2009. "Spatially Resolved U(VI) Partitioning and Speciation: Implications for Plume Scale Behavior of Contaminant U in the Hanford Vadose Zone." Environmental Science & Technology 43(7):2247-2253. Abstract A saline-alkaline brine containing high concentration of U(VI) was accidentally spilled at the Hanford Site in 1951, introducing 10 tons of U into sediments under storage tank BX-102. U concentrations in the deep vadose zone and groundwater plumes increase with time, yet how the U has been migrating is not fully understood. We simulated the spill event in laboratory soil columns, followed by aging, and obtained spatially resolved U partitioning and speciation along simulated plumes. We found after aging, at apparent steady state, that the pore aqueous phase U concentrations remained surprisingly high (up to 0.022 M), in close agreement with the recently reported high U concentrations (up to 0.027 M) in the vadose zone plume (1). The pH values of aged pore liquids varying from 10 to 7, consistent with the measured pH of the field borehole sediments varying from 9.5 to 7.4 (2), from near the plume source to the plume front. The direct measurements of aged pore liquids together with thermodynamic calculations using a Pitzer approach revealed that UO2(CO3)34- is the dominant aqueousUspecies within the plume body (pH 8-10), whereas Ca2UO2(CO3)3 and CaUO2(CO3)32- are also significant in the plume front vicinity (pH 7-8), consistent with that measured from field borehole pore-waters (3). U solid phase speciation varies at different locations along the plume flow path and even within single sediment grains, because of location dependent pore and micropore solution chemistry. Our results suggest that continuous gravitydriven migration of the highly stable UO2(CO3)34- in the residual carbonate and sodium rich tank waste solution is likely responsible for the detected growing U concentrations in the vadose zone and groundwater.
2009. "Uranium Phases in Contaminated Sediments Below Hanford's U Tank Farm ." Environmental Science & Technology 43(12):4280-4286. doi:10.1021/es900203r Abstract Macroscopic and spectroscopic investigations (XAFS, XRF and TRLIF) on Hanford contaminated vadose zone sediments from the U-tank farm showed that U(VI) exists as different surface phases as a function of depth below ground surface (bgs). Dominant U(VI) silicate precipitates (boltwoodite and uranophane) were present in shallow-depth sediments (15-16 m bgs). In the intermediate depth sediments (20-25 m bgs), adsorbed U(VI) phases dominated but small amounts of surface precipitates consisting of polynuclear U(VI) surface complex were also identified. The deep depth sediments (> 28 m bgs) showed no signs of contact with tank wastes containing Hanford-derived U(VI), but natural uranium solid phases were observed. Most of the U(VI) was preferentially associated with the silt and clay size fractions and showed strong correlation with Ca, especially for the precipitated U(VI) silicate phase in the shallow depth sediments. Because U(VI) silicate precipitates dominate the U(VI) phases in the shallow depth sediments, macroscopic (bi)carbonate leaching should result in U(VI) releases from both desorption and dissolution processes. Having several different U(VI) surface phases in the Hanford contaminated sediments indicates that the U(VI) release mechanism could be complicated and that detailed characterization of the sediments would be needed to estimate U(VI) fate and transport in vadose zone.
2009. "The Roles of Outer Membrane Cytochromes of Shewanella and Geobacter in Extracellular Electron Transfer." Environmental Microbiology Reports 1(4):220-227. doi:10.1111/j.1758-2229.2009.00035.x Abstract As key components of the electron transfer (ET) pathways used for dissimilatory reduction of solid iron [Fe(III)] and manganese [Mn(IV)] (hydr)oxides, outer membrane cytochromes MtrC and OmcA of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and OmcE and OmcS of Geobacter sulfurreducens mediate ET reactions extracellularly. Cell surface-exposed MtrC and OmcA can transfer electrons directly to the metal oxides. S. oneidensis MR-1 cells also secrete flavins that can facilitate ET to the oxides. The secreted flavins are thought to serve either as chelators that form soluble Fe(III)/Mn(IV)-flavin complexes or as electron shuttles that ferry the electrons from cell-associated ET proteins to the metal oxides. Cell-surface localization may also permit MtrC and OmcA to transfer electrons extracellularly to either flavin-chelated Fe(III)/Mn(IV) or oxidized flavins. OmcE and OmcS are proposed to be located on the Geobacter cell surface where they are believed to function as the intermediates to relay electrons to type IV pili, which are then hypothesized to transfer electrons directly to the metal oxides. Thus, cell surface-localization positions these outer membrane cytochromes to transfer electrons to Fe(III)/Mn(IV) oxides external to the bacterial cells either directly, indirectly, or both, demonstrating a common strategy shared by Shewanella and Geobacter for extracellular reduction of the oxides.
2009. "Inhibition Effect of Secondary Phosphate Mineral Precipitation on Uranium Release from Contaminated Sediments." Environmental Science & Technology 43(21):8344-8349. doi:10.1021/es9021359 Abstract The inhibitory effect of phosphate mineral precipitation on uranium release was evaluated using a U(VI)-contaminated sediment collected from the US Department of Energy (DOE) Hanford site. The sediment contained U(VI) that was associated with diffusion-limited intragrain regions within its mm-size granitic lithic fragments. The sediment was first treated to promote phosphate mineral precipitation in batch suspensions spiked with 1 and 50 mM aqueous phosphate, and calcium in a stoichiometric ratio of mineral hydroxyapatite. The phosphate-treated sediment was then leached to solubilize contaminant U(VI) in a column system using a synthetic groundwater that contained chemical components representative of Hanford groundwater. Phosphate treatment significantly decreased the extent of U(VI) release from the sediment. Within the experimental duration of about 200 pore volumes, the effluent U(VI) concentrations were consistently lower by over one and two orders of magnitude after the sediment was treated with 1 and 50 mM of phosphate, respectively. Measurements of solid phase U(VI) using various spectroscopes and chemical extraction of the sediment collectively indicated that the inhibition of U(VI) release from the sediment was caused by: 1) U(VI) adsorption to the secondary phosphate precipitates and 2) the transformation of initially present U(VI) mineral phases to less soluble forms.
2009. "Microbial Reduction of Intragrain U(VI) in Contaminated Sediment." Environmental Science & Technology 43(13):4928-4933. doi:10.1021/es8029208 Abstract The accessibility of precipitated, intragrain U(VI) in a contaminated sediment to microbial reduction was investigated to ascertain geochemical and microscopic transport phenomena controlling U(VI) bioavailability. The sediment was collected from the US DOE Hanford site, and contained uranyl precipitates in a form of Na-boltwoodite within the mm-sized granitic lithic fragments in the sediment. Microbial reduction was investigated in a culture of a dissimilatory metal-reducing bacterium (DMRB), Shewanella oneidensis strain MR-1, in bicarbonate solutions at pH 6.8 buffered by PIPES. Measurements of uranium concentration, speciation, and valence in aqueous and solid phases indicated that microbial reduction of intragrain U(VI) proceeded by two mechanisms: 1) sequentially coupled dissolution of intragrain uranyl precipitates, diffusion of dissolved U(VI) out of intragrain regions, and microbial reduction of dissolved U(VI); and 2) U(VI) reduction in the intragrain regions by soluble, diffusible biogenic reductants. The bioreduction rate in the first pathway was over 3 orders of magnitude slower than that in comparable aqueous solutions containing aqueous U(VI) only. The slower bioreduction rate was attributed to: 1) the release of calcium from the desorption/dissolution of calcium-containing minerals in the sediment, which subsequently altered U(VI) aqueous speciation and slowed U(VI) bioreduction and 2) alternative electron transfer pathways that reduced U(VI) in the intragrain regions and changed its dissolution and solubility behavior. The results implied that the overall rate of microbial reduction of intragrain U(VI) will be influenced by the reactive mass transfer of U(VI) and biogenic reductants within intragrain regions, and geochemical reactions controlling major ion concentrations that affect U(VI) aqueous speciation and microbial activity.
