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dc.contributor.authorDouglas, Grant B.
dc.contributor.authorReddy, Steven
dc.contributor.authorSaxey, David
dc.contributor.authorMacRae, C.M.
dc.contributor.authorWebster, N.A.S.
dc.contributor.authorBeeching, L.J.
dc.date.accessioned2023-06-12T07:09:23Z
dc.date.available2023-06-12T07:09:23Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.identifier.citationDouglas, G.B. and Reddy, S.M. and Saxey, D.W. and MacRae, C.M. and Webster, N.A.S. and Beeching, L.J. 2023. Engineered mineralogical interfaces as radionuclide repositories. Scientific Reports. 13 (1): 2121.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/92422
dc.identifier.doi10.1038/s41598-023-29171-1
dc.description.abstract

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.

dc.languageeng
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.titleEngineered mineralogical interfaces as radionuclide repositories
dc.typeJournal Article
dcterms.source.volume13
dcterms.source.number1
dcterms.source.startPage2121
dcterms.source.issn2045-2322
dcterms.source.titleScientific Reports
dc.date.updated2023-06-12T07:09:22Z
curtin.departmentSchool of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS)
curtin.departmentJohn de Laeter Centre (JdLC)
curtin.accessStatusOpen access
curtin.facultyFaculty of Science and Engineering
curtin.contributor.orcidReddy, Steven [0000-0002-4726-5714]
curtin.contributor.orcidSaxey, David [0000-0001-7433-946X]
curtin.contributor.orcidDouglas, Grant B. [0000-0002-9398-164X]
curtin.contributor.researcheridReddy, Steven [A-9149-2008]
curtin.contributor.researcheridSaxey, David [H-5782-2014]
curtin.identifier.article-number2121
dcterms.source.eissn2045-2322
curtin.contributor.scopusauthoridReddy, Steven [7402263354]
curtin.contributor.scopusauthoridSaxey, David [15059256300]
curtin.repositoryagreementV3


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