Profiling hot isostatically pressed canister–wasteform interaction for Pu-bearing zirconolite-rich wasteforms

Zirconolite-rich full ceramic wasteforms designed to immobilize Pu-bearing wastes were produced via hot isostatic pressing (HIP) using stainless steel (SS) and nickel (Ni) HIP canisters. A detailed profiling of the elemental compositions of the major and minor phases over the canister–wasteform interaction zone was performed using scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) characterization. Bulk sample analyses from regions near the center of the HIP canister were also conducted for both samples using X-ray diffraction and SEM-EDS. The sample with the Ni HIP canister showed almost no interaction zone with only minor diffusion of Ni from the inner wall of the canister into the near-surface region of the wasteform. The sample with the SS HIP canister showed ∼100–120 μm of interaction zone dominated by high-temperature Cr diffusion from canister materials to the wasteform with the Cr predominantly incorporated into the durable zirconolite phase. We also examined, for the first time, changes to the HIP canister wall thickness caused by HIPing and demonstrated that no canister wall thinning occurred. Instead, in the areas examined, the canister wall thickness was observed to increase (up to ∼20%) due to the compression occurring during the HIP cycle. Further, only sparse formation of (Cr, Mn)-rich oxide particles were noted within the HIP canister inner wall area immediately adjacent to the ceramic material, with no evidence for reverse diffusion of ceramic materials. Though the HIP canister–wasteform interaction extends to ∼120 μm when using an SS HIP canister for the system investigated, this translates to <<1 vol.% for an industrial scale HIPed wasteform. Importantly, the HIP canister–wasteform interactions did not produce any obviously less durable phases in the wasteform or had any detrimental impact on the HIP canister properties.     

Ferulic acid and EGCG alter the structural characteristics of ovalbumin and its application in mineral loading

This study aims to fabricate mineral-loading nanocarriers using natural materials. The interaction patterns between ovalbumin (OVA) and four water-soluble polyphenols, namely ferulic acid (FA), (-)-Epigallo-catechin 3-gallate (EGCG), gallic acid (GA) and epicatechin (EC), were investigated. Results showed that the optimised conditions for preparing stable OVA–polyphenol complexes are at the OVA–polyphenol ratio of 4:1 at pH 6, under which OVA–FA and OVA–EGCG showed the highest stability and mineral-loading capacity among four OVA–polyphenol complexes. The fluorescence results indicated that the addition of EGCG and FA induced a significant fluorescence quenching to OVA. The interaction between OVA and polyphenols involved hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interaction and electrostatic interaction. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis suggested that both FA and EGCG enhanced the stability and orderliness of the structure of OVA. The transmission electron microscopy images also exhibited the spherical structure of OVA after the addition of FA and EGCG. Furthermore, scanning electron microscope–energy dispersive X-ray spectrum results suggested that OVA–FA and OVA–EGCG complexes were better mineral carriers than OVA–GA and OVA–EC. This study may serve as the theoretical support for the promising application of OVA in the fabrication of mineral-loading nanocarriers in functional food and pharmaceutic.     

珠江口盆地珠一坳陷古近系高自然伽马砂岩形成机制及油气地质意义

运用放射性元素寻找油气是一种非常规油气勘探手段。近年来,在珠江口盆地珠一坳陷富烃凹陷周边古近系钻遇高自然伽马(GR)砂岩,其GR值(100~300 API)甚至大于同区泥岩的GR值(100~200 API)。为了弄清该特殊现象背后的地质意义,对珠江口盆地珠一坳陷古近系高自然伽马砂岩开展了铀(U)、钍(Th)、钾(K)等3种元素含量与GR值的相关趋势线分析,从井震特征、岩性特征及矿物成分特征等入手分析了砂岩GR值增高的主要原因及成因机制,探讨了放射性元素聚集的条件、运移通道、驱动力以及油气意义。结果表明:西江、惠州地区由U含量增高导致砂岩GR值偏高,恩平、番禺地区由K,Th含量增高导致砂岩GR值偏高;砂岩GR值增高有两大成因机制,一是地下流体带来的放射性元素离子U4+在氧化-还原面处富集后导致地层GR值偏高,这种特殊现象说明在具有连通基底大断裂旁的圈闭中,U4+的富集指示了曾经油气的存在,证实了研究区油气运移通道的有效性,对于油气藏的预测有着非常重要的指导性意义,二是地表流体带来的含放射性元素的矿物大量沉积后导致地层GR值偏高,含放射性元素矿物性质不稳定,可指示近源供给的存在,对于判断物源及沉积环境有着非常重要的意义。该研究成果为预测研究区油气成藏有利区带提供了依据。     

飞灰固结体在沥青混合料中应用研究

通过对新型固结剂固化飞灰生成的固结体研磨成微粉全部或部分替代矿粉作为沥青混合料进行试验探究。试验结果表明,当微粉替代矿粉时,混合料的物理性能、水稳定性及高温稳定性得到了提高,确定了微粉替代矿粉最佳替代率。微粉在沥青混合料中重金属的存在状态采用多级提取的方法进行分析,试验结果进一步证明了微粉中重金属在沥青混合料中的长期稳定性。为焚烧垃圾飞灰固化稳定化和资源化利用提供了一定的理论指导。     