2008. "Apoferritin-Templated Yttrium Phosphate Nanoparticle Conjugates for Radioimmunotherapy of Cancers." Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 8(5):2316-2322. doi:10.1166/jnn.2008.177 Abstract We report a templated-synthetic approach based on apoferritin to prepare radionuclide nanoparticle (NP) conjugates. Non-radioactive yttrium (89Y) was used as model target and surrogate for radioyttrium (90Y) to prepare the nanoparticle conjugate. The center cavity and multiple channel structure of apoferritin offer a fast and facile method to precipitate yttrium phosphate by diffusing yttrium and phosphate ions into the cavity of apofrritin, resulting a core-shell nanocomposite. The yttrium phosphate/apoferritin nanoparticle was functionalized with biotin for further application. The synthesized nanoparticle was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). We found that the resulting nanoparticles were uniform in size, with a diameter of around 8 nm. We tested the pre-targeting capability of the biotin-modified yttrium phosphate/apoferritin nanoparticle (yttrium phosphate/apoferritin nanoparticle) conjugate with streptavidin-modified magnetic beads and with aid of biotin-modified fluorecein isothiocyanate (FITC) tracer. This work shows that an yttrium phosphate NP conjugate provides a fast, simple and efficient method to prepare radioactive yttrium conjugate for applications in radioimmunotherapy of cancer.
2008. "Kinetics of Reduction of Fe(III) Complexes by Outer Membrane Cytochromes MtrC and OmcA of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1." Applied and Environmental Microbiology 74(21):6746-6755. doi:10.1128/AEM.01454-08 Abstract Shewanella Oneidensis MR-1 possesses up to 42 c-type cytochromes with heme content varying between 1 to as many as 37. Among them, the outer-membrane cytochromes, particularly MtrC and OmcA, are suspected to function as terminal reductases and are responsible for its enzymatic catalysis capability. So far, the mechanisms of metal reduction by these outer-membrane cytochromes are unknown. In this work, we report the study of reduction kinetics of a series of Fe(III) complexes with citrate, NTA and EDTA by abiotically reduced MtrC and OmcA using a stopped-flow technique in combination with theoretical computation methods within the framework of the electron transfer theory of Marcus and speciation calculations based on the current thermodynamic database. Stopped-flow kinetic data showed that the reaction was very fast and appeared to proceed in two stages, a fast stage that completes in much less than a second and a slower stage afterwards. For a given complex, the reaction is faster by reduction with MtrC than OmcA, while for a given protein, the reaction completes in the decreasing order of Fe-EDTA > Fe-NTA > Fe-citrate. All the stopped-flow kinetic curves could be modeled by two parallel second-order bimolecular redox reactions with second-order rate constants ranging from 0.872 µM-1s-1 for the fast reaction between MtrC with Fe-EDTA complex to 0.012 µM-1s-1 for the slow reaction between OmcA and Fe-citrate complex. Speciation calculations indicated that at both metal:ligand ratios, 1:1.5 and 1:10, a single dominant ferric complex was responsible for the observed reaction for each ligand and, therefore, the observed dual-reaction pathways was attributed to the differences in the reduction behavior among various heme groups within each protein. The results of redox potential calculations with known thermodynamic data show only small differences on the scale of a few millivolts among the three complexes, suggested that the observed differences in reaction rate cannot be explained by the overall redox reaction free energy. In contrast, reorganization energies () calculated based on DFT-COSMO model are substantially different between the complexes, with a larger reorganization energy and therefore a larger activation energy associated with the citrate complex, and progressively smaller ones for the NTA and EDTA complexes. In combination with approximate electronic coupling terms, the theoretical results show good agreement with the observed trend and implicate the reorganization energy as the key factor in the kinetic reaction.
2008. "A Spectroscopic Study of the effect of Ligand Complexation on the Reduction of Uranium(VI) by Anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AH2DS)." Radiochimica Acta 96(9-11):599-605. doi:10.1524/ract.2008.1542 Abstract In this project, the reduction rate of uranyl complexes with hydroxide, carbonate, EDTA, and Desferriferrioxamine B (DFB) by anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AH2DS), a potential electron shuttle for microbial reduction of metal ions (Newman and Kolter 2000), is studied by stopped-flow kinetics techniques under anoxic atmosphere. The apparent reaction rates varied with ligand type, solution pH, and U(VI) concentration. For each ligand, a single largest kobs within the studied pH range was observed, suggesting the influence of pH-dependent speciation on the U(VI) reduction rate. The maximum reaction rate found in each case followed the order of OH- > CO32- > EDTA > DFB, consistent with the same trend of the thermodynamic stability of the uranyl complexes and ionic sizes of the ligands. Increasing the stability of uranyl complexes and ligand size decreased the maximum reduction rate. The pH-dependent rates were modeled using a second-order rate expression that was assumed to be dependent on a single U(VI) complex and AH2DS species. By quantitatively comparing the calculated and measured apparent rate constants as a function of pH, species AHDS3- was suggested as the primary reductant in all cases examined. Species UO2CO3(aq) , UO2HEDTA-, and (UO2)2(OH)22+ were suggested as the principal electron acceptors among the U(VI) species mixture in carbonate, EDTA, and hydroxyl systems, respectively.
2008. "A cryogenic fluorescence spectroscopic study of uranyl carbonate, phosphate, and oxyhydroxide minerals." Radiochimica Acta 96(9-11):591-598. doi:10.1524/ract.2008.1541 Abstract In this work we have applied liquid-helium temperature (LHeT) time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLIF) to characterize a series of natural and synthetic minerals of uranium carbonate, phosphate and oxyhydroxides including rutherfordine, zellerite, liebigite, phosphuranylite, meta-autunite, meta-torbernite, uranyl phosphate, sodium-uranyl-phosphate, bequerelite, clarkeite, curite, schoepite and compregnacite, and compared their spectral characteristics among these minerals as well as our previously published data on uranyl silicates. For the carbonate minerals, the fluorescence spectra depend on the stoichiometry of the mineral. For the phosphate minerals the fluorescence spectra closely resemble each other despite the differences in their composition and structure. For all uranium oxyhydroxides, the fluorescence spectra are largely red-shifted as compared with those of the uranium carbonates and phosphates and their vibronic bands are broadened and less resolved. The much enhanced spectra resolution at LHeT allows more accurate calculation of the O=U=O symmetrical stretch frequency, ν1, corresponding to the average spacing of the vibronic peaks of the fluorescence spectra and the spectral origin as reflected by the position of the first vibronic band. It was found that both the average ν1 and λ1 values correlate well with the average basicity of the inorganic anion.
2008. "Effect of Saline Waste Solution Infiltration Rates on Uranium Retention and Spatial Distribution in Hanford Sediments." Environmental Science & Technology 42(6):1973-1978. doi:10.1021/es070684b Abstract The accidental overfilling of waste liquid from tank BX-102 at the Hanford Site 11 in 1951 put 10 metric tons of U(VI) in the vadose zone. In order to understand the dominant 12 geochemical reactions and transport processes occurred during the initial infiltration, and to 13 predict U current status and future mobility, we simulated the waste liquid spilling event in 14 laboratory sediment columns using synthesized metal waste solution. We found that, as the 15 plume propagating through sediments, dramatic pH reduction (up to 4 units) occurred at moving 16 plume fronts. Massive amounts of colloids, including U-colloids, formed at plume fronts. The 17 infiltration flow rates strongly affect U fate and transport. Slower flow rate resulted in higher 18 sediment-associated U concentrations, and higher flow rate permitted practically unretarded U 19 transport, and extensive colloid precipitation and accumulations at the plume fronts. Accelerated 20 U transport by size exclusion of U-colloids was revealed. U exceeded the source concentration of 21 U by up to 5 fold, and exceeded the source concentrations of sodium, carbonate, phosphate and 22 sulfate by much more. This first report of colloid induced accelerated U transport could be a 23 mechanism responsible for highly heterogeneous U distributions in the sediment and deep 24 migration to the groundwater.
