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The Enhanced Actinide Removal Plant (EARP), located on the Sellafield site, is one of the UK's most crucial radioactive effluent treatment plants. EARP removes actinides and select fission products from routine reprocessing effluents by association with a ferric iron oxyhydroxide floc, which is precipitated from acidic effluent streams by the addition of NaOH. The effluent compositions that EARP receives will change in character as the Sellafield site transitions from its current routine reprocessing operations to post-operational clean-out and accelerated decommissioning activities over the next few years. An enhanced understanding of the iron oxyhydroxide formation processes occurring in EARP would help underpin optimisation of current plant efficiency and allow better prediction of changes in efficiency as effluent composition varies. In this study, iron oxyhydroxide formation, properties and evolution with time under EARP-relevant conditions were characterized. These processes were investigated in a pure ferric nitrate system and systems with added sulfate, phosphate and boric acid using a range of techniques including SAXS, TEM and FTIR. In all the experimental systems the iron oxyhydroxide floc was composed of nanoparticulate ferrihydrite aggregated into extensive mass fractal structures. In situ SAXS experiments showed that formation proceeded via a precursor cluster pathway whereby Fe(III) clusters ~ 0.45 nm in radius form rapidly at pH 0.12 - pH 1.5 upon dropwise addition of strong NaOH to the acidic effluent simulants. Further analysis indicates these clusters are Fe13 Keggin clusters, which have previously been shown to be an important structural motif in the ferrihydrite structure. With further pH increase, cluster aggregation occurs along with precipitation of low molecular weight Fe(III) species (mostly monomers), leading to formation of ferrihydrite nanoparticles which preserve the Keggin cluster in the core. Phosphate, sulfate and boric acid exhibit varying interactions with the solid phase throughout the formation process, with both inner and outer sphere adsorption observed for different species. Ageing experiments show that the ferrihydrite floc readily undergoes transformation leading to predominantly hematite formation, except in the presence of phosphate (concentrations > 10 ppm) where transformation is entirely inhibited due to phosphate adsorption to the floc. These results progress the fundamental understanding of the iron oxyhydroxide formation and ageing processes occurring in EARP.

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Neutralization by limestone is a common treatment for acid mine drainage (AMD). The effectiveness of using limestone to treat AMD can be reduced by aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) oxyhydroxide coatings that form on the limestone, because the coatings inhibit the transport, and thus neutralization, of hydrogen ions (H+) derived from acid mine drainage. I used mixed flow reactor experiments to investigate the effect of Al coatings on the diffusion of H+ to the surface of limestone and to quantify how those Al coatings affect the limestone dissolution rate. Experiments used acidic Al sulfate solutions with initial Al concentrations ranging from 0.002 M to 0.01 M (32 to 329 ppm) and pH values ranging from 3.7 to 4.2, which are typical of conditions found at AMD sites. Cleaved pieces of Iceland spar calcite were used as a proxy for limestone. The pH was measured in the effluent to determine the rate of H+ consumption. Effluent solutions were analyzed for Al, calcium (Ca) and sulfur (S) using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP OES). Examination of the precipitated coatings using x-ray diffraction indicated that amorphous poorly crystalline gibbsite is the primary Al coating but scanning electron microscope analysis also suggests the possible presence of a poorly crystalline sulfur containing phase, such as hydrobasaluminite. The experimental data were used to calculate the diffusion coefficient of H+ through the Al coatings. The calculated diffusion coefficient for H+, assuming a gibbsite and/or hydrobasaluminite layer, ranged between 10-13 to 10-11 m2/sec, that are significantly lower than in pure water. / Master of Science / Acid mine drainage (AMD) is an acidic discharge characterized by low pH and high concentrations of toxic metals that can have an impact on the aquatic environments. A common treatment method for AMD is the use of limestone drains to neutralize the pH. However, the neutralization capacity of limestone drains can be reduced by coatings of aluminum (Al) that form on the limestone during treatment. I used mixed flow reactor experiments to investigate the effect of Al coatings on the diffusion of H⁺ to the surface of limestone and to quantify how those Al coatings affect the limestone dissolution rate. I measured pH in the effluent to determine the rate of H⁺ consumption during the reaction of the solutions with calcite. I also analyzed effluent solutions for Al, Ca and S concentrations. Examination of the produced coatings with x-ray diffraction suggests amorphous poorly crystalline gibbsite as the primary Al coating but scanning electron microscope analysis also suggests the presence of poorly crystalline hydrobasaluminite, a sulfur-bearing phase. The experimental results were used to model the decline in the limestone neutralization rate as the coatings grow thicker over time under different pH conditions and Al concentrations similar to those found in AMD. Finally, the diffusion coefficient for H⁺ , assuming a gibbsite and/or hydrobasaluminite layer, ranged between 10⁻¹³ to 10⁻¹¹ m²/sec, which is orders of magnitude smaller than the diffusion coefficient in pure water.

