Fabrication of a Liquid Scintillator based on 7-Diethylamino-4-Methylcoumarin for Radiation Detection.

Organic liquid scintillation detectors are widely used to measure the presence of radiation. With these devices, there are advantages in that they are easy to manufacture, large in size, and have a short fluorescence decay time. However, they are not suitable for gamma spectroscopy because they are composed of a low-atomic-number material.

The Effect of Annealing Temperature on the Synthesis of Nickel Ferrite Films as High-Capacity Anode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries.

Anode materials providing a high specific capacity with a high cycling performance are one of the key parameters for lithium ion batteries' (LIBs) applications. Herein, a high-capacity NiFeO(NFO) film anode is prepared by E-beam evaporation, and the effect of the heat treatment is studied on the microstructure and electrochemical properties of LIBs. The NiFeO film annealed at 800 °C (NFO-800) showed a highly crystallized structure and different surface morphologies when compared to the electrode annealed at a lower temperature (NFO-600, NFO-700).

Effective removal of radioactive cesium from contaminated water by synthesized composite adsorbent and its thermal treatment for enhanced storage stability.

A composite adsorbent for the removal of radioactive cesium (Cs) was synthesized by immobilizing potassium cobalt ferrocyanide in the micro pores of the zeolite chabazite. The synthetically optimized composite adsorbent demonstrates a rapid cesium adsorption rate under both salt-free and high-salt conditions with a high distribution coefficient of cesium (≥10 mL/g). Although both components have the same ion-exchange reaction between potassium and cesium, the reaction by ferrocyanide component was predominant, which derived hundred times higher distribution coefficient of the composite adsorbent than that of pure chabazite.

Enhanced removal of cesium by potassium-starved microalga, Desmodesmus armatus SCK, under photoheterotrophic condition with magnetic separation.

This study investigated the feasibility of using photoheterotrophic microalga, Desmodesmus armatus SCK, for removal of cesium (Cs) followed by recovery process using magnetic nanoparticles. The comparison of three microalgae results indicated that D. armatus SCK removed the most Cs at both 25 °C and 10 °C.

Removal of radioactive cesium from an aqueous solution via bioaccumulation by microalgae and magnetic separation.

We evaluated the potential sequestration of cesium (Cs) by microalgae under heterotrophic growth conditions in an attempt to ultimately develop a system for treatment of radioactive wastewater. Thus, we examined the effects of initial Cs concentration (100-500 μM), pH (5-9), K and Na concentrations (0-20 mg/L), and different organic carbon sources (acetate, glycerol, glucose) on Cs removal. Our initial comparison of nine microalgae indicated that Desmodesmus armatus SCK had removed the most Cs under various environmental conditions.

Enhanced desorption of Cs from clays by a polymeric cation-exchange agent.

We report on a new approach to increase the removal of cesium from contaminated clays based on the intercalation of a cationic polyelectrolyte into the clay interlayers. A highly charged cationic polyelectrolyte, polyethyleneimine (PEI), was shown to intercalate into the negatively charged interlayers and readily replaced Cs ions adsorbed on the interlayers of montmorillonite. The polycation desorbed significantly more Cs strongly bound to the clay than did single cations.

Colorimetric detection and removal of radioactive Co ions using sodium alginate-based composite beads.

We demonstrate a simple method for the visual determination and removal of Co ions using a bead-shaped, capturing probe based on hybridized sodium alginate. For Co ions, the designed protocol consisted of three main constituents: an azopyridine-based Co ion-probe for visual detection; sodium alginate as an adsorbent for the Co ion and a bead construct for removal and structure; silica as a linker for the probe and the alginate, leading to a robust structure. When the composite beads were exposed to Co ions, the yellow color of the beads turned to intensive violet and the color intensity was associated with the Co ion concentration.

Removal of cesium ions from clays by cationic surfactant intercalation.

We propose a new approach to remediate cesium-contaminated clays based on intercalation of the cationic surfactant dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) into clay interlayers. Intercalation of DTAB was found to occur very rapidly and involved exchanging interlayer cations. The reaction yielded efficient cesium desorption (∼97%), including of a large amount of otherwise non-desorbable cesium ions by cation exchange with ammonium ions.

