Strong Uranium(VI) Binding onto Bovine Milk Proteins, Selected Protein Sequences, and Model Peptides.

Hexavalent uranium is ubiquitous in the environment. In view of the chemical and radiochemical toxicity of uranium(VI), a good knowledge of its possible interactions in the environment is crucial. The aim of this work was to identify typical binding and sorption characteristics of uranium(VI) with both the pure bovine milk protein ß-casein and diverse related protein mixtures (caseins, whey proteins). For comparison, selected model peptides representing the amino acid sequence 13-16 of ß-casein and dephosphorylated ß-casein were also studied. Complexation studies using potentiometric titration and time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that the phosphoryl-containing proteins form uranium(VI) complexes of higher stability than the structure-analog phosphoryl-free proteins. That is in agreement with the sorption experiments showing a significantly higher affinity of caseins toward uranium(VI) in comparison to whey proteins. On the other hand, the total sorption capacity of caseins is lower than that of whey proteins. The discussed binding behavior of milk proteins to uranium(VI) might open up interesting perspectives for sustainable techniques of uranium(VI) removal from aqueous solutions. This was further demonstrated by batch experiments on the removal of uranium(VI) from mineral water samples.

Oxyhydroxy Silicate Colloids: A New Type of Waterborne Actinide(IV) Colloids.

At the near-neutral and reducing aquatic conditions expected in undisturbed ore deposits or in closed nuclear waste repositories, the actinides Th, U, Np, and Pu are primarily tetravalent. These tetravalent actinides (AnIV) are sparingly soluble in aquatic systems and, hence, are often assumed to be immobile. However, AnIV could become mobile if they occur as colloids. This review focuses on a new type of AnIV colloids, oxyhydroxy silicate colloids. We herein discuss the chemical characteristics of these colloids and the potential implication for their environmental behavior. The binary oxyhydroxy silicate colloids of AnIV could be potentially more mobile as a waterborne species than the well-known mono-component oxyhydroxide colloids.

Formation of neptunium(IV)-silica colloids at near-neutral and slightly alkaline pH.

The reducing conditions in a nuclear waste repository render neptunium tetravalent. Thus, Np is often assumed to be immobile in the subsurface. However, tetravalent actinides can also become mobile if they occur as colloids. We show that Np(IV) is able to form silica-rich colloids in solutions containing silicic acid at concentrations of both the regions above and below the "mononuclear wall" of silicic acid at 2 × 10(-3) M (where silicic acid is expected to start polymerization). These Np(IV)-silica colloids have a size of only very few nanometers and can reach significantly higher concentrations than Np(IV) oxyhydroxide colloids. They can be stable in the waterborne form over longer spans of time. In the Np(IV)-silica colloids, the actinide--oxygen--actinide bonds are increasingly replaced by actinide--oxygen--silicon bonds due to structural incorporation of Si. Possible implications of the formation of such colloids for environmental scenarios are discussed.

Intrinsic formation of nanocrystalline neptunium dioxide under neutral aqueous conditions relevant to deep geological repositories.

The dilution of aqueous neptunium carbonate complexes induces the intrinsic formation of nanocrystalline neptunium dioxide (NpO2) particles, which are characterised by UV/Vis and X-ray absorption spectroscopies and transmission electron microscopy. This new route of nanocrystalline NpO2 formation could be a potential scenario for the environmental transport of radionuclides from the waste repository (i.e. under near-field alkaline conditions) to the geological environment (i.e. under far-field neutral conditions).

Synthesis of coffinite, USiO4, and structural investigations of UxTh(1-x)SiO4 solid solutions.

The miscibility behavior of the USiO4-ThSiO4 system was investigated. The end members and 10 solid solutions UxTh(1-x)SiO4 with x = 0.12-0.92 were successfully synthesized, without formation of other secondary uranium or thorium phases. Lattice parameters of the solid solutions evidently follow Vegard's Law. Investigation of the local structure with EXAFS reveals small differences between the U and Th environment attributed to different atomic radii of the metal atoms but no implications for a miscibility gap. The data provided confirm complete miscibility for the system USiO4-ThSiO4. The structure of the end members was studied in detail with XRD and discussed with special regard to the oxygen positions and the often neglected Si-O bond length. USiO4 could be obtained without UO2 impurities and the lattice parameters derived from Rietveld refinement as c = 6.2606(3) Å and a = 6.9841(3) Å. The Si-O distance in USiO4 appears to be 1.64 Å, which is more reasonable than earlier reported values.

Colloid-borne forms of tetravalent actinides: a brief review.

Tetravalent actinides, An(IV), are usually assumed to be little mobile in near-neutral environmental waters because of their low solubility. However, there are certain geochemical scenarios during which mobilization of An(IV) in a colloid-borne (waterborne) form cannot be ruled out. A compilation of colloid-borne forms of tetravalent actinides described so far for laboratory experiments together with several examples of An(IV) colloids observed in field experiments and real-world scenarios are given. They are intended to be a knowledge base and a tool for those who have to interpret actinide behavior under environmental conditions. Synthetic colloids containing structural An(IV) and synthetic colloids carrying adsorbed An(IV) are considered. Their behavior is compared with the behavior of An(IV) colloids observed after the intentional or unintentional release of actinides into the environment. A list of knowledge gaps as to the behavior of An(IV) colloids is provided and items which need further research are highlighted.