Bacterially produced calcium phosphate nanobiominerals: sorption capacity, site preferences, and stability of captured radionuclides.

A Serratia sp. bacterium manufactures amorphous calcium phosphate nanominerals (BHAP); this material has shown increased sorption capacity for divalent radionuclide capture. When heat-treated (≥450 °C) the cell biomass is removed and the biominerals are transformed to hydroxyapatite (HAP). Using a multimethod approach, we have elucidated both the site preferences and stability of analogue radionuclide incorporation for Sr, Co, Eu, and U. Strontium incorporates within the bulk amorphous inorganic phase of BHAP; however, once temperature modified to crystalline HAP, bonding was consistent with Sr substitution at the Ca(1) and/or Ca(2) sites. Cobalt incorporation occurs within the bulk inorganic amorphous phase of BHAP and within the amorphous grain boundaries of HAP. Europium (an analogue for trivalent actinides) substituted at the Ca(2) and/or the Ca(3) position of tricalcium phosphate, a known component of HAP grain boundaries. Uranium was surface complexed with no secondary minerals detected. With multiple sites for targeted radionuclide incorporation, high loadings, and good stability against remobilization, BHAP is shown to be a potential material for the remediation of aqueous radionuclide in groundwater.

Uptake of Sr2+ and Co2+ into biogenic hydroxyapatite: implications for biomineral ion exchange synthesis.

Biomineral hydroxyapatite (Bio-HAp) produced by Serratia sp. has the potential to be a suitable material for the remediation of metal contaminated waters and as a radionuclide waste storage material. Varying the Bio-HAp manufacturing method was found to influence hydroxyapatite (HAp) properties and consequently the uptake of Sr(2+) and Co(2+). All the Bio-HAp tested in this study were more efficient than the commercially available hydroxyapatite (Com-HAp) for Sr(2+) and Co(2+) uptake. For Bio-HAp the uptake for Sr(2+) and Co(2+) ranged from 24 to 39 and 29 to 78 mmol per 100 g, respectively. Whereas, the uptake of Sr(2+) and Co(2+) by Com-HAp ranged from 3 to 11 and 4 to 18 mmol per 100 g, respectively. Properties that increased metal uptake were smaller crystallite size (<40 nm) and higher surface area (>70 m(2) g(-1)). Organic content which influences the structure (e.g., crystallite arrangement, size and surface area) and composition of Bio-HAp was also found to be important in Sr(2+) and Co(2+) uptake. Overall, Bio-HAp shows promise for the remediation of aqueous metal waste especially since Bio-HAp can be synthesized for optimal metal uptake properties.

Flow field-flow fractionation for the analysis and characterization of natural colloids and manufactured nanoparticles in environmental systems: a critical review.

The use of flow field flow fractionation (FlFFF) for the separation and characterization of natural colloids and nanoparticles has increased in the last few decades. More recently, it has become a popular method for the characterization of manufactured nanoparticles. Unlike conventional filtration methods, FlFFF provides a continuous and high-resolution separation of nanoparticles as a function of their diffusion coefficient, hence the interest for use in determining particle size distribution. Moreover, when coupled to other detectors such as inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy, light scattering, UV-absorbance, fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy, FlFFF provides a wealth of information on particle properties including, size, shape, structural parameters, chemical composition and particle-contaminant association. This paper will critically review the application of FlFFF for the characterization of natural colloids and natural and manufactured nanoparticles. Emphasis will be given to the detection systems that can be used to characterize the nanoparticles eluted from the FlFFF system, the obtained information and advantages and limitation of FlFFF compared to other fractionation and particle sizing techniques. This review will help users understand (i) the theoretical principles and experimental consideration of the FlFFF, (ii) the range of analytical tools that can be used to further characterize the nanoparticles after fractionation by FlFFF, (iii) how FlFFF results are compared to other analytical techniques and (iv) the range of applications of FlFFF for natural and manufactured NPs.