Engineered mineralogical interfaces as radionuclide repositories
dc.contributor.author | Douglas, Grant B. | |
dc.contributor.author | Reddy, Steven | |
dc.contributor.author | Saxey, David | |
dc.contributor.author | MacRae, C.M. | |
dc.contributor.author | Webster, N.A.S. | |
dc.contributor.author | Beeching, L.J. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2023-06-12T07:09:23Z | |
dc.date.available | 2023-06-12T07:09:23Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2023 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Douglas, 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.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/92422 | |
dc.identifier.doi | 10.1038/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.language | eng | |
dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | |
dc.title | Engineered mineralogical interfaces as radionuclide repositories | |
dc.type | Journal Article | |
dcterms.source.volume | 13 | |
dcterms.source.number | 1 | |
dcterms.source.startPage | 2121 | |
dcterms.source.issn | 2045-2322 | |
dcterms.source.title | Scientific Reports | |
dc.date.updated | 2023-06-12T07:09:22Z | |
curtin.department | School of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) | |
curtin.department | John de Laeter Centre (JdLC) | |
curtin.accessStatus | Open access | |
curtin.faculty | Faculty of Science and Engineering | |
curtin.contributor.orcid | Reddy, Steven [0000-0002-4726-5714] | |
curtin.contributor.orcid | Saxey, David [0000-0001-7433-946X] | |
curtin.contributor.orcid | Douglas, Grant B. [0000-0002-9398-164X] | |
curtin.contributor.researcherid | Reddy, Steven [A-9149-2008] | |
curtin.contributor.researcherid | Saxey, David [H-5782-2014] | |
curtin.identifier.article-number | 2121 | |
dcterms.source.eissn | 2045-2322 | |
curtin.contributor.scopusauthorid | Reddy, Steven [7402263354] | |
curtin.contributor.scopusauthorid | Saxey, David [15059256300] | |
curtin.repositoryagreement | V3 |