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- Dario, Mårten, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of cement additives on radionuclide mobility
- 2004
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Ingår i: Scientific basis for radioactive waste management XXVII. - Warrendale, Pa : Materials Research Society. - 1558997520 ; , s. 639-644
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 3. |
- Greis, Christina, 1975-
(författare)
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Rapid analysis of actinide isotopes using quadrupole ICP-MS for emergency preparedness and environmental monitoring
- 2007
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Transuranium elements in the environment are mainly derived from nuclear weapons testing and the nuclear fuel cycle. Of growing concern are illicit nuclear trafficking and the threat of terror acts. The development of rational methods, for environmental monitoring and for tracing sources of nuclear and radioactive materials in the environment, is constantly required. Traditionally, the actinides have been determined by radiometric techniques. These analyses can be time consuming for elements at low concentrations and with long half-lives. This thesis addresses the determination of actinides, especially plutonium, in environmental samples with ICP-QMS (inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry). The ICP-QMS instrument was equipped with an USN (ultrasonic nebuliser), which proved to be a successful combination for the determination of plutonium at low concentrations in acidified solutions after separation with anion exchange. The detection limit for plutonium was in the range 10-30 pg/l with a RSD of 1-10%. The suitability of chemical separation was evaluated for anion exchange, liquid-liquid-extraction and extraction chromatography. The outlined procedure, including sample dissolution, chemical separation and analysis, for determination of actinides in environmental matrices proved to be accurate and reliable. Quality assurance of the procedure was performed during an intercomparison exercise and with reference materials. The detection accuracy has also been validated with α-spectrometry and ICP-SFMS. The procedure has been applied to saline sediments and fresh water sediments as well as several fresh water matrices.
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| 6. |
- Arwidsson, Zandra, 1975-
(författare)
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Organic complexing agents for remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil
- 2009
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Soil washing of heavy metal contaminated soil may be enhanced by the addition of synthetic chelators. Since many of these chelators may imply stress to soil organisms and are poorly biodegraded, identification and evaluation of effective biodegradable or recyclable chelators (synthetic and/or naturally produced) is of great interest. The efficiency of biodegradable synthetic chelators was evaluated both in bench- (0.3 kg) and meso- (10 kg) scale. Results demonstrated that the solubilization of copper, lead, and zinc was similar in bench- and meso-scale systems, which indicated that these systems could be used in a technical scale. However, the arsenic extraction in meso-scale system, were non-conclusive. Due to the high cost involved in the purchase of synthetic chelating agents, recycling of the solutions is of great interest, and this was achieved in five consecutive washing cycles. Considering the economy of a full-scale process, recycling of complexing solutions with sulfide addition at each cycle, both at the 100 mM-level, appears feasible. Naturally derived chelators were produced by saprotrophic fungi and through alkaline degradation of humic substances and cellulose. The results demonstrated that these types of complexing agents are not as effective as the synthetic chelators. In the fungal systems, desorption of metals was related to production of organic complexing acids, but mainly to the pH-decrease. Nonetheless, in some systems, formation of soluble complexes was indicated (copper). Enhancement of copper, lead, and zinc release with the use of alkaline leachates from wood and peat appeared possible. Since these agents have a natural origin and are derived from rather cheap raw material, recycling is not an issue.
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| 7. |
- Johansson, Emma M.