2008. " Direct Involvement of Type II Secretion System in Extracellular Translocation of Shewanella Oneidensis Outer Membrane Cytochromes MtrC and OmcA." Journal of Bacteriology 190(15):5512-5516. doi:10.1128/JB.00514-08 Abstract Outer membrane decaheme c-type cytochromes MtrC and OmcA of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 are extracellular lipoproteins important for dissimilatory reduction of solid metal (hydr)oxides during anaerobic respiration. To investigate the roles of type II secretion system (T2S) in translocation of MtrC and OmcA across outer membrane, we measured the effects of deleting two T2S genes, gspD and gspG, on the secretion of MtrC and OmcA when cells were grown under anaerobic conditions. Deletion of gspD or gspG resulted in slightly yellowish supernatants, different from the pink supernatant of wild type (wt). Comparative proteomic analyses revealed that, although MtrC, OmcA and NrfA, a periplasmic nitrite reductase, were present the supernatants of wt and ΔgspD mutant, their peptides counts were much lower in ΔgspD than in wt. Subsequent analyses with heme-staining and Western blot not only confirmed that deletion of gspD or gspG reduced the abundances of MtrC and OmcA in the supernatants, but also revealed that the deletions consequently increased their abundances inside the cells. Complementation of ΔgspG mutant with functional GspG could reverse the effects of deleting gspG on the colors of the supernatants and the abundances of MtrC and OmcA. In contrast, Western results showed that the abundance of NrfA was reduced in the supernatant and the cells of ΔgspD mutant, suggesting that reduced NrfA in the periplasm, where MtrC and OmcA were accumulated, contributed to its reduction in the supernatant. Thus, our results demonstrate at the first time that T2S facilitates translocation of MtrC and OmcA across outer membrane.
2008. "PowerSlicing to determine fluorescence lifetimes of water-soluble organic matter derived from soils, plant biomass, and animal manures." Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 390(8):2189-2194. doi:10.1007/s00216-008-1963-6 Abstract Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy was used to characterize water-soluble organic matter (WSOM) which plays an important role in soil ecosystem processes. WSOM was extracted from plant biomass, animal manures, and soils from controlled cropping systems studies with known histories of organic amendments. Lifetime constants were derived using the multi-way PowerSlicing method which provides a non-iterative, multi-exponential fitting of decay profiles. The lifetimes obtained by PowerSlicing were not significantly different from those obtained using the traditional discrete components analysis. The three components attributed to WSOM had lifetimes of 0.38± 0.14, 2.11±0.72, and 7.08±1.18 ns which are in agreement with previous lifetimes reported for humic substances. This study provides further support for the new paradigm for the structure of soil organic matter where the organic matter is composed of low-molecular-weight components held together by hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions.
2008. "Hydrogenase- and Outer Membrane c-Type Cytochrome-Facilitated Reduction of Technetium(VII) by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1." Environmental Microbiology 10(1):125-136. doi:10.1111/j.1462-2920.2007.01438.x Abstract Pertechnetate, 99Tc(VII)O4-, is a highly mobile radionuclide contaminant at U.S. Department of Energy sites that can be enzymatically reduced by a range of anaerobic and facultatively anaerobic microorganisms, including Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, to poorly soluble Tc(IV)O2(s). In other microorganisms, Tc(VII)O4- reduction is generally considered to be catalyzed by hydrogenase. Here, we provide evidence that although the NiFe hydrogenase of MR-1 was involved in the H2-driven reduction of Tc(VII)O4- (presumably through a direct coupling of H2 oxidation and Tc(VII) reduction), the deletion of both hydrogenase genes did not completely eliminate the ability of MR-1 to reduce Tc(VII). With lactate as the electron donor, mutants lacking the outer membrane c-type cytochromes MtrC and OmcA or the proteins required for the maturation of c-type cytochromes were defective in reducing Tc(VII) to nanoparticulate TcO2·nH2O(s) relative to MR-1 or a NiFe hydrogenase mutant. In addition, reduced MtrC and OmcA were oxidized by Tc(VII)O4-, confirming the capacity for direct electron transfer from these OMCs to TcO4-. c-Type cytochrome-catalyzed Tc(VII) reduction could be a potentially important mechanism in environments where organic electron donor concentrations are sufficient to allow this reaction to dominate.
2008. "Scale-dependent desorption of uranium from contaminated subsurface sediments." Water Resources Research 44:W08413. doi:10.1029/2007WR006478 Abstract Column experiments were performed to investigate the scale-dependent desorption of uranyl [U(VI)] from a contaminated sediment collected from the Hanford 300 Area at the US Department of Energy (DOE) Hanford Site, Washington. The sediment was a coarse-textured alluvial flood deposit containing significant mass percentage of river cobble. U(VI) was, however, only associated with its minor, fine-grained (< 2mm) mass fraction. U(VI) desorption was investigated both from the field-textured sediment using a large column (80 cm length by 15 cm inner diameter), and from its < 2mm, U(VI)-associated mass fraction using a small column (10 cm length by 3.4 cm inner diameter). Dynamic advection conditions with intermittent flow and stop-flow events of variable durations were employed to investigate U(VI) desorption kinetics and its scale dependence. A multi-component kinetic model that integrated a distributed rate expression with surface complexation reactions successfully described U(VI) release from the fine-grained, U(VI)-associated materials. The field-textured sediment in the large column displayed dual domain, tracer-dependent mass transfer properties that affected the breakthrough curves of bromide, pentafluorobenzoic acid (PFBA), and tritium. The tritium breakthrough curve showed stronger non-equilibrium behavior than did PFBA and bromide, and required a larger immobile porosity to describe. The dual domain mass transfer properties were then used to scale the kinetic model of U(VI) desorption developed for the fine-grained materials to describe U(VI) release and reactive transport in the field-textured sediment. Numerical simulations indicated that the kinetic model that was integrated with the dual domain properties determined from tracer PFBA and Br best described the experimental results. The kinetic model without consideration of the dual domain properties over-predicted effluent U(VI) concentrations, while the model based on tritium mass transfer under-predicted the rate of U(VI) release. Overall, our results indicated that the kinetics of U(VI) release from the field-textured sediment were different from that of its fine-grained, U(VI)-associated mass fraction. However, the desorption kinetics measured on the U(VI)-containing mass fraction could be scaled to describe U(VI) reactive transport in the contaminated field-textured sediment after proper consideration of the physical transport properties of the sediment. The research also demonstrated a modeling approach to integrate geochemical processes into field scale reactive transport models.