This thesis investigated the impact of aluminum (Al) substitution in ferrihydrite (FH) on both its chemical and physical properties. Al was coprecipitated with FH under controlled hydrolysis conditions to yield various % mol substitutions. Sulfate adsorption was measured across pHs to examine any changes in surface reactivity. The samples’ morphology, specific surface areas (SSAs), crystallinity, and phase transformation upon heating were evaluated and parameterized to allow conclusions on the role of Al on the physical properties. Sulfate sorption diminished across pHs for all Al saturation levels. X-ray Diffraction revealed goethite (GT) presence was negatively influenced by Al. The SSAs of samples increased non-linearly with increasing % mol Al, indicating a decreasing particle size with more Al content. Transmission Electron Microscopy micrographs showed the FH nanoparticles transformed to acicular/blocky laths of GT crystals and lenticular/platy hematite (HM) crystals with occasional grainy appearance at both room temperature and upon active heating. The phase transformation alongside the derived aspect ratios (length/width) of the GT crystals were retarded by the Al substitution.

Because Ga shares many physicochemical properties with Al and Fe, Ga may be able to incorporate into Al and Fe oxy-hydroxides. Understanding how Ga incorporates into these oxy-hydroxides may be crucial for finding Ga-rich bauxite deposits. In order to find the difference in Ga inclusion rates into oxy-hydroxides, as well as understand the mechanisms for this Ga inclusion, Al and Fe oxy-hydroxides were synthesized in the lab with Ga additions of 2 mol % Ga and 20 mol % Ga for a low-Ga and high-Ga treatment, respectively, along with a no added Ga control. X-Ray diffraction analyses confirmed the formation of bayerite (α-Al(OH)3) and goethite (FeOOH) after 100 days (goethite long synthesis [LS]). A second batch of goethite was synthesized in the lab and aged for 60 hours (goethite short synthesis [SS]). Results showed the highest Ga inclusion rates in goethite LS minerals at 0.89 mol % / mol % Ga, then 0.17 mol % / mol % Ga in goethite SS, and 0.50 mol % / mol % Ga in bayerite. Scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analyses determined co-precipitation of Ga was the dominant Ga incorporation mechanism in bayerite over isomorphic substitution, where needle-like mineral assemblages began to form in the high-Ga treatments. Isomorphic substitution vii was dominant in both goethite batches. Additionally, Ga mol % in the high-Ga goethite LS and goethite SS minerals revealed a temporal aspect to Ga inclusion in goethite. Goethite LS high-Ga treatment minerals had Ga mol % of 16.8 ± 0.23 % compared to 3.34 ± 0.03 % for high-Ga treatment goethite SS minerals. This study highlights an advance in knowledge of Ga incorporation mechanisms into Al and Fe oxy-hydroxides and provides a basis for future studies to expand on these efforts.

Dielectric constant is a physical property of soil that is often measured using non-invasive geophysical techniques in subsurface characterization studies. A proper understanding of dielectric responses allows investigators to make measurements that might otherwise require more invasive and/or destructive methods. Previous studies have suggested that dielectric models could be refined by accounting for the contributions of different types of mineral constituents that affect the ratio and properties of bound and bulk water. This study tested the hypothesis that the dielectric responses of porous materials are mineral-specific through differences in surface area and chemistry. An experimental design was developed to test the dielectric behavior of pure quartz sand (Control), quartz sand/kaolin clay mixtures and ferric oxyhydroxide coated quartz sand. Results from the experiments show that the dielectric responses of quartz-clay and iron oxyhydroxide modified samples are not significantly different from the pure quartz Control. Increasing clay content in quartz sands leads to a vertical displacement between fitted polynomials. The results suggest that the classic interpretation for the curvature of dielectric responses appears to be incorrect. The curvature of dielectric responses at low water contents appears to be controlled by unknown parameters other than bound water. A re-examination of the experimental procedure proposed in this study and past studies shows that a properly designed study of bound water effects on dielectric responses has not yet been conduct / Master of Science

