Engineered mineralogical interfaces as radionuclide repositories
Effective capture of fugitive actinides and daughter radionuclides constitutes a major remediation challenge at legacy or nuclear accident sites globally. The ability of double-layered, anionic clay minerals known as hydrotalcites (HTC) to contemporaneously sequester a range of contaminants from sol...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2023
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/92422 |
| _version_ | 1848765640463089664 |
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| author | Douglas, Grant B. Reddy, Steven Saxey, David MacRae, C.M. Webster, N.A.S. Beeching, L.J. |
| author_facet | Douglas, Grant B. Reddy, Steven Saxey, David MacRae, C.M. Webster, N.A.S. Beeching, L.J. |
| author_sort | Douglas, Grant B. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Effective capture of fugitive actinides and daughter radionuclides constitutes a major remediation challenge at legacy or nuclear accident sites globally. The ability of double-layered, anionic clay minerals known as hydrotalcites (HTC) to contemporaneously sequester a range of contaminants from solution offers a unique remedy. However, HTC do not provide a robust repository for actinide isolation over the long term. In this study, we formed HTC by in-situ precipitation in a barren lixiviant from a uranium mine and thermally transformed the resulting radionuclide-laden, nanoscale HTC. Atomic-scale forensic examination of the amorphized/recrystallised product reveals segregation of U to nanometre-wide mineral interfaces and the local formation of interface-hosted mineral grains. This U-phase is enriched in rare earth elements, a geochemical analogue of actinides such as Np and Pu, and represents a previously unreported radionuclide interfacial segregation. U-rich phases associated with the mineral interfaces record a U concentration factor of ~ 50,000 relative to the original solute demonstrating high extraction and concentration efficiencies. In addition, the co-existing host mineral suite of periclase, spinel-, and olivine-group minerals that equate to a lower mantle, high P–T mineral assemblage have geochemical and geotechnical properties suitable for disposal in a nuclear waste repository. Our results record the efficient sequestering of radionuclides from contaminated water and this novel, broad-spectrum, nanoscale HTC capture and concentration process constitutes a rapid solute decontamination pathway and solids containment option in perpetuity. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:38:28Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-92422 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:38:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-924222023-06-29T06:38:20Z Engineered mineralogical interfaces as radionuclide repositories Douglas, Grant B. Reddy, Steven Saxey, David MacRae, C.M. Webster, N.A.S. Beeching, L.J. Effective capture of fugitive actinides and daughter radionuclides constitutes a major remediation challenge at legacy or nuclear accident sites globally. The ability of double-layered, anionic clay minerals known as hydrotalcites (HTC) to contemporaneously sequester a range of contaminants from solution offers a unique remedy. However, HTC do not provide a robust repository for actinide isolation over the long term. In this study, we formed HTC by in-situ precipitation in a barren lixiviant from a uranium mine and thermally transformed the resulting radionuclide-laden, nanoscale HTC. Atomic-scale forensic examination of the amorphized/recrystallised product reveals segregation of U to nanometre-wide mineral interfaces and the local formation of interface-hosted mineral grains. This U-phase is enriched in rare earth elements, a geochemical analogue of actinides such as Np and Pu, and represents a previously unreported radionuclide interfacial segregation. U-rich phases associated with the mineral interfaces record a U concentration factor of ~ 50,000 relative to the original solute demonstrating high extraction and concentration efficiencies. In addition, the co-existing host mineral suite of periclase, spinel-, and olivine-group minerals that equate to a lower mantle, high P–T mineral assemblage have geochemical and geotechnical properties suitable for disposal in a nuclear waste repository. Our results record the efficient sequestering of radionuclides from contaminated water and this novel, broad-spectrum, nanoscale HTC capture and concentration process constitutes a rapid solute decontamination pathway and solids containment option in perpetuity. 2023 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/92422 10.1038/s41598-023-29171-1 eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Douglas, Grant B. Reddy, Steven Saxey, David MacRae, C.M. Webster, N.A.S. Beeching, L.J. Engineered mineralogical interfaces as radionuclide repositories |
| title | Engineered mineralogical interfaces as radionuclide repositories |
| title_full | Engineered mineralogical interfaces as radionuclide repositories |
| title_fullStr | Engineered mineralogical interfaces as radionuclide repositories |
| title_full_unstemmed | Engineered mineralogical interfaces as radionuclide repositories |
| title_short | Engineered mineralogical interfaces as radionuclide repositories |
| title_sort | engineered mineralogical interfaces as radionuclide repositories |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/92422 |