2008. "Thermodynamic and Spectroscopic Studies of Lanthanides(III) Complexation with Polyamines in Dimethyl Sulfoxide." Inorganic Chemistry 47(3):1155-1164. doi:10.1021/ic701337u Abstract The thermodynamic parameters of complexation of Ln(III) cations with tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (tren) and tetraethylenepentamine (tetren) were determined in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) by potentiometry and calorimetry. The excitation and emission spectra and luminescence decay constants of Eu3+ and Tb3+ complexed by tren and tetren, as well as those of the same lanthanides(III) complexed with diethylenetriamine (dien) and triethylenetetramine (trien), were also obtained in the same solvent. The combination of thermodynamic and spectroscopic data showed that, in the 1:1 complexes, all nitrogens of the ligands bound to the lanthanides except in the case of tren, in which only pendant N bound. For the larger ligands (trien, tren, tetren) in the higher complexes (ML2), there was less complete binding by available donors, presumably due to steric crowding. FT-IR studies were carried out in an acetonitrile/DMSO mixture, suitably chosen in order to follow the changes in the primary solvation sphere of lanthanide(III) due to complexation of amine ligands. Results show that the mean number of molecules of DMSO removed from the inner coordination sphere of lanthanides(III) is lower than ligand denticity and that the coordination number of the metal ions increases with amine complexation from 8 to 10. Independently of the number and structure of the amines, linear trends, similar for all lanthanides, were obtained by plotting the values of *Gj°, *Hj° and T*Sj° for the complexation of ethylenediamine (en), dien, trien, tren and tetren as a function of the number of amine metal-coordinated nitrogen atoms. The main factors on which the thermodynamic functions of lanthanide(III) complexation reactions in DMSO depend are discussed.
2007. "Influence of Calcium on Microbial Reduction of Solid Phase Uranium (VI)." Biotechnology and Bioengineering 97(6):1415-1422. doi:10.1002/bit.21357 Abstract The effect of calcium on microbial reduction of a solid phase U(VI), sodium boltwoodite (NaUO2SiO3OH ∙1.5H2O), was evaluated in a culture of a dissimilatory metal-reducing bacterium (DMRB), Shewanella oneidensis strain MR-1. Batch experiments were performed in a non-growth bicarbonate medium with lactate as electron donor at pH 7 buffered with PIPES. Calcium increased both the rate and extent of Na-boltwoodite dissolution by increasing its solubility through the formation of a ternary aqueous calcium-uranyl-carbonate species. The ternary species, however, decreased the rates of microbial reduction of aqueous U(VI). Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (LIFS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that microbial reduction of solid phase U(VI) is a sequentially coupled process of Na-boltwoodite dissolution, U(VI) aqueous speciation, and microbial reduction of dissolved U(VI) to U(IV) that accumulated on bacterial surfaces/periplasm. The overall rates of microbial reduction of solid phase U(VI) can be described by the coupled rates of dissolution and microbial reduction that were both influenced by calcium. The results demonstrated that dissolved U(VI) concentration during microbial reduction was a complex function of solid phase U(VI) dissolution kinetics, aqueous U(VI) speciation, and microbial activity.
2006. "Observation of Aqueous Cm(III)/Eu(III) and UO22+ Nanoparticulates at Concentrations Approaching Solubility Limit by Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy." Journal of Alloys and Compounds 418(1-2):166-170. Abstract Eu(III), Cm(III) and the uranyl ion display intense fluorescence spectra in the visible range and the spectroscopic characteristics are dependent on the composition and structure of the individual metal complexes. In this work, we demonstrate the application of laser-induced time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy in identification of nanoparticles of i) Eu(III) and Cm(III) in basic solutions (pH > 10) in the presence of organic chelates including EDTA, HEDTA, NTA and oxalate and ii) sodium uranyl phosphate after equilibration with synthetic sodium uranyl phosphate suspensions. Fluorescence spectral and SEM results indicate that Eu(III) and Cm(III) can exist as colloidal nanoparticles in filtered 0.1 M NaOH solutions. Such nanoparticles, which display largely red-shifted fluorescence spectra as compared with the aqueous complexes and unusually short fluorescence lifetimes, contribute to the measured concentrations of Eu(III)/Cm(III) in the aqueous solutions. Similarly, uranyl spectroscopic signatures indicate that the determination of the solubility of uranium phosphate minerals is prone to the presence of uranyl phosphate nanoparticles. Due to the presence of such nanoparticles, the common solubility measurements may only indicate an upper limit of the “true” solubility.
2006. "Isolation of a High-Affinity Functional Protein Complex between OmcA and MtrC: Two Outer Membrane Decaheme c-type Cytochromes of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 ." Journal of Bacteriology 188(13):4705-4714. doi:10.1128/JB.01966-05 Abstract SUMMARY Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 is a facultatively anaerobic bacterium that is capable of using insoluble oxidized metals, such as manganese [Mn(III, IV)] and iron [Fe(III)] oxides and oxyhydroxides, as terminal electron acceptors during anaerobic respiration. The ability of S. oneidensis MR-1 to reduce oxidized Mn and/or Fe has previously been linked to OmcA and MtrC: two decaheme c-type cytochromes that are localized to the outer membrane. To investigate how the electron transport proteins OmcA and MtrC are organized, we expressed and purified recombinant OmcA and MtrC from wild type S. oneidensis MR-1 as well as a mutant that lacked OmcA and MtrC (ΔomcA/mtrC). After purification to the nearly electrophoretic homogeneity from the ΔomcA/mtrC mutant, the recombinant OmcA and MtrC exhibited the characteristics of c-type cytochromes, and each of their polypeptides was confirmed to contain 10 hemes. When purified from wild type cells, endogenous MtrC or OmcA was always co-purified with recombinant OmcA or MtrC, respectively. Fluorescence polarization experiment showed that recombinant OmcA bound to the FlAsH-labeled MtrC with a dissociation constant of 7 ×10-7 M. The purified recombinant OmcA or MtrC alone displayed intrinsic ferric reductase activity with NADH used as an electron donor. Ferric reductase specific activity increased by 35 to 41% when nearly equimolar concentrations of OmcA and MtrC were assayed relative to the two proteins assayed independently. These results demonstrate that OmcA and MtrC directly interact with each other to form a stable complex with high ferric reductase activity.
2006. "c-Type Cytochrome-Dependent Formation of U(IV) Nanoparticles by Shewanella oneidensis ." PloS Biology 4(8):1324-1333. Abstract Modern approaches for bioremediation of radionuclide contaminated environments are based on the ability of microorganisms to effectively catalyze changes in the oxidation states of metals that in turn influence their solubility. Although microbial metal reduction has been identified as an effective means for immobilizing highly-soluble uranium(VI) complexes in situ, the biomolecular mechanisms of U(VI) reduction are not well understood. Here, we show that c-type cytochromes of a dissimilatory metal reducing bacterium, Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 are essential for the reduction of U(VI) and formation of extracelluar UO2 nanoparticles. In particular, the outer membrane (OM) decaheme cytochrome MtrC, previously implicated in Mn(IV) and Fe(III) reduction, directly transferred electrons to U(VI). Additionally, deletions of mtrC and/or omcA significantly affected the in vivo U(VI) reduction rate relative to wild type MR-1. Similar to the wild type, the mutants accumulated UO2 nanoparticles extracellularly to high densities in association with an exopolymeric substance (EPS). In wild type cells, this UO2-EPS matrix exhibited glycocalyx-like properties, contained multiple elements of the OM, polysaccharide, and heme containing proteins. Using a novel combination of methods including synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy and high resolution immune-electron microscopy, we demonstrate a close association of the extracellular UO2 nanoparticles with MtrC and OmcA. This is the first study to directly localize the OM-associated cytochromes with EPS, which contains biogenic UO2 nanoparticles. In the environment, such association of UO2 nanoparticles with biopolymers may exert a strong influence on subsequent behavior including susceptibility to oxidation by O2 or transport in soils and sediments.