有色金属工业含砷污染物处理研究进展

综述了有色金属工业砷污染物的来源及其无害化处理的方法,分析了包封固砷(水泥固化和玻璃固化)和矿物固砷(钙盐、铝盐、镁盐、硫化沉淀法)的优缺点和局限性,重点对将砷以臭葱石形式进行安全处理的合成方法和浸出稳定性的研究现状进行阐述。分析表明,晶态臭葱石合成是将砷以臭葱石形式进行安全处置的基础,稳定性是关键,进一步降低溶液过饱和度以实现大尺寸、高稳定性臭葱石的合成是发展方向。     

Prospects of inedible plant oil-driven bio-lubricants for tribological characteristics – a review

ABSTRACT

Fossil fuel resource is on the draining stage which leads to an increment in the cost of the petroleum products. Nowadays, research is focused on the development of environmental friendly lubricants which are derivatives of renewable sources. Inedible plant oil-driven bio-lubricants are environmentally friendly because they are non-hazardous, biodegradable, as well as there is no emission of toxic gases. This study involves the characterisations, advantages, as well as utilisation of inedible plant oil-driven bio-lubricants as an alternative for tribological applications. This report presents the status about the global lubricant market as well as potential outlook. Inedible plant oil-driven bio-lubricants bear high viscosity, high lubricity, and high viscosity index which can enhance the equipment service life and has the ability to carry high load and results in minimum amount of metal traces during combustion.     

A priori risk-informed approach to ensure the compliance with discharge limits for liquid radioactive effluent to be discharged from APR 1400

ABSTRACT

In order to develop a methodology to guarantee the conformance to operational discharge limits for liquid effluent from a NPP at an early stage of design, a risk-informed approach was proposed and its applicability was verified for APR 1400. Existing methodology to calculate risk-based detection limit for a single radionuclide was improved by incorporating a new model to derive more realistic pathway dose factors. A new simple expression was also proposed to adjust risk-based detection limits for multiple radionuclides mixture if necessary. In addition, a new procedure to warrant the compliance with discharge limits by controlling detection limits of only a few principal radionuclides was established in accordance with risk-informed concept. Through case studies for APR 1400 to be commissioned at a hypothetical site, it was shown that calculated pathway dose factors are more realistic for majority of radionuclides. It also turns out that neither present detection limits nor unadjusted risk-based detection limits can be justified when the radionuclide composition is unknown, however further adjustment of detection limits or increasing additional dilution factor resolves the problem. Finally, ten principal radionuclides were identified and shown to be enough for liquid effluent control at APR 1400 from a risk-informed point of view.     

Potential influence of microorganisms on the corrosion of carbon steel in the French high- and intermediate-level long-lived radioactive waste disposal context

In the context of the high-level radioactive waste disposal CIGEO, the corrosion rate due to microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) has to be evaluated. In France, it is envisaged to dispose of high- and intermediate-level long-lived radioactive waste at a depth of 500 m in a deep geological disposal, drilled in the Callovo-Oxfordian claystone (Cox) formation. To do so, a carbon steel casing will be inserted inside disposal cells, which are horizontal tunnels drilled in the Cox. A specific cement grout will be injected between the carbon steel casing and the claystone. A study was conducted to evaluate the possibility of MIC on carbon steel in the foreseeable high radioactive waste disposal. The corrosiveness of various environments was investigated at 50°C and 80°C with or without microorganisms enriched from samples of Andra's underground research laboratory. The monitoring of corrosion during the experiments was ensured using gravimetric method and real-time corrosion monitoring using sensors based on the measurements of the electrical resistance. The corrosion data were completed with microbiological analyses including cultural and molecular characterizations.     

矿产资源节约集约利用驱动因素研究

矿产资源属于耗竭性资源,基于其稀缺性和不可再生性,从国家资源安全战略考虑,通过节约集约利用缓解资源短缺问题是一种有效的途径。本文以矿产资源节约集约利用为研究目标,从政策驱动和技术驱动角度,研究了规划、税收、监管、标准、资源禀赋条件、采矿技术、选矿技术等驱动因素的驱动机理,以及与矿产资源利用的关系,分析了各驱动因素的现行政策和存在的问题。研究表明,各驱动因素促进矿产资源节约集约利用的过程是相互的、复杂的,在多因素的共同作用下,驱动因素之间的协同能力是实现目标的关键,协同程度越高,矿产资源节约集约利用的成效越好。     

Investigation of Copper Recovery from a New Copper Deposit (Nussir) in Northern Norway

ABSTRACT

Norway has seen an upsurge of interest in exploiting its mineral deposits during the last decade. One of the major areas of interest is a huge copper deposit, operated by Nussir ASA located in the Repparfjord tectonic window in the Caledonides of west Finnmark. Nussir ASA is evaluating the Nussir and Ulveryggen mineral resources that contain copper sulfides with a small amount of gold and silver bearing minerals. The performance of flotation operations is generally evaluated on the basis of degree of liberation of minerals or the surface interactions between the collector and mineral. Firstly, size-by-size mineralogical characterization of the flotation feed and cumulative final product using Zeiss automated mineralogy techniques (Mineralogic) revealed that mineral liberation heavily influenced the flotation behavior of the ore. Furthermore, in order to assess the role of pH, collector concentration and flotation time, bench scale flotation experiments were performed. The metallurgical results were maximum between pH 6 and 8 and at collector concentration 6 × 10^?5 M. A correlation is established using the zeta potential and Hallimond flotation tests to assess the role of operating parameters in flotation. The distinctive role of process mineralogy and flotation chemical influence for copper mineral flotation of Nussir ore is presented in this article.