Copper Ferrocyanide-Functionalized Magnetic Adsorbents Using Polyethyleneimine Coated Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for the Removal of Radioactive Cesium.

Copper ferrocyanide-functionalized magnetic nano-adsorbents were successfully synthesized by electrostatic coating of citric acid coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles with polyethyleneimine, and immobilizing copper and ferrocyanide on the surfaces of polyethyleneimine-coated nanoparticles. Radioactive cesium (Cs) adsorption tests were conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the copper ferrocyanide-functionalized magnetic nano-adsorbents toward the removal of radioactive Cs.

Succinate Functionalization of Hyperbranched Polyglycerol-Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles as a Draw Solute During Forward Osmosis.

Hyperbranched polyglycerol-coated magnetic nanoparticles (SHPG-MNPs) were functionalized with succinate groups to form a draw solute for use in a forward osmosis (FO). After the one-step synthesis of hyperbranched polyglycerol-coated magnetic nanoparticles (HPG-MNPs), the polyglycerol groups on the surfaces of the HPG-MNPs were functionalized with succinic anhydride moieties. The resulting SHPG-MNPs showed no change of size and magnetic property compared with HPG-MNPs and displayed excellent dispersibility in water up to the concentration of 400 g/L.

Copper Ferrocyanide-Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles for the Selective Removal of Radioactive Cesium.

Copper ferrocyanide-functionalized magnetite nanoparticles (Cu-FC-MNPs) were successfully synthesized by immobilizing copper and ferrocyanide on the surfaces of [1-(2 amino-ethyl)-3-aminopropyl] trimethoxysilane-modified magnetite nanoparticles. Radioactive cesium (Cs) adsorption tests were conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the Cu-FC-MNPS toward the removal of radioactive Cs. The Cu-FC-MNPs showed excellent separation properties using an external magnet in an aqueous solution.

Removal of Radioactive Cesium Using Prussian Blue Magnetic Nanoparticles.

Radioactive cesium (Cs) has inevitably become a human concern due to exposure from nuclear power plants and nuclear accident releases. Many efforts have been focused on removing cesium and the remediation of the contaminated environment. In this study, we elucidated the ability of Prussian blue-coated magnetic nanoparticles to eliminate cesium from radioactive contaminated waste.

Folate-conjugated cross-linked magnetic nanoparticles as potential magnetic resonance probes for in vivo cancer imaging.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are widely used as nanoprobes for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this study, a novel type of cross-linked magnetic nanoparticle was developed in an effort to improve the structural stability of amphiphilic polymer-coated iron oxide nanoparticles. Iron oxide nanocrystals were coated with a cross-linkable amphiphilic graft copolymer, poly(succinimide) grafted with folate-conjugated polyethylene glycol (PEG) and alkyl chains.

A direct surface modification of iron oxide nanoparticles with various poly(amino acid)s for use as magnetic resonance probes.

Water soluble and biocompatible iron oxide nanoparticles coated with poly(aspartic acid) (PAsp), poly(asparagines) (PAsn), poly(2-hydroxy-ethyl L-aspartamide) (PHEA), and poly-α,β-(N-2-dimethylaminoethyl L-aspartamide) (PDMAEA) were prepared by hydrophobic interaction between hydrophobic iron oxide nanoparticles and each amphiphilic poly(amino acid)s graft polymer. The octadecyl side chain grafted poly(succinimide)(PSI-g-C(18)), used as a precursor polymer, was easily aminolyzed with nucleophilic compounds to form various poly(amino acid)s graft polymer (PAsp-g-C(18), PAsn-g-C(18), PHEA-g-C(18), PDMAEA-g-C(18),) and simultaneously stabilize the dispersion of iron oxide nanoparticles in aqueous solution. The diameters of the poly(amino acid)s coated iron oxide nanoparticles (PAIONs) were smaller than 30 nm in aqueous solution, extremely stable in aqueous solutions with a wide range of pH and salt concentrations.

Development of an automatic smear sampler and evaluation of surface contamination.

The surface contamination level of a radiation-controlled area is measured periodically according to atomic energy law and connection regulations. The measurement of surface contamination by an indirect method is subject to various kinds of error depending on the sampling person and consumes much time and effort in the sampling of large nuclear facilities. In this research, an automatic smear sampler is developed to solve these problems.