2006. "Kinetics of Microbial Reduction of Solid Phase U(VI)." Environmental Science and Technology 40(20):6290-6296. Abstract Sodium boltwoodite (NaUO2SiO3OH ∙1.5H2O) was used to assess the kinetics of microbial reduction of solid phase U(VI) by a dissimilatory metal-reducing bacterium (DMRB), Shewanella oneidensis strain MR-1. The bioreduction kinetics was studied with Na-boltwoodite in suspension or within alginate beads. Concentrations of U(VI)tot and cell number were varied to evaluate the coupling of U(VI) dissolution, diffusion, and microbial activity. Batch experiments were performed in a non-growth medium with lactate as electron donor at pH 6.8 buffered with PIPES. Microscopic and spectroscopic analyses with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (LIFS) collectively indicated that solid phase U(VI) was first dissolved and diffused out of grain interiors before it was reduced on bacterial surfaces and/or within the periplasm. The kinetics of solid phase U(VI) bioreduction was well described by a coupled model of bicarbonate-promoted dissolution of Na-boltwoodite, intraparticle uranyl diffusion, and Monod type bioreduction kinetics with respect to dissolved U(VI) concentration. The results demonstrated the intimate coupling of biological, chemical, and physical processes in microbial reduction of solid phase U(VI).
2006. "The Dissolution of Synthetic Na-Boltwoodite in Sodium Carbonate Solutions." Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 70(19):4836-4849. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2006.06.1553 Abstract Uranyl silicates such as uranophane and Na-boltwoodite appear to control the solubility of uranium in the contaminated sediments at the US Department of Energy Hanford site (Liu et al., 2004). Consequently, the solubility of synthetic Na-boltwoodite was determined over a wide range of bicarbonate concentrations, from circumneutral to alkaline pH, that are representative of porewater and groundwater compositions at the Hanford site. Results show that Na-boltwoodite dissolution was nearly congruent and its solubility increased with increasing bicarbonate concentration. Calculated solubility constants varied by nearly 2 log units from low bicarbonate (no added NaCO3) to 50 mmol/L bicarbonate. However, the solubility constants only vary by 0.5 log units from 0 added bicarbonate to 1.2 mmol/L bicarbonate, where logKsp = 5.39-5.92 and the average logKsp = 5.63. No systematic trend in logKsp was apparent over this range in bicarbonate concentrations. LogKsp values trended down with increasing bicarbonate concentration, where logKsp = 4.06 at 50 mmol/L bicarbonate. We conclude that the calculated solubility constants at high bicarbonate are compromised by an incomplete or inaccurate uranyl-carbonate speciation model.
2006. "The Aqueous Complexation of Thorium with Citrate under Neutral to Basic Conditions." Radiochimica Acta 94(4):205-212. doi:DOI 10.1524/ract.2006.94.4.205 Abstract The aqueous complexation of thorium with citrate was investigated under neutral to basic conditions and over a broad range of ionic strengths. The solubility data for ThO2(am) as a function of citrate concentration indicate the presence of stable species with citrate-to-metal ratios of between two to three. The dependence of the ThO2(am) solubilities on hydrogen ion concentration can also be readily explained by the classical assumption of hydrolysis of the central Th(IV) ion to form mixed thorium-hydroxide-citrate complexes. 13C NMR spectra of the species in solution confirm that the citrate-to-metal ratio of the species in solution is between two and three and show that the citrate attaches to the metal in a bidentate fashion through oxygens on the -carboxylate and -alkoxyl groups, rather than through the carboxylate groups. The 13C NMR spectra, as well as a density functional theory (DFT) electronic structure study of the presumptive complexes, suggests that the associated α-hydroxyl proton can be displaced during complex formation. These findings indicate an alternative explanation for the observed changes in solubility as a function of hydrogen ion concentration, the displacement of protons from the citrate alkoxyl groups via metal binding. Removal of protons from the alkoxyl groups or hydrolysis of the central Th(IV) cannot be distinguished by thermodynamic measurements, however the species with the α-hydroxyl proton removed (i.e., ThOH(Cit)25- and Th(Cit)38-) would appear to better represent the microscopic binding. Apparent equilibrium constants for the solution phase reactions of these species and the hydrous thorium oxide have been calculated as a function of ionic strength.
2006. "Fluorescence Anisotropy Studies of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers." Luminescence 21(1):7-14. Abstract A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) is a biomimetic material that can be used as a biochemical sensing element. We studied the steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence and fluorescence anisotropy of anthracene imprinted polyurethane. We compared MIPs with imprinted analytes present, MIPs with the imprinted analytes extracted, MIPs with rebound analytes, non-imprinted control polymers (non-MIPs), and non-MIPs bound with analytes to understand MIP’s binding behavior. MIPs and non-MIPs had similar steady-state fluorescence anisotropy in the range of 0.11–0.24. Anthracene rebound in MIPs and non-MIPs had a fluorescence lifetime _=0.64 ns and a rotational correlation time _F =1.2–1.5 ns, both of which were shorter than that of MIPs with imprinted analytes present (_=2.03 ns and _F =2.7 ns). The steady-state anisotropy of polymer solutions increased exponentially with polymerization time and might be used to characterize the polymerization extent in-situ.
2006. "Adsorption of Uranyl on Gibbsite: A Time-Resolved Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy Study ." Environmental Science and Technology 40(4):1244-1249. Abstract Uranyl adsorbed on gibbsite at pH 4.0-8.0 and ionic strengths (ISs) 0.001-0.4 M (NaClO4) in the absence of carbonate was studied using time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLIFS) under cryogenic conditions. TRLIFS data showed the presence of several distinct emission components. Their contributions were determined using the evolving factor analysis approach. Four components denoted as species A, B, C, and D were discerned. Each of them was characterized by a characteristic response to pH and IS changes and also by a unique combination of the values of the fundamental transition energy E0,0, vibronic spacing E, and half-width of the vibronic lines W. Species A and B were major contributors to the overall emission. They were mainly affected by the pH and predominated below and above pH 5.0, respectively. In contrast with that, the contribution of species C was noticeable only at IS = 0.001 M, while it was suppressed or absent at high IS values. It was concluded that species A and B are likely to correspond to inner-sphere surface aluminol complexes AlO-(UO2)+ and AlO-(UO2)OH, while species C was hypothesized to correspond to electrostatically bound uranyl complexes (predominantly [UO2(OH)3]-).
2005. "Structure of Glass-Forming Melts - Lanthanide in Borosilicates." In Melt Chemistry, Relaxation, and Solidification Kinetics of Glasses, Ceramic Transactions, vol. 170, ed. H Li, CS Ray, DM Strachan, R Weber, Y Yue, pp. 69-80. American Ceramic Society, Westerville, OH. Abstract Better understanding of intermediate-range ordering in the glass network structure has resulted in significant progress since Zachariassen's random network structure model of oxide glasses. To set a foundation, we first breifly review, by no means exhaustively, some of the significant findings that demonstrate the existence of local structure or moieties in molten glass for both single and multi-component oxide systems, Melt structures, to a great extent, can be studied using a super cooled liquid or glass.
2005. "Fluorescence Spectroscopy of U(VI)-Silicates and U(VI)-Contaminated Hanford Sediment." Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 69(6):1391-1403. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2004.08.028 Abstract Time-resolved U(VI) laser fluorescence spectra (TRLFS) were recorded for a series of natural uranium-silicate minerals including boltwoodite, uranophane, soddyite, kasolite, sklodowskite, cuprosklodowskite, haiweeite, and weeksite, a synthetic boltwoodite, and four U(VI)-contaminated Hanford vadose zone sediments. Lowering the sample temperature from RT to ~ 5.5 K significantly enhanced the fluorescence intensity and spectral resolution of both the minerals and sediments, offering improved possibilities for identifying uranyl species in environmental samples. At 5.5 K, all of the uranyl silicates showed unique, well-resolved fluorescence spectra. The symmetric O=U=O stretching frequency, as determined from the peak spacing of the vibronic bands in the emission spectra, were between 705 to 823 cm-1 for the uranyl silicates. These were lower than those reported for uranyl phosphate, carbonate, or oxy-hydroxides. The fluorescence emission spectra of all four sediment samples were similar to each other. Their spectra shifted minimally at different time delays or upon contact with basic Na/Ca-carbonate electrolyte solutions that dissolved up to 60 % of the precipitated U(VI) pool. The well-resolved vibronic peaks in the fluorescence spectra of the sediments indicated that the major fluorescence species was a crystalline uranyl mineral phase, while the peak spacing of the vibronic bands pointed to the likely presence of uranyl silicate. Although, an exact match was not found between the U(VI) fluorescence spectra of the sediments with that of any individual uranyl silicates, the major spectral characteristics indicated that the sediment U(VI) was a uranophane-type solid (uranophane, boltwoodite) or soddyite, as was concluded from microprobe, EXAFS, and solubility analyses.