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No. of bitstreams: 1 DissMAA.pdf: 3706175 bytes, checksum: 849f2e6fb88e0e236a824a72bfb02512 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-11-27 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Among the variety of semiconductor materials investigated to apply in electrochemical cells bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) is one of the candidate which would be used as photoanode. Thus, this study aimed to synthesize thin films of BiVO4 and their modification with a thin layer of iron (III) oxyhydroxide (FeOOH) by photodeposition and study their photoelectrocatalytic properties. The optimization of BiVO4 synthesis condition was assessed by a factorial design 23 and an analysis of univariate type. The parameters studied were annealing temperature (500 and 600 °C), calcinations time (30, 60, 150 and 270 min.), solvent type employed for dissolving the BiVO4 precursor reagents (poly ethylene glycol 300-PEG 300, PEG 400, ethylene glycol-EG, mixture 1:1 by volume of PEG 300 and EG), deposition method of BiVO4 films (dropping and spin coating) and method of drying layers (heating at 500 °C, heat gun and no drying). From the optimized condition BiVO4 film was prepared by dissolving bismuth (III) nitrate and ammonium metavanadate in a mixture of 1:1 by volume of EG and PEG 300, it was deposited onto glass containing FTO by spin coating and then calcinated directly at 500 °C for 60 min. The photodeposition was carried out in the mixture FeSO4 and sodium citrate medium both 1 mmol L-1 and pH 4.7 by applying the open circuit potential for 5 min. and under light incidence. and then polarizing at 1.2 V for 1 min. BiVO4 and BiVO4/FeOOH films were characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS, UV-vis, voltammetry (cyclic and linear) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results reveled that photocurrent values increased 2.5 times at 0.71 V and the on set potential shifted to less positive value in the presence of FeOOH, also there was a considerable reduction of the charge transfer resistance in the interface photoanode/solution. The bare BiVO4 films were photostable during the illumination time studied which was 4 h. However, the modified films did not show the same behavior, the photocurrent value decreased 29% after 4 h illuminated. The results in the sulphite presence showed that photocurrent value for bare BiVO4 and BiVO4/FeOOH were less than the maximum photocurrent value which would achieve for this materias. / Dentre os diversos materiais semicondutores estudados para aplicação em células fotoeletroquímicas encontra-se o vanadato de bismuto (BiVO4), o qual pode ser utilizado como fotoanodo. Deste modo, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo principal a síntese de filmes finos de BiVO4 e sua modificação com uma fina camada de oxihidróxido de ferro (III) (FeOOH) por fotodeposição e avaliação das propriedades fotoeletrocatalíticas destes materiais. A otimização das condições de síntese do BiVO4 foi avaliada por um planejamento fatorial 23 e por uma análise do tipo univariada. Os parâmetros estudados foram temperatura de calcinação (500 e 600 °C), tempo de calcinação (30, 60, 150 e 270 min.), tipo de solvente empregado para dissolução dos reagentes precursores do BiVO4 (polietileno glicol 300-PEG 300, PEG 400, etileno glicol-EG, mistura 1:1 em volume de PEG 300 e EG), método de deposição dos filmes de BiVO4 (dropping e spin coating) e método de secagem das camadas dos filmes (aquecimento a 500 °C, soprador térmico e sem secar). Nas condições otimizadas o filme de BiVO4 foi preparado pela dissolução de nitrato de bismuto (III) e metavanadato de amônio em uma mistura de 1:1 em volume de EG e PEG 300, depositado sobre vidro contendo FTO por spin coating e depois calcinado diretamente a 500 ºC por 60 min. A fotodeposição foi realizada em meio da mistura FeSO4 e citrato de sódio ambos a 1 mmol L-1 e pH 4,7, aplicando-se o potencial de circuito aberto por 5 min. e com incidência de luz, seguida de polarização em 1,2 V por 1 min. Os filmes de BiVO4 e BiVO4/FeOOH foram caracterizados por DRX, MEV, EDX, UV-vis, voltametria (cíclica e linear) e espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica. Os resultados mostram que na presença do FeOOH houve aumento de 2,5 vezes nos valores de densidade fotocorrente em 0,71 V e o potencial de on set deslocou-se para valores menos positivos, bem como uma redução considerável na resistência de transferência de carga na interface fotoanodo/solução. Os filmes de BiVO4 puro apresentaram-se fotoestáveis durante o tempo de iluminação estudado, 4 h. No entanto, os filmes modificados não apresentaram o mesmo comportamento, houve um decréscimo de 29% no valor de densidade de fotocorrente após 4 h de iluminação. O estudo na presença do sulfito mostrou que os valores de fotocorrentes para o BiVO4 puro e o BiVO4/FeOOH estão abaixo do valor máximo que se poderia obter para estes materiais.

