organizations and construction stakeholders. Chelator-assisted soil flushing is a promising method for practical on-site remediation of As-contaminated soil, offering technical, economic, and environmental benefits. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is the most prevalent chelator used for remediating As-contaminated soil. However, the extensive environmental persistence and potential toxicity of EDTA necessitate the exploration of eco-compliant alternatives. In this study, the feasibility of the conventional flushing method pump-and-treat and two newly designed immersion and sprinkling techniques were evaluated at the laboratory scale (small-scale laboratory experiments) for the on-site treatment of As-contaminated excavated debris. Two biodegradable chelators, L-glutamic acid-N,N'-diacetic acid (GLDA) and 3-hydroxy-2,2'-iminodisuccinic acid (HIDS), were examined as eco-friendly substitutes for EDTA. Additionally, this study highlights a useful post-treatment measure to ensure minimal mobility of residual As in the chelator-treated debris residues. The pump-and-treat method displayed rapid As-remediation (t, 3 h), but it required a substantial volume of washing solution (100 mL g-1). Conversely, the immersion technique demonstrated an excellent As-extraction rate using a relatively smaller washing solution (0.33 mL g-1) and shorter immersion time (t, 3 h). In contrast, the sprinkling technique showed an increased As-extraction rate over an extended period (t, 48 h). Among the chelators employed, the biodegradable chelator HIDS (10 mmol L-1; pH, 3) exhibited the highest As-extraction efficiency. Furthermore, the post-treatment of chelator-treated debris with FeCl3 and CaO successfully reduced the leachable As content below the permissible limit.

Bach adsorption study for the extraction of silver ions by hydrazone compounds from aqueous solution.

Sorbent materials based on a hydrazone Schiff base compound, C(14)H(11)BrN(4)O(4), were prepared either by immobilizing the ligand into sol-gel (SG1) or bonding to silica (SG2). The sorbent materials were characterized by FT-IR, EDX, SEM, TEM, and TGA. The sorption characteristics of a matrix of eight transition metal ions (Ag(+), Cu(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), Fe(3+), Pb(2+), Zn(2+), and Mn(2+)) using batch method were studied. Several key parameters that affected the extraction efficiency such as pH, contact time, metal ions concentration, and gel size (for SGl) were investigated and optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the physically immobilized hydrazone sorbent (SG1) exhibits highest selectivity towards Ag(+) ions, while the chemically bonded hydrazone sorbent (SG2) exhibits high extraction for all metal ions tested. However, for practical applications such as the removal and preconcentration of Ag(+), the physically immobilized sorbent (SG1) is preferred.

Enhanced remediation of arsenic-contaminated excavated soil using a binary blend of biodegradable surfactant and chelator.

The reclamation of geogenic As-contaminated excavated soils as construction additives can reduce the post-disposal impact on the ecosystem and space. Although retaining soil characteristics while reducing contaminant load is a challenging task, washing remediation with biodegradable surfactants or chelators is a promising alternative to non-biodegradable counterparts. In this study, newly synthesized biodegradable surfactants (SDG: sodium N-dodecanoyl-glycinate, SDBA: sodium N-dodecanoyl-ß-alaninate, SDGBH: sodium N-dodecanoyl-α,γ-glutamyl-bis-hydroxyprolinate, SDT: sodium N-dodecanoyl-taurinate, and DCPC: N-dodecyl-3-carbamoyl-pyridinium-chloride) and biodegradable chelators (EDDS: ethylenediamine N,N'-disuccinic acid, GLDA: L-glutamate-N, N'-diacetic acid, and HIDS: 3-hydroxy-2,2'-imino disuccinic acid) are evaluated for the remediation of As-contaminated soil. The operating variables, such as washing duration, solution pH, and surfactant or chelator concentration, are optimized for maximum As extraction. SDT shows the highest As-extraction efficiency irrespective of solution pH and surfactant variants, while HIDS is the superior chelator under acidic or alkaline conditions. A binary blend of SDT and HIDS is evaluated for As extraction under varying operating conditions. The SDT-HIDS binary blend demonstrates 6.9 and 1.6-times higher As-extraction rates than the SDT and HIDS-only washing, respectively, under acidic conditions. The proposed approach with a binary blend of a biodegradable surfactant and chelator is a green solution for recycling As-contaminated excavated soils for geotechnical applications.

Stagnant surface water bodies (SSWBs) as an alternative water resource for the Chittagong metropolitan area of Bangladesh: physicochemical characterization in terms of water quality indices.

The concern over ensuing freshwater scarcity has forced the developing countries to delve for alternative water resources. In this study, we examined the potential of stagnant surface water bodies (SSWBs) as alternative freshwater resources in the densely populated Chittagong metropolitan area (CMPA) of Bangladesh--where there is an acute shortage of urban freshwater supply. Water samples were collected at 1-month intervals for a period of 1 year from 12 stations distributed over the whole metropolis. Samples were analyzed for pH, water temperature (WTemp), turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids, total solids, total hardness, dissolved oxygen (DO), chloride, orthophosphates, ammonia, total coliforms (TC), and trace metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, As, and Fe) concentrations. Based on these parameters, different types of water quality indices (WQIs) were deduced. WQIs showed most of CMPA-SSWBs as good or medium quality water bodies, while none were categorized as bad. Moreover, it was observed that the minimal water quality index (WQIm), computed using five parameters: WTemp, pH, DO, EC, and turbidity, gave a reliable estimate of water quality. The WQIm gave similar results in 72% of the cases compared with other WQIs that were based on larger set of parameters. Based on our finding, we suggest the wider use WQIm in developing countries for assessing health of SSWBs, as it will minimize the analytical cost to overcome the budget constraints involved in this kind of evaluations. It was observed that except turbidity and TC content, all other quality parameters fluctuated within the limit of the World Health Organization suggested standards for drinking water. From our findings, we concluded that if the turbidity and TC content of water from SSWBs in CMPA are taken care of, they will become good candidates as alternative water resources all round the year.