2005. "Cryogenic Laser Induced U(VI) Fluorescence Studies of a U(VI) Substituted Natural Calcite: Implications to U(VI) Speciation in Contaminated Hanford Sediments." Environmental Science and Technology 39:2651-2659. Abstract Time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) and imaging spectromicroscopy (TRLFISM) were used to examine the chemical speciation of uranyl in contaminated subsurface sediments from the Hanford Site, Washington. Spectroscopic measurements for contaminant U(VI) were compared to those from a natural, uranyl-bearing calcite (NUC) that had been found via X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to include uranyl in the same coordination environment as calcium (1). Spectral deconvolution of TRLFS measurements on the NUC revealed the unexpected presence of two distinct chemical environments consistent with published spectra of U(VI)-substituted synthetic calcite and aragonite. Apparently, some U(VI) substitution sites in calcite distorted to exhibit a local, more energetically favorable aragonite structure. TRLFS measurements of the Hanford sediments were similar to the NUC in terms of peak positions and intensity, despite a small CaCO3 content (<0.1 to 3.2 mass%). Spectral deconvolution of the sediment measurements also revealed the presence of U(VI) in calcite and aragonite structural environments. TRLFISM measurements at multiple locations in the different sediments displayed only minor variation indicating a uniform speciation pattern. Collectively, the measurements implied that waste U(VI), long-resident beneath the sampled disposal pond (32 y), had co-precipitated within newly formed carbonates. These results have major implications for the solubility and fate of the contaminated U(VI).
2005. "Complexation of Cm(III)/Eu(III) with Silicate in Basic Solutions." Radiochimica Acta 93(12):741-748. Abstract The complexation of Cm(III) and Eu(III) with dissolved silica was studied by time resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) in basic solutions over a range of total silica concentrations and ionic strengths (NaNO3). In highly basic solutions, both the fluorescence spectra and lifetime data indicate the formation of Eu(III)/Cm(III) complexes with oligomeric silicates as well as hydroxide groups and/or nitrate in the presence of concentrated NaNO3. At high silica concentration the inner-sphere complexation caused the shift of the fluorescence spectral maximum for Cm(III)(aq) from 594 nm to up to 607 nm and a significant increase of the hypersensitive 5D0 → 7F2 band around 615 nm relative to the non-hypersensitive 5D0 → 7F1 band at 592 nm for Eu(III). At the same time, the fluorescence lifetime increased from 68 s to up to 202 s for Cm(III) in 0.1 M NaNO3 and from 115 s to 1.8 ms for Eu(III) in 3.0 M and 5.0 M NaNO3, consistent with the removal of 6 or more water molecules upon silicate complexation. Linear correlations between the spectral intensity of Cm(III) complexes and the concentrations of the dissolved silicates suggest that Cm(III) complexation with the silicate dimer, Si2O2(OH)22-, may play a role.
2005. "Reoxidation of Bioreduced Uranium Under Reducing Conditions." Environmental Science and Technology 39(16):6162-6169. doi:10.1021/es048236g Abstract Uranium mining and processing for nuclear weapons and fuel have left thousands of sites with toxic levels of this actinide in soil and ground water1. An emerging strategy for remediating such environments involves using organic carbon to promote microbially-mediated reduction and precipitation of insoluble U(IV) minerals2-4. Although previous U bioreduction studies have shown promising results, they were of short duration (up to a few months). Our longer-term (20 months) laboratory study using historically contaminated sediment has alarmingly shown that microbial reduction of U was transient even under reducing (methanogenic) conditions. Uranium was reductively immobilized during the first 100 days, but later (150 to 600 days) reoxidized and mobilized, although a microbial community capable of reducing U(VI) remained through the end of the experiment. The formation of Ca2UO2(CO3)3 complexes5 (caused by the elevated carbonate concentration from microbial respiration and presence of calcium) drove the U(IV)/U(VI) reduction potential to much more reducing conditions. Fe(III) and Mn(IV) were found to be likely terminal electron acceptors (TEAs) for U reoxidation. Thus, U remediation by organic carbon based reductive precipitation is not sustainable in calcareous, neutral to alkaline soils and ground waters
2005. "Hydrogen Bubbles and Formation of Nanoporous Silicon during Electrochemical Etching." Surface and Interface Analysis 37(6):555-561. Abstract Many nanoporous Si structures, including those formed by common electrochemical etching procedures, produce a uniformly etch nanoporous surface. If the electrochemical etch rate is slowed down, details of the etch process can be explored and process parameters may be varied to test hypotheses and obtain controlled nanoporous and defect structures. For example, after electrochemical etching of a heavily n-doped (R = 0.05-0.5 Ω -cm) <100> silicon at a current density of 10 mA/cm² in buffer oxide etch (BOE) electrolyte solution defect craters, containing textured nanopores, were observed to occur in ring shaped patterns of rings. The defect craters apparently originate at the hydrogen-BOE bubble interface, which forms during hydrogen evolution in the reaction. The slower hydrogen evolution due to low current density allows sufficient bubble residence time so that a high defect density appears at the bubble edges where local reaction rates are highest. Current carrying Si-OH species are most likely responsible for the widening in the craters. Reducing the defect/doping density in silicon lowers the defect concentration and thereby the density of nanopores. Measurements of photoluminescence lifetime and intensity show a distinct feature when the low density of nanopores formed at ring edges are isolated from each other. Overall features observed in photoluminescence (PL), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) intensity strongly emphasize the role of surface oxide that influences these properties.
2005. "The Solubility Product of NaUO2PO4.xH2O Determined in Phosphate and Carbonate Solutions." Radiochimica Acta 93(7):401-408. Abstract The solubility product of NaUO2PO4.xH2O was determined in phosphate containing solutions at low pCH+ values in the absence of carbonate and at higher pCH+ values in the presence of carbonate. NaUO2PO4.xH2O exhibited very low solubilities (~10-7 M in U) over a broad range of hydrogen ion concentrations, NaNO3 concentrations and in the absence of added carbonate. Time Resolved Laser Fluorescence Spectroscopy (TRLFS) analysis of non-carbonate solutions outside of the acidic region revealed the presence of complex mixtures of aqueous U(VI) hydroxyl or phosphate species and uranium phosphate nanoparticles. The presence of the nanoparticles made it impossible to accurately calculate a solubility product for NaUO2PO4.xH2O in the absence of carbonate and at higher pCH+ values. Therefore in order to increase the concentration of U(VI) in solution and thereby verify the solubility product calculated from the most acidic samples, we systematically introduced know concentrations of carbonate, which resulted in the formation of U(VI) carbonate complexes. Development of an accurate aqueous thermodynamic model for the aqueous U(VI) carbonate complexes then allowed calculation of a solubility product for NaUO2PO4.xH2O in the higher pH samples which was in good agreement with the values for the more acidic samples.
