Brookhaven National Laboratory today issued the following news release.
For release: June 30, 2005
Brookhaven Scientists Develop Method to Remove Uranium from
Contaminated Steel Surfaces
Upton, NY - Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's
Brookhaven National Laboratory, Center for Environmental and
Molecular Sciences, and Stony Brook University (SBU) have developed a
simple, safe method of removing uranium from contaminated metallic
surfaces using citric acid formulations so that the materials can be
recycled or disposed of as low-level radioactive or nonradioactive
waste. The research is published in the July 1, 2005 issue of
Environmental Science and Technology
Decontamination of radionuclides from metallic and other surfaces
contaminated by radiological incidents is a major environmental
challenge. Brookhaven scientist A.J. Francis, assisted at the Lab by
Cleveland Dodge and by Gary Halada at SBU, led the effort in
developing an innovative and improved process for decontaminating
metal surfaces and other materials. The research team developed an
environmentally friendly green-chemistry process that uses all
naturally occurring materials - citric acid, common soil bacteria,
and sunlight. Present methods of removing uranium from contaminated
metal surfaces include sand blasting, chemical extraction, and
electro-chemical dissolution. These methods generate secondary waste
streams, creating additional disposal problems.
"In the event of a radiological incident, such as a 'dirty bomb,'
this technology can be used to clean up contaminated materials,"
Francis said. "It will also treat the secondary waste generated from
the treatment process, resulting in waste minimization. It is a
comprehensive process."
Using the National Synchrotron Light Source, a source of intense
x-rays, ultraviolet and infrared light at Brookhaven Lab, the
researchers systematically examined the contaminated materials at the
molecular scale and the association of uranium before and after
treatment with citric acid formulations. The efficiency of uranium
removal ranged from 68 percent to 94 percent, depending on the age
and extent of corrosion.
Wastewater generated from the decontamination process was subjected
to biodegradation followed by photodegradation, which minimized the
generation of secondary waste and allowed the uranium to be
recovered. This process, which has been patented, can also be used to
remove toxic metals and radionuclides from contaminated soils,
wastes, and incinerator ash.
The research was funded by the Environmental Management Science
Program of the Environmental Remediation Sciences Division, Office of
Biological and Environmental Research of the Department of Energy's
(DOE) Office of Science. DOE's Environmental Management Science
Program supports basic research to clean up DOE legacy sites and the
technologies that have emerged from the program can also be used in
response to radiological incidents.
One of ten national laboratories overseen and primarily funded by the
Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Brookhaven
National Laboratory conducts research in the physical, biomedical,
and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies and
national security. Brookhaven Lab also builds and operates major
scientific facilities available to university, industry and
government researchers. Brookhaven is operated and managed for DOE's
Office of Science by Brookhaven Science Associates, a
limited-liability company founded by Stony Brook University, the
largest academic user of Laboratory facilities, and Battelle, a
nonprofit, applied science and technology organization.
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Sheldon