Analysis of Ionic-Exchange of Selected Elements between Novel Nano-Hydroxyapatite-Silica Added Glass Ionomer Cement and Natural Teeth.

One of the foremost missions in restorative dentistry is to discover a suitable material that can substitute lost and damaged tooth structure. To this date, most of the restorative materials utilized in dentistry are bio-inert. It is predicted that the addition of nano-HA-SiO2 to GIC matrix could produce a material with better ion-exchange between the restorative material and natural teeth. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to synthesize and investigate the transfer of specific elements (calcium, phosphorus, fluoride, silica, strontium, and alumina) between nano-hydroxyapatite-silica added GIC (nano-HA-SiO2-GIC) and human enamel and dentine. The novel nano-hydroxyapatite-silica (nano-HA-SiO2) was synthesized using one-pot sol-gel method and added to cGIC. Semi-quantitative energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis was carried out to determine the elemental distribution of fluorine, silicon, phosphorus, calcium, strontium, and aluminum. Semi-quantitative energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis was performed by collecting line-scans and dot-scans. The results of the current study seem to confirm the ionic exchange between nano-HA-SiO2-GIC and natural teeth, leading to the conclusion that increased remineralization may be possible with nano-HA-SiO2-GIC as compared to cGIC (Fuji IX).

Effect of operating variables on the separation of radiostrontium from aqueous matrices with ion-selective solid-phase extraction systems.

Radiostrontium (r-Sr: 90Sr) is one of the primary fission products in nuclear power plants and generates liquid radioactive waste when intermixed to the aqueous matrix. Therefore, separation or preconcentration of r-Sr from the aqueous matrices is necessary for environmental monitoring or nuclear forensics. The solid-phase extraction (SPE) approach is prevalently used for r-Sr isolation and to design matrix-specific methods, while generalized SPE-assisted operating protocols are not proposed by far. In the current work, four different SPEs, namely AnaLig Sr-01, Eichrom Sr, Triskem TK100, and Eichrom DGA, were evaluated for selective separation of Sr from aqueous matrices. Operating variables, e.g., solution acidity, washing solvent, eluent-type or volume, loading or elution flow-rate, were varied to optimize the SPEs performance. The objective was to ascertain the operating variables for maximum Sr-separation yield from aqueous environmental samples with the SPEs mentioned above. In addition, the Sr-separation efficiency of SPEs was evaluated by calculating the separation factor (SFSr/M) between Sr and interfering elements to r-Sr (M = Ca, Mg, Ba, or Y), and the Sr-retention capacity of the SPEs was determined. Finally, the optimized operating variables for the evaluated SPEs were used to construct protocols for r-Sr separation from aqueous matrices. Real 90Sr contaminated aqueous samples from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant cooling pond were treated by those protocols, and the results are validated comparing with the IAEA-recommended classical protocol. All the SPEs were able to isolate Sr at varying extents from matrices at the optimum conditions, even at much higher contents of interfering elements. Eichrom Sr or AnaLig Sr-01 showed better Sr-retention capability among the SPEs, while Triskem TK100 showed superiority over other SPEs regarding Sr-selectivity.

Selective Separation of Radiocesium from Complex Aqueous Matrices Using Dual Solid-Phase Extraction Systems.

The release of radiocesium (r-Cs) into natural aqueous systems is of concern because of its extended solubility as an alkaline metal ion and its facile incorporation into living beings. A technique for the selective separation of Cs from an aqueous matrix using dual solid-phase extraction (SPE) systems in a series is proposed in this paper. The SPEs equipped with chelates (Nobias Chelate-PA1 and Nobias Chelate-PB1), an ion-exchange resin (Nobias Ion SC-1), or macrocycles (MetaSEP AnaLig Cs-01 and MetaSEP AnaLig Cs-02) were evaluated in terms of selectivity and retention/recovery behavior toward Cs and other potentially competing ions (Li, Na, K, Rb, Ba, Ca, Mg, and Sr). The simulated solution of 133Cs, a chemical analog of r-Cs, was used to optimize the separation process. Operating parameters such as pH (3-13), flow rate (0.2-5.0 mL min-1), and elution behavior (HCl, 0.1-5.0 mol L-1) were optimized to ensure maximum removal of Cs from the aqueous matrices. The dual SPE system comprised Nobias Chelate-PB1 that minimized the competing impact of ions, while selective Cs retention was attained with MetaSEP AnaLig Cs-02. The proposed process was verified using real r-Cs-contaminated water from Fukushima, Japan, to observe the quantitative separation and preconcentration of r-Cs from the complex matrices.