2005. "Influence of Calcite and Dissolved Calcium on Uranium(VI) Sorption to a Hanford Subsurface Sediment." Environmental Science and Technology 39(20):7949-7955. doi:10.1021/es0505088 Abstract The influence of calcite and dissolved calcium on U(VI) adsorption was investigated using a calcite-containing sandy silt/clay sediment from the U. S. Department of Energy Hanford site. U(VI) adsorption to sediment, treated sediment, and sediment size fractions was studied in solutions that both had and had not been preequilibrated with calcite, at initial [U(VI)] ) 10-7-10-5 mol/L and final pH ) 6.0- 10.0. Kinetic and reversibility studies (pH 8.4) showed rapid sorption (30 min), with reasonable reversibility in the 3-day reaction time. Sorption from solutions equilibrated with calcite showed maximum U(VI) adsorption at pH 8.4 (0.1. In contrast, calcium-free systems showed the greatest adsorption at pH 6.0-7.2. At pH > 8.4, U(VI) adsorption was identical from calcium-free and calcium-containing solutions. For calcite-presaturated systems, both speciation calculations and laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopic analyses indicated that aqueous U(VI) was increasingly dominated by Ca2UO2(CO3)3 0(aq) at pH<8.4 and that formation of Ca2UO2(CO3)3 0(aq) is what suppresses U(VI) adsorption. Above pH 8.4, aqueous U(VI) speciation was dominated by UO2(CO3)3 4- in all solutions. Finally, results also showed that U(VI) adsorption was additive in regard to size fraction but not in regard to mineral mass: Carbonate minerals may have blocked U(VI) access to surfaces of higher sorption affinity.
2005. "Luminescence from the trans-Dioxotechnetium(V) Chromophore." Journal of the American Chemical Society 127(43):14978-14979. Abstract Photophysical properties of the trans-dioxotechnetium(V) chromophore are reported for the first time. The complexes [TcO₂(L)₄] ⁺ (L=pyridine or 4-picoline) and [TcO₂(CN)₄]³ ⁻ are luminescent from a ³Eg excited state in the near IR with emission maxima ranging from 715-750 nm. DFT calculations predicted the observed red-shift in emission energy relative to trans-dioxorhenium(V) congeners. Distinct vibronic progressions are observed in the symmetric O=Tc=O and Tc-L stretching frequencies in the 8 K emission spectra and excited state lifetimes mirrored trends of the analogous Re(V) complexes.
2005. "Fluorescense Anisotropy Studies of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Sensors." Luminescence 21(1):7-14. doi:10.1002/bio.874 Abstract Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are used as recognition elements in biochemical sensors. In a fluorescence-based MIP sensor system, it is difficult to distinguish the analyte fluorescence from the background fluorescence of the polymer itself. We studied steady-state fluorescence anisotropy of anthracene imprinted in a polymer (polyurethane) matrix. Vertically polarized excitation light was incident on MIP films coated on silicon wafers; vertically and horizontally polarized emission was measured. We compared the fluorescence anisotropy of MIPs with imprinted molecules, MIPs with the imprinted molecules extracted, MIPs with rebound molecules, and nonimprinted control polymers (without binding cavities). It is shown that differences in fluorescence anisotropy between the polymers and imprinted fluorescent molecules may provide a means to discriminate the fluorescence of analyte from that of the background polymer.
2004. "Carbon Paste Electrode Modified with Carbamoylphosphonic Acid Functionalized Mesoporous Silica: A New Mercury-Free Sensor for Uranium Detection." Electroanalysis 16(10):870-873. Abstract This study reports a new approach for developing a uranium (U(VI)) electrochemical sensor that is mercury-free, solid-state, and has less chance for ligand depletion than existing sensors. A carbon-paste electrode modified with carbamoylphosphonic acid self-assembled monolayer on mesoporous silica was developed for uranium detection based on an adsorptive square-wave stripping votammetry technique. Voltammetric responses for U(VI) detection are reported as a function of pH, preconcentration time, and aqueous phase U(VI) concentration. The uranium detection limit is 25 ppb after 5 minutes preconcentration and improved to 1 ppb after 20 minutes preconcentration. The relative standard deviations are normally less than 5%.
2004. "Cryogenic Laser Induced Fluorescence Characterization of U(VI) in Hanford Vadose Zone Pore Waters." Environmental Science and Technology 38:5591-5597. Abstract Ambient and liquid helium temperature laser-induced time-resolved uranyl fluorescence spectroscopy was applied to study the speciation of aqueous uranyl solutions containing carbonate and phosphate and two porewater samples obtained by ultra-centrifugation of U(VI)-contaminated sediments. The significantly enhanced fluorescence signal intensity and spectral resolution found at liquid helium temperature allowed, for the first time, direct fluorescence spectroscopic observation of the higher aqueous uranyl complexes with carbonate: UO2(CO3)22-, UO2(CO3)34- and (UO2)2(OH)3CO3-. The porewater samples were non-fluorescent at room temperature. However, at liquid helium temperature, both porewater samples displayed strong, well-resolved fluorescence spectra. Comparisons of the spectroscopic characteristics of the porewaters with those of the standard uranyl-carbonate complexes confirmed that U(VI) in the porewaters existed primarily as UO2(CO3)34-. A small amount of the dicalcium-urano-tricarbonate complex, Ca2UO2(CO3)3, was also observed that was consistent with thermodynamic calculation. The U(VI)-carbonate complex is apparently the mobile species responsible for the subsurface migration of U(VI), even though the majority of the in-ground U(VI) inventory at the site from which the samples were obtained exists as intragrain U(VI)-silicate precipitates.
2004. "Self-Exchange Electron Transfer Kinetics and Reduction Potentials for Anthraquinone Disulfonate." Journal of Physical Chemistry A 108(16):3292-3303. Abstract Self-exchange electron transfer kinetics and reduction potentials for anthraquinone disulfonate
2004. "Dissolution of Uranyl Microprecipitates from Subsurface Sediments at Hanford Site, USA." Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 68(22):4519-4537. Abstract This paper describes a study of thermodynamics and Kinetics of uranyl microprecipitates from subsurface sediments at Hanford Site, USA.
2003. "Thermodynamic model for the solubility of ThO2 (am) in the aqueous Na+ - H+ -OH- -NO3- -H2O-EDTA System." Radiochimica Acta 91(12):751-760. Abstract Thermodynamic model for the solubility of ThO2 (am) in the aqueous Na+ - H+ - OH- - NO3- - H2O-EDTA System
2003. "A fluorescence spectroscopic study on the speciation of Cm(III) and Eu(III) in the presence of organic chelates in highly basic solutions." Radiochimica Acta 91:329-337. Abstract The speciation of Eu(III) and Cm(III) was investigated by time resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) over a range of base concentrations ranging from 0.01m NaOH to 7.5M NaOH and in the presence of several organic chelates including EDTA, HEDTA, NTA, and oxalate. The results of this work suggest that both Eu(III) and Cm(III) form strong mixed ligand complexes with organic chelates and the hydroxyl groups(s) in dilute NaOH solutions. However, in concentrated NaOH solutions, Eu(III)-/Cm(III)-containing colloidal nanoparticles are the primary cause for the measured Eu(III)/Cm(III) in the aqueous solutions. Therefore, the interpretation of these data solely in terms of the formation of amphoteric hydroxyl species (e.g. Eu(OH)4-) would appear to be inappropriate. The organic chelating ligands form strong complexes with surface Cm(III)/Eu(III) sites of the colloidal nanoparticles. For Cm(III), such surface complexes show largely red-shifted fluorescence spectra as compared with the aqueous complexes and unusually short fluorescence lifetimes. The decreased fluorescence lifetimes are likely due to the presence of transition metal ions, such as Fe3+, in the nanoparticle as well as reduced inter-nuclear distance between neighboring Cm(III) centers.
