No abstract available

[en] Short communication

[en] The U.S. Department of Energy in October 2014 awarded the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) a Nuclear Energy University Program grant (DE-NE0008268) to investigate the design and testing of a symbiotic system to harvest uranium from seawater. As defined in the proposal, the goals for the project are: 1. Address the design of machines for seawater uranium mining. 2. Develop design rules for a uranium harvesting system that would be integrated into an offshore wind power tower. 3. Fabricate a 1/50th size scale prototype for bench and pool-testing to verify initial analysis and theory. 4. Design, build, and test a second 1/10th size scale prototype in the ocean for more comprehensive testing and validation. This report describes work done as part of DE-NE0008268 from 10/01/2014 to 11/30/2017 entitled, “Extraction of Uranium from Seawater: Design and Testing of a Symbiotic System.” This effort is part of the Seawater Uranium Recovery Program. This report details the publications and presentations to date on the project, an introduction to the project’s goals and background research into previous work done to achieve these goals thus far. From there, the report describes an algorithm developed during the project used to optimize the adsorption of uranium by changing mechanical parameters such as immersion time and adsorbent reuses is described. Next, a design tool developed as part of the project to determine the global feasibility of symbiotic uranium harvesting systems. Additionally, the report details work done on shell enclosures for uranium adsorption. Moving on, the results from the design, building, and testing of a 1/50th physical scale prototype of a highly feasible symbiotic uranium harvester is described. Then, the report describes the results from flume experiment used to determine the affect of enclosure shells on the uptake of uranium by the adsorbent they enclose. From there the report details the design of a Symbiotic Machine for Ocean uRanium Extraction (SMORE). Next, the results of the 1/10th scale physical scale prototype of a highly feasible symbiotic uranium harvester are presented. The report then details the design and results of an experiment to examine the hydrodynamic effects of a uranium harvester on the offshore wind turbine it is attached to using a 1/150th Froude scale tow tank test. Finally, the report details the results of an initial cost-analysis for the production of uranium from seawater from such a symbiotic device.

[en] The possible formation of cobalt complexes with some amino acids were demonstrated in artificial seawater and their physico-chemical characteristics were determined by means of adsorption on chelating resine, solvent extraction with dithizone, gel filtration or paper electrophoresis. Additionaly a new mono-glycinato complex of nitrosylruthenium which was formed by the reaction of trichloro-nitrosylruthenium with glycine was also studied by isotachophoresis. The experimental results suggest that the complex formation of Co ions or the nitrosylruthenium complex with amino acids proceeds slowly, unless the reactants are highly concentrated

No abstract available

[en] Seawater samples were collected from the Atlantic Ocean, in the vicinity of Ubatuba (Sao Paulo State - Brazil), acidified to pH 1 and stored in polyethylene containers. Cesium was precipitated with ammonium phosphomolybdate (AMP), synthesized in our laboratory. The elements potassium and rubidium present in the seawater are also coprecipitated by AMP and adequate decontamination of the cesium is made by preparing a column by mixing Cs-137 AMP precipitate and asbestos. The interfering elements were eluted with 1.0 M ammonium nitrate solution whereas cesium was eluted with 1.0 M sodium hydroxide solution. Cesium was reprecipitated by acidifying the solution with concentrated hydrocloric acid. The overall chemical yield of cesium was of 75%. (author)

[en] When determining ''D.P.D.'' free oxidizers, the monochloramine interfers in particular for iodide levels analogous to those likely to be found in sea water. This is not so for iodate. The zero time extrapolation of the change in colour curve is one method that enables the method to be made more selective

[en] A survey of tritium in sea water in Tees Bay in July 1986 is described. The survey was carried out by taking one litre water samples from shoreline and offshore positions after a discharge had taken place from the Hartlepool nuclear power station. The concentrations decreased quickly in time and the peak value measured is shown to be insignificant in terms of radiation exposure of the public. The prevailing wind conditions had a significant effect on the dispersion of tritium. (author)

[en] On 2nd Apr. 2011, highly contaminated water which flowed into the cable trench of unit 2 brought ambient dose rate up to 1,000mSv/h at the cable pit near the sea water intake of the unit. This was the first sign of the leakage of contaminated water

[en] Highlights: • Degradability and greenwash practices were assessed in commercial plastic products. • Most samples were not degradable in sea water despite claiming a sustainable status. • Greenwashing practices as hidden trade-off, no proof and vagueness were detected. • Misleading purchase decision and improper plastic disposal are harmful consequences. • Strategies should be adopted to avoid this environmental rip off. -- Abstract: Concerns about plastic pollution and global public policies have encouraged consumers to acquire environmentally friendly products. Thus, products made of biodegradable plastics have been preferred by the public, despite their costs. However, greenwashing practices, promising more environmental benefits than the products actually offer, has become frequent. Nevertheless, no studies assessing the occurrence of greenwashing in commercial plastic products sold in large world economies have been performed. The present study aimed to experimentally evaluate alterations in structure and chemical composition of selected plastic products marketed in Canada, USA and Brazil. The aging experiments carried out by seawater immersion for 180 days showed no evidence of degradation in 4 out of the 6 studied samples, despite product claims of biodegradability or 100% degradability status. This finding denotes unequivocal greenwashing practices, even including bags made of polyethylene, an ordinary non-biodegradable polymer. Thus, the inadequate adoption of green marketing is deceiving to consumers and may lead to improper disposal of these materials. These practices are highly counterproductive in view of the global public policies recently adopted to control plastic pollution. Therefore, considering the technologies currently available for identification of polymers, a strict control should be exercised over products that claim biodegradable status.