(författare)
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Impact of root and mycorrhizal exudation on soil carbon fluxes : influence of elevated CO2 and metals
- 2009
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The thesis concerns the behavior of root and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) exudates. In particular, the dynamics of soluble low molecular weight (LMW) organic compounds such as organic acids (LMWOAs), amino acids, monosaccharides, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) have been studied. Our knowledge of exudation rates for tree roots and especially associated ECM is limited, and also factors influencing exudation rates. Two environmental factors, metal stress and elevated atmospheric CO2 level, have been investigated. Both are of great environmental concern, but function in different ways (detoxification and C allocation) and may be highly important for the C flux caused by root/ECM exudation. The project has been carried out with mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal (NM) Scots pine seedlings, or saprotrophic fungi, under both sterile and non-sterile (soil) conditions. Analytical determination of exudates and calculation of exudation rates have been major tools for assessment. Assessing the possibility of using naturally occurring chelating agents (e.g. citrate and oxalate) for bioremediation of metals contaminated soils and development and validation of analytical techniques have been additional foci. The results show that from soil-living fungi and ectomycorrhizal roots exudation rates of especially LMWOAs increase significantly at Cd and Pb stress (1-100 μM), while As (as arsenate) and mixtures of metals with As have little effect. The impact of ECM fungi is large and much higher exudation rates are found when the symbionts are present both for controls and metal treatments compared to NM plants. In soil systems there was a significant mobilization of metals from soils under presence of saprotrophic fungi. Both N as well as elevated CO2 (700 ppm) causes sizable increases in exudation rates, independent of biomass, and is a finding that suggests that the availability of easily degradable carbon in soil raises, which may be highly important for the carbon flux in soil. Mycorrhizal seedlings (10 months old) increased total soil respiration ~50% compared to controls without plants in non-sterile soil systems. Key words: amino acids, 13C, carbon cycle, ectomycorrhiza, elevated CO2, exudation, DOC, LMWOA, metal stress, monosaccharides, oxalate, Pinus sylvestris, saprotrophic fungi, soil respiration
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| 8. |
- Sartz, Lotta
(författare)
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Alkaline by-products as amendments for remediation of historic mine sites
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Mining has been and still is an important industry in Sweden, it has strongly contributed to the standard of living we have today. Extraction of ore began in the 12th century, but did not come about frequently until the 16th century, which is often seen as the starting age for ore processing and metal extraction. Leaching from sulphidic mine waste deposits is a serious environmental issue. When some of the sulphide minerals come into contact with oxygen they produce acid. Low pH in the waste then promotes leaching of primarily iron and cationic trace elements like copper, zinc and lead and hence affects the surrounding environment by bringing these metals in solution. Mine waste produced today is therefore immediately treated to prevent further oxidation and metal leaching. Cost-effective solutions for the historic mine waste are though still needed, especially as legal responsibilities for the historic waste are in many cases unclear. The historic mine waste is often highly weathered due to long-time exposure to oxygen and water, and also contains higher metal concentrations than modern waste. Also, consideration has to be taken to cultural and historical interests. Covering of the waste is commonly applied for acid rock drainage (ARD) control. By minimizing the oxygen supply, the waste is controlled from further oxidation. Covers can consist of layers of highly impermeable materials or water. Reactive materials (pH-increasing or reducing) can be used as covers or amendments. ARD can also be controlled and treated with reactive barriers and filters. Generally, when neutralizing materials are used for improvement of mine waste or ARD, pure materials such as lime is used. A lot of alkaline by-products in Sweden are deposited as waste and the increasing amount of wastes is also a main environmental problem. The use of alkaline by-products to amend acidic mine waste or ARD therefore both saves natural resources and reduces costs. In the present study, various alkaline by-products have been used in laboratory- and field-scale experiments, either as amendments to historic mine waste or for treatment of ARD. They include: lime mud, green liquor dregs, fly ash, steel slag, lime kiln dust and water works granules. Differences between the alkaline source (carbonate or hydroxide) were shown to be a crucial factor, especially in ARD treatment. Slow dissolution rates for carbonate materials in combination with high iron concentrations resulted in iron precipitation and coating of neutralizing carbonate surfaces. Hydroxide materials was hence found to be superior to carbonate materials in ARD applications and also as solid amendments to oxidized mine waste, in the case where the alkaline material was added as discrete layers. The latter enabled formation of so called hard pans, which work as flow rate reducers and allowing longer contact time with the neutralizing source. Though, when alkaline materials were homogeneously mixed with oxidized mine waste, carbonate materials were able to generate a higher pH and alkalinity, followed by lower trace metal concentrations. Key Words: Oxidized mine waste, lime mud, green liquor dregs, fly ash, lime kiln dust, steel slag, water works granules
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