La forte progression démographique mondiale induit une demande d’énergietoujours en hausse. Ceci se traduit par un fort développement de nouvelles énergiesrenouvelables qui nécessitent, de par leur nature intermittente, des dispositifs de stockagede l’énergie. Parmi eux les supercondensateurs permettent un stockage électrostatique decharges (supercondensateurs à base de carbones activés), mais certains systèmes, ditspseudocapacitifs, font en outre intervenir des réactions redox rapides de surface.L’association des deux systèmes permettent d’accéder à des propriétés intéressantes, enparticulier pour le système MnO2/carbone activé. Cependant, les oxydes de manganèse sontd’excellents matériaux pseudocapacitifs mais assez peu conducteurs électroniques.L’objectif de ce travail est d’améliorer cette conductivité en les associant avec des oxydes decobalt conducteurs. Pour cela, une approche « architecturale » de synthèse de matériaux aété choisie. En partant d’oxydes de Mn et de Co lamellaires, ceux-ci sont exfoliés pourobtenir des nanofeuillets de nature différente. S’ensuit une étape de réempilement pouraboutir à un matériau lamellaire alterné. L’analyse structurale et morphologique desmatériaux prouve que des nanocomposites très finement divisés sont obtenus. Lespropriétés électrochimiques obtenues pour ces nanocomposites s’avèrent meilleures quecelles des matériaux initiaux, tant en densité d’énergie qu’en puissance. Cette stratégieoriginale est prometteuse et ouvre la voie à des réempilements de différente nature,notamment le graphène. / The ever increasing demand of renewable energies imposes, due to theirintermittent nature, the development of performant energy storage devices. Supercapacitorsare reliable devices that offer a high power density and numerous investigations are focusingon increasing their energy densities. In particular, asymmetric "metal oxides / activatedcarbons" supercapacitors are possible candidates. The MnO2/carbon system is the mostinvestigated system, due to its capability to work in aqueous medium at potentials up to 2 V,as well as to the low cost and environmental friendliness of manganese. Nevertheless, thissystem suffers from the poor electronic conductivity of manganese. This work reports anoriginal strategy for novel electrode materials involving exfoliation and restacking processesof lamellar “building blocks”: lamellar manganese oxides for their pseudocapacitiveproperties and lamellar cobalt oxyhydroxides for their high electronic conductivity. Thematerial engineering strategy focuses on the exfoliation of the lamellar materials intooligolamellae. The obtained suspensions are then restacked through various strategies andnew well defined mixed oxides are obtained. After structural and morphologicalcharacterization, it is clear that these nanocomposites present an intimate mix of the twoinitial phases. The electrochemical responses are hereby enhanced, proving the intertwinedrelationship between structure, morphology and properties. Furthermore, this architecturalapproach of building novel electrode materials is original and efficient and can easily betransposed to other “building blocks”, including graphene.

The study was inspired by the need to assess long-term metal retention in municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. The long-term processes in landfills are poorly known due to the relatively short time that such landfills have been in existence. Natural analogues where similar metal binding processes could be expected were therefore sought for. The work described in this thesis aims to elucidate the long-term transport and attenuation processes involved in the retention of heavy metals in a peat bog, through field studies and modelling. The Oostriku peat bog (central Estonia) has been exposed to metal-rich groundwater discharge over a long period of time and was found to have accumulated high concentrations of Fe, other heavy metals (e.g. Pb, Cu, Zn, Mn), and As. It was characterised in detail with respect to metal depth distribution and main metal binding mechanisms (using an optimised Tessier extraction scheme). The oxidation of metal sulphides in the surrounding carbonate bedrock was proposed to be a possible long-term source of heavy metals in the water emerging in a spring at the peat site. The water in the spring and peat pore-water was sampled and analysed. The dissolution sequence of the sulphide minerals and evolution of the water composition along a flowpath in the carbonate rock were modelled. Resulting aqueous phase concentration of major and minor elements are discussed in relation to governing geochemical processes. The simulated water composition was compared with that observed. Retention of metals transported with water through the peat was assessed through modelling equilibrium sorption on solid organic matter and amorphous ferric oxyhydroxide by using a simplified quantitative modelling approach and independently obtained data. Dynamic evolution of metal sorption fronts along a peat profile over time was modelled to test metal-metal competition effects. A possible formation of ferric oxyhydroxide in the peat bog was also assessed with the model. / QC 20101001