Sorption of selected radionuclides to clay in the presence of humic acid

Within the framework of the FUNMIG programme, Loughborough University is performing work to increase understanding of the sorption behaviour of selected radionuclides with various minerals in the absence and presence of competing complexing ligands, such as humic acid (HA). The determination of the distribution ratios (Rd) of binary (metal- and humic-solid), and ternary (metal-solid-humic) systems using a batch adsorption technique is reported. Four radionuclides have been used; 137Cs, 63Ni, 152Eu and 109Cd, to facilitate modelling. Montmorillonite, kaolinite and α-goethite have been used as solids. Humic acid concentrations (2 - 300 ppm (w/v)) were determined using UV spectrophotometry. Radiometric analysis was used for radionuclide measurement. Construction of sorption isotherms using the Langmuir and Freundlich Equations has allowed characterisation of sorption types, and has provided maximum sorption capacities of the solid surfaces for each of the metals in the binary systems. Distribution relationships between metal and humic acid for each ternary system have been established and correlated

Write-Avoiding Algorithms

Short version of the technical report available at http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/2015/EECS-2015-163.pdf as Technical Report No. UCB/EECS-2015-163International audienc

Measuring elastic nonlinearity in a soft solid using a tilted acoustic radiation force for shear wave excitation

Excitation of multiple wave modes using shear wave elastography can result in additional information about the tissue's material characteristics and, potentially, improve disease diagnosis. Theoretically, tilting the acoustic radiation force excitation axis with respect to the material's symmetry axis should excite several wave modes in the material. In this work, we have experimentally demonstrated proof of concept in a uniaxially stretched phantom, while increasing the stretch level. Tilted acoustic radiation force experiments showed a clearly visible second wave mode across the stretch direction for larger stretches (>160%)

A procedure to assess the importance of chemical kinetics in the humic-mediated transport of radionuclides in radiological performance assessment calculations

Previous work has shown that humic substances can bind metal ions in two fractions: the exchangeable, where it is available instantaneously for reaction with other sinks (such as mineral surfaces); and the non-exchangeable, from which it may only dissociate slowly. In the absence of metal ion/humic/mineral surface ternary complexes, if the dissociation rate is slow compared to the solution residence time in the groundwater column, then metal in the non-exchangeable will have a significantly higher mobility than that in the exchangeable. The critical factor is the ratio of the non-exchangeable first order dissociation rate constant and the residence time in the groundwater column, metal ion mobility increasing with decreasing rate constant. Sorption of humic/metal complexes at mineral surfaces may reduce mobility. In addition to direct retardation, sorption also increases the residence time of the non-exchangeable fraction, giving more time for dissociation and immobilisation. The magnitude of the effect depends upon the concentrations of the mineral surface humic binding sites and the humic in solution, along with the magnitudes of the equilibrium constant and the forward and backward rate constants. The non-exchangeable dissociation reaction and the sorption reaction may be classified in terms of two Damkohler numbers, which can be used to determine the importance of chemical kinetics during transport calculations. These numbers could be used to determine when full chemical kinetic calculations are required for a reliable prediction, and when equilibrium may be assumed, or when the reactions are sufficiently slow that they may be ignored completely

Using high-frequency phosphorus monitoring for water quality management: a case study of the upper River Itchen, UK

Increased concentrations of phosphorus (P) in riverine systems lead to eutrophication and can contribute to other environmental effects. Chalk rivers are known to be particularly sensitive to elevated P levels. We used high-frequency (daily) automatic water sampling at five distinct locations in the upper River Itchen (Hampshire, UK) between May 2016 and June 2017 to identify the main P species (including filterable reactive phosphorus, total filterable phosphorus, total phosphorus and total particulate phosphorus) present and how these varied temporally. Our filterable reactive phosphorus (considered the biologically available fraction) data were compared with the available Environment Agency total reactive phosphorus (TRP) values over the same sampling period. Over the trial, the profiles of the P fractions were complex; the major fraction was total particulate phosphorus with the mean percentage value ranging between 69 and 82% of the total P present. Sources were likely to be attributable to wash off from agricultural activities. At all sites, the FRP and Environment Agency TRP mean concentrations over the study were comparable. However, there were a number of extended time periods (1 to 2 weeks) where the mean FRP concentration (e.g. 0.62 mg L−1) exceeded the existing regulatory values (giving a poor ecological status) for this type of river. Often, these exceedances were missed by the limited regulatory monitoring procedures undertaken by the Environment Agency. There is evidence that these spikes of elevated concentrations of P may have a biological impact on benthic invertebrate (e.g. blue-winged olive mayfly) communities that exist in these ecologically sensitive chalk streams. Further research is required to assess the ecological impact of P and how this might have implications for the development of future environmental regulations

Predictability of European winter 2019/20: Indian Ocean dipole impacts on the NAO

Northern Europe and the UK experienced an exceptionally warm and wet winter in 2019/20, driven by an anomalously positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). This positive NAO was well forecast by several seasonal forecast systems, suggesting that this winter the NAO was highly predictable at seasonal lead times. A very strong positive Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) event was also observed at the start of winter. Here we use composite analysis and model experiments, to show that the IOD was a key driver of the observed positive NAO. Using model experiments that perturb the Indian Ocean initial conditions, two teleconnection pathways of the IOD to the north Atlantic emerge: a tropospheric teleconnection pathway via a Rossby wave train travelling from the Indian Ocean over the Pacific and Atlantic, and a stratospheric teleconnection pathway via the Aleutian region and the stratospheric polar vortex. These pathways are similar to those for the El Niño Southern Oscillation link to the north Atlantic which are already well documented. The anomalies in the north Atlantic jet stream location and strength, and the associated precipitation anomalies over the UK and northern Europe, as simulated by the model IOD experiments, show remarkable agreement with those forecast and observed