Conditions affecting the release of thorium and uranium from the tailings of a niobium mine.

Determinations of the mobility of metals from tailings is a critical part of any assessment of the environmental impacts of mining activities. The leaching of thorium and uranium from the tailings of different processing stages of a niobium mine was investigated for several pH, ionic strengths and concentrations of natural organic matter (NOM). The pH of the leaching solution did not have a noticeable impact on the extraction of Th, however, for pH values below 4, increased U mobilization was observed. Similarly, only a small fraction of Th (0.05%, ≤15 µg kg-1) and U (1.22%, ≤6 µg kg-1) were mobilized from the tailings in the presence of environmentally relevant concentrations of Ca, Mg or Na. However, in the presence of 10 mg L-1 of fulvic acid, much higher concentrations of ca. 700 µg kg-1 of Th and 35 µg kg-1 of U could be extracted from the tailings. Generally, colloidal forms of Th and dissolved forms of U were mobilized from the tailings, however, in the presence of the fulvic acid, both dissolved and colloidal forms of the two actinides were observed. Single Particle ICP-MS was used to confirm the presence of Th (and U) containing colloids where significant numbers (up to 107 mL-1) of Th and U containing colloids were found, even in 0.2 µm filtered extracts. Although mass equivalent diameters in the range of 6-13 nm Th and 6-9 nm for U could be estimated (based upon the presence of an oxyhydroxide), most of the colloidal mass was attributed to larger (>200 nm) heterocomposite particles.

A comparative study of the cytotoxicity and corrosion resistance of nickel-titanium and titanium-niobium shape memory alloys.

Nickel-titanium (NiTi) shape memory alloys (SMAs) are commonly used in a range of biomedical applications. However, concerns exist regarding their use in certain biomedical scenarios due to the known toxicity of Ni and conflicting reports of NiTi corrosion resistance, particularly under dynamic loading. Titanium-niobium (TiNb) SMAs have recently been proposed as an alternative to NiTi SMAs due to the biocompatibility of both constituents, the ability of both Ti and Nb to form protective surface oxides, and their superior workability. However, several properties critical to the use of TiNb SMAs in biomedical applications have not been systematically explored in comparison with NiTi SMAs. These properties include cytocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and alterations in alloy surface composition in response to prolonged exposure to physiological solutions. Therefore, the goal of the present work was to comparatively investigate these aspects of NiTi (49.2 at.% Ti) and TiNb (26 at.% Nb) SMAs. The results from the current studies indicate that TiNb SMAs are less cytotoxic than NiTi SMAs, at least under static culture conditions. This increased TiNb cytocompatibility was correlated with reduced ion release as well as with increased corrosion resistance according to potentio-dynamic tests. Measurements of the surface composition of samples exposed to cell culture medium further supported the reduced ion release observed from TiNb relative to NiTi SMAs. Alloy composition depth profiles also suggested the formation of calcium phosphate deposits within the surface oxide layers of medium-exposed NiTi but not of TiNb. Collectively, the present results indicate that TiNb SMAs may be promising alternatives to NiTi for certain biomedical applications.

Assessment of radionuclide and metal contamination in a thorium rich area in Norway.

The Fen Central Complex in southern Norway, a geologically well investigated area of magmatic carbonatite rocks, is assumed to be among the world largest natural reservoirs of thorium ((232)Th). These rocks, also rich in iron (Fe), niobium (Nb), uranium ((238)U) and rare earth elements (REE), were mined in several past centuries. Waste locations, giving rise to enhanced levels of both radionuclides and metals, are now situated in the area. Estimation of radionuclide and metal contamination of the environment and radiological risk assessment were done in this study. The average outdoor gamma dose rate measured in Fen, 2.71 µGy h(-1), was significantly higher than the world average dose rate of 0.059 µGy h(-1). The annual exposure dose from terrestrial gamma radiation, related to outdoor occupancy, was in the range 0.18-9.82 mSv. The total activity concentrations of (232)Th and (238)U in soil ranged from 69 to 6581 and from 49 to 130 Bq kg(-1), respectively. Enhanced concentrations were also identified for metals, arsenic (As), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr) and zinc (Zn), in the vicinity of former mining sites. Both radionuclide and heavy metal concentrations suggested leaching, mobilization and distribution from rocks into the soil. Correlation analysis indicated different origins for (232)Th and (238)U, but same or similar for (232)Th and metals As, Cr, Zn, nickel (Ni) and cadmium (Cd). The results from in situ size fractionation of water demonstrated radionuclides predominately present as colloids and low molecular mass (LMM) species, being potentially mobile and available for uptake in aquatic organisms of Norsjø Lake. Transfer factors, calculated for different plant species, showed the highest radionuclide accumulation in mosses and lichens. Uptake in trees was, as expected, lower. Relationship analysis of (232)Th and (238)U concentrations in moss and soil samples showed a significant positive linear correlation.

Quantitative microscopy characterization of hydrous niobium phosphate into bleached cellulose.

In this research the spatial distribution characterization of niobium phosphate into bleached cellulose was carried out combining processing and images analysis obtained by SEM and statistical methodologies. The objective is to investigate the deposit composition and phosphate morphology by using complementary analytical techniques. Based on the proposed methodology, parameters of niobium phosphate agglomerates (size and shape) and fiber morphology were evaluated depending on gray-levels (average luminance and fiber type): fiber characteristics (morphology) were measured. For the test method proposed, a specific region of cellulose/NbOPO(4) x nH(2)O composite was analyzed. This method involves area fraction measuring with a conditional probabilistic analysis. The analyzed fields were divided in different ways, called 'Scanning' and as a result, in quantitative terms, the phosphate deposition was described as spatial distribution homogeneous or inhomogeneous. The quantitative microscopy as a non-destructive testing provides relevant information when it is combined with statistic analysis.

Development of a carbon paste electrode containing benzo-15-crown-5 for trace determination of the uranyl ion by using a voltammetric technique.

The interaction of macrocyclic compounds like crown ethers and UO2(2+) has been studied by electrochemical methods. A modified carbon paste electrode incorporating benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5) was used to evaluate the electron transfer reaction of UO2(2+) by cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Electrochemical impedance studies showed that charge transfer resistance was less for the B15C5-modified electrode than for the plain carbon paste electrode (PCPE). On the basis of these observations, a UO2(2+)-sensitive crown ether chemically modified electrode (CME) for trace analysis was fabricated and investigated in aqueous solutions. It was found that a 5% B15C5-CME for UO2(2+) showed a better voltammetric response than did the PCPE. UO2(2+) could be quantified at sub-microg/mL levels by differential pulse voltammetry with a detection limit of 0.03 microg/mL. By differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry, UO2(2+) could be quantified in the working range of 0.002-0.2 microg/mL, with a detection limit of 1.1 microg/L. Simultaneous determination of UO2(2+), Pb(2+), and Cd(2+) was possible. The method was successfully applied to the determination of UO2(2+) in synthetic, as well as real, samples; the results were found to be comparable to those obtained by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy.

Nanowires and nanoribbons of charge-density-wave conductor NbSe3.

We report synthesis of nanowires and nanoribbons of the charge-density-wave conductor NbSe(3) through direct reaction of Nb and Se powders. The transverse dimension of the obtained nanostructures, as identified with scanning/transmission electron microscopy, ranges from 20 to 700 nm. X-ray and selected area electron diffraction analyses indicate that these nanowires and nanoribbons are single crystalline. Four-probe resistivity measurements confirm the expected charge-density-wave transitions, and furthermore, we find significant enhancement in the depinning threshold fields, which we attribute to a confinement effect.