Interaction between Uranyl Cations and Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles: Implications for Nuclear Wastewater Management.
Tam��s P��ter, D��ra Tak��cs, Szil��rd S��ringer, Ad��l Szerlauth, Kadosa Sajdik, G��bor Galb��cs, Matija Tom��i��, Samuel Shaw, Katherine Morris, Grant Douglas, Istv��n Szil��gyi
Author Information
Tam��s P��ter: MTA-SZTE Lend��let Biocolloids Research Group, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
D��ra Tak��cs: MTA-SZTE Lend��let Biocolloids Research Group, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
Szil��rd S��ringer: MTA-SZTE Lend��let Biocolloids Research Group, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
Ad��l Szerlauth: MTA-SZTE Lend��let Biocolloids Research Group, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary. ORCID
Kadosa Sajdik: Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
G��bor Galb��cs: Department of Molecular and Analytical Chemistry, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary. ORCID
Matija Tom��i��: Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Ve��na pot 113, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. ORCID
Samuel Shaw: Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, U.K.-M139PL Manchester, United Kingdom. ORCID
Katherine Morris: Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, U.K.-M139PL Manchester, United Kingdom. ORCID
Grant Douglas: Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, CSIRO Environment, WA-6913 Wembley, Australia. ORCID
Istv��n Szil��gyi: MTA-SZTE Lend��let Biocolloids Research Group, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary. ORCID
Effective uranium (U) capture is required for the remediation of contaminated solutes associated with the nuclear fuel cycle, including fuel reprocessing effluents, decommissioning, or nuclear accident cleanup. Here, interactions between uranyl cations (UO ) and a Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) were investigated using two types of uranyl-bearing LDH colloids. The first (ULDH) was synthesized by coprecipitation with 10% of Mg substituted by UO . Alternatively, UO was added to a neoformed LDH to obtain the second uranyl-bearing LDH colloid (LDHU). In both the LDHU and ULDH colloid systems, schoepite (UO)O(OH)��12HO, was formed. The presence of U significantly reduced the size of both LDHU and ULDH compared to a reference LDH colloid. Surface charge and aggregation of the ULDH and LDHU colloids were compared in NaCl, NaCO, NaSiO, and NaPO solutions that are often present in nuclear wastewaters. Aggregation of ULDH and LDHU in the presence of NaSiO or NaPO promotes colloid restabilization. While the uranyl cation was not incorporated into the LDH structure, it influences nanoparticle growth in addition to imparting modified surface properties that affect aggregation. This has implications for radioactive waste disposals, where LDH, which can also incorporate a variety of other radionuclides, is used for remediation.