2003. "Europium Uptake and Partitioning in Oat (Avena sativa) Roots as studied By Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Confocal Microscopy Profiling Technique ." Environmental Science and Technology 37(22):5247-5253. Abstract The uptake of Eu3+ by elongating oat plant roots was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence lifetime measurement, as well as laser excitation time-resolved confocal fluorescence profiling technique. The results of this work indicated that the initial uptake of Eu(III) by oat root was most evident within the apical meristem of the root just proximal to the root cap. Distribution of assimilated Eu(III) within the root’s differentiation and elongation zone was non-uniform. Higher concentrations were observed within the vascular cylinder, specifically in the phloem and developing xylem parenchyma. Elevated levels of the metal were also observed in the root hairs of the mature root. The concentration of assimilated Eu3+ dropped sharply from the apical meristem to the differentiation and elongation zone and then gradually decreased as the distance from the root cap increased. Fluorescence spectroscopic characteristics of the assimilated Eu3+ suggested that the Eu3+ exists as inner-sphere mononuclear complexes inside the root. This work has also demonstrated the effectiveness of a time-resolved Eu3+ fluorescence spectroscopy and confocal fluorescence profiling techniques for the in vivo, real-time study of metal [Eu3+] accumulation by a functioning intact plant root. This approach can prove valuable for basic and applied studies in plant nutrition and environmental uptake of actinide radionuclides.
2001. "Spectroscopic Study of Lanthanide (III) Complexes with Aliphatic Dicarboxylic Acids." Inorganica Chimica Acta 310:248-256. Abstract Spectroscopic Study of Lanthanide (III) Complexes with Aliphatic Dicarboxylic Acids
2001. "Ground-State Proton Transfer Tautomer of Al(III)-Salicylate Complexes in Ethanol Solution." Journal of Physical Chemistry A 105(5):942-950. Abstract The tautomerization of salicylate anion in the presence of A1(III) in ethanol was studied by UV ? visible absorption spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy, anisotropy, and lifetime measurements from 100 to 298 K. Complexation with A1(III) causes an equilibrium shift from the normal form of the salicylate anion toward the tautomer form, demonstrating that the presence of a highly charged cation, A1(III), stabilizes the tautomer form of salicylate. Spectra and fluorescence lifetimes of salicylate and other salicyl derivatives in the presence of A1(III) reveal three types of A1(III)-salicylate complexes. In type I complexes, salicylate binds to A1(III) through the carboxylate group, preserving the intramolecular hydrogen bond between the carbonyl oxygen and the phenol group, as indicated by the largely Stokes-shifted fluorescence emission following the excited state pr oton transfer process. In type II complexes, salicylate binds to A1(III) through the carboxylate group, but the phenol proton is oriented away from the carbonyl oxygen so that the complex shows short wavelength fluorescence emission characteristic of substituted phenolic compounds. In type III compleses, A1(III) stabilizes and binds to the tautomer form of salicylate through the phenolate oxyten, in which salicylate exists in its proton transferred tautomer form. Absorption spectra recorded at temperatures between 100 K and 298 K indicate that the type III tautomer complex is energetically favored at low temperature, although type I is the dominant species at room temperature. All three types of complexes are interconvertible above the ethanol glass transition temperature. However, below the glass transition temperature interconversion ceases, indicating large amplitude atomic motion is involved in the conversion.
2001. "Anthracene as the Origin of the Red-Shifted Emission from Commercial Zone-Refined Phenanthrene Sorbed on Mineral Surfaces." Journal of Physical Chemistry A 105(25):6020-6023. Abstract The Origin of the Red-Shifted Fluorescence Emission from Commercial Zone-refined Phenanthrene and Its Application as a Spectral Probe for Phenanthrene Association on Mineral Surface
2001. "A Study of the Corrosion Products of Mild Steel in High Ionic Strength Brines." Waste Management 21:335-341. Abstract A Study of the Corrosion Products of Mild Steel in High Ionic Strength Brines
2001. "A Fluorescence Spectroscopic Study of Phenanthrene Sorbed on Porous Silica." Environmental Science and Technology 35(13):2710-2716. Abstract A Fluorescence Spectroscopic Study of Phenanthrene Sorbed on Porous Silica
2001. "Artificial Aging of Phenanthrene in Porous Silicas Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide." Environmental Science and Technology 35(18):3707-3712. Abstract Evidence of pore effects influencing slow aqueous desorption of phenanthrene from three silica particles of varying particle size and mean pore diameters was investigated. A resistant fraction amounting to 64% of the initial phenanthrene content was observed for 21A particles. This result suggests that pore effects are a major contributor to the observance of a phenanthrene resistant fraction in one model silical used in this study. This also suggests that micropores can contribute to slow aqueous desorption of organic compounds of low aqueous solubility from naturally aged soils and sediments.
2000. "Kinetics and Mechanism of Surface Reaction of Salicylate on Alumina in Colloidal Aqueous Suspension ." Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 64(7):1159-1172. Abstract N/A
2000. "Neodymium (III) in Alumino-Borosilicate Glasses ." Journal of Non-crystalline Solids 278(1-3):35-57. Abstract Optical spectroscopic measurement was performed on Al2O3-B2O3-SiO2 glasses containing 7 to 25 mol% Nd2O3 (soluble). The local chemical environment of Nd(III) in glass was systematically studied as a function of the Nd2O3 concentration in the glasses using Judd-Ofelt (J-O) optical oscillator parameters, Omega 2 and Omega 6, that are related to the ligand field symmetry (LFS) and the degree of bond covalency (BC), respectively. Two transition points (TP), in terms of the J-O parameter vs. Nd2O3 concentration, were found for Omega 2 that is sensitive to LFS and Omega 6 that is sensitive to the degree of BC. The first TP is defined by Nd:3(B+Al) and the second is by Nd:3(B+Al+Si). Below the first TP, Omega 2 and Omega 6 were nearly independent of Nd concentration. Between the first and the second TP, 2 and 6 increased and then decreased above the second TP. Reviewing literature data of rare earths in Na2O-B2O3, Na2O-SiO2, Na2O-B2O3-SiO2, and Al2O3-B2O3 systems, we proposed that up to the first TP, Nd preferentially dissolves in the borate sites, composed of two trigonal boron, B(III), and one tetrahedral boron B(IV) where Al(IV) substitutes for B(IV). Further increase in Nd2O3 concentration results in the excess Nd cations, [Nd-3(B+Al)], partitioning to the silicate sites possibly in a form of Nd-Q3, and above the second TP, Nd-Q2 could result at the expense of Nd-Q3 (Qn is the number of bridging oxygens per Si tetrahedron) whereas the concentration of Nd cations in the borate-sites is expected to be unchanged. Crystallization of Nd-silicate above its solubility, 25 -30 mol% Nd2O3, indirectly supports the proposed Nd dissolution mechanisms. The dissolution of rare earth elements in aluminoborosilicate may be best described in terms of their partitioning to these structure groups.
1999. "Time-Resolved Fluorescence Anisotropies in Mixed Surfactant Solutions." Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 218(1):260-264. Abstract Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy decays of solutions of Triton X-114(TX-114) with various amounts of sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS) were measured using emission both from the surfactant itself and from added perylene. In the former case, the monomer and aggregate species of the surfactant were spectroscopically isolated and were shown to have significantly different rotational correlation times. The rotational diffusion of perylene in micellar TX-114 with small amounts of added SDS appeared to have a component with a very short correlation time. The anisotropy decay curves showed the existence of limiting anisotropies, indicating hindered probe rotation in the micellar environment. At higher SDS concentrations, the fast-decaying component slowed down and the limiting anisotropy decreased substantially, suggesting some migration of the probe to the interior of the micelle.
1999. "Ground-state proton-transfer tautomer of the salicylate anion." Journal of Physical Chemistry A 103(48):9644-9653. Abstract Gound-state proton-transfer tautomer of the salicylate anion