Investigating the interaction of uranium(VI) with diatoms and their bacterial community: A microscopic and spectroscopic study.

Diatoms and bacteria play a vital role in investigating the ecological effects of heavy metals in the environment. Despite separate studies on metal interactions with diatoms and bacteria, there is a significant gap in research regarding heavy metal interactions within a diatom-bacterium system, which closely mirrors natural conditions. In this study, we aim to address this gap by examining the interaction of uranium(VI) (U(VI)) with Achnanthidium saprophilum freshwater diatoms and their natural bacterial community, primarily consisting of four successfully isolated bacterial strains (Acidovorax facilis, Agrobacterium fabrum, Brevundimonas mediterranea, and Pseudomonas peli) from the diatom culture.

Unveiling the origins and transport processes of radioactive pollutants downstream from a former U-mine site using isotopic tracers and U-238 series disequilibrium.

High U concentrations (reaching up to 14,850 mg ⋅ kg), were determined in soils and sediments of a wetland downstream of a former U mine in France. This study aims to identify the origin of radioactive contaminants in the wetland by employing Pb isotope fingerprinting, (U/U) disequilibrium, SEM, and SIMS observations. Additionally, information about U and Ra transport processes was studied using U-238 series disequilibrium.

New insights into the accessibility of native cellulose to environmental contaminants toward tritium behavior prediction.

Tritium speciation and behavior in the environment directly rely on accessible OH groups of organic molecules and their hydrogen exchangeability properties. As one of the most widespread biomolecule, cellulose role in reducing the exchange capacity of the hydrogen atom has been previously highlighted experimentally in various environmental matrices. In this paper, a robust and reliable T/H gas-solid isotopic exchange procedure has been implemented to assess the OH group accessibility of native celluloses with an increasing degree of crystallinity.

Non-intrusive and reliable speciation of organically bound tritium in environmental matrices.

Measurements of tritium in its various forms within the environment and especially in organic matter are keys to improving the current understanding of its environmental behavior and distribution. Validated or standardized analytical procedures for tritium determination methods have now been developed for several forms of tritium in environmental samples, yet an analytical lack remains regarding the quantifications of exchangeable and non-exchangeable forms of organically bound tritium (OBT) fractions. The present work therefore aims to provide a means of developing a standardized method for OBT fraction determination by evaluating the robustness and relevance of two methods (intrusive and non-intrusive methods) developed for non-exchangeable OBT quantification on a broad panel of pertinent environmental matrices.

Cellulose, proteins, starch and simple carbohydrates molecules control the hydrogen exchange capacity of bio-indicators and foodstuffs.

Over the past several years, it has become increasingly acknowledged that Organically Bound Tritium (OBT) is the most pertinent tritium form for understanding its behavior and distribution within the biosphere. The fate of tritium actually depends on the accessibility and exchangeability of hydrogen atoms for isotopic exchanges in natural organic matter, especially in widespread biomass biomolecules like carbohydrates or proteins. The present work is therefore aimed at providing a means for improving the knowledge of tritium speciation and distribution on environmental matrices by evaluating the impact of molecular structure of various carbohydrate molecules on OBT behavior.

An integrated approach combining soil profile, records and tree ring analysis to identify the origin of environmental contamination in a former uranium mine (Rophin, France).

Uranium mining and milling activities raise environmental concerns due to the release of radioactive and other toxic elements. Their long-term management thus requires a knowledge of past events coupled with a good understanding of the geochemical mechanisms regulating the mobility of residual radionuclides. This article presents the results on the traces of anthropic activity linked to previous uranium (U) mining activities in the vicinity of the Rophin tailings storage site (Puy de Dôme, France).

Effect of Pseudomonas fluorescens and pyoverdine on the phytoextraction of cesium by red clover in soil pots and hydroponics.

With the aim of improving the phytoextraction rate of cesium (Cs), the effect of Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC 17400 and its siderophore pyoverdine (PVD) on the uptake of Cs by red clover was studied in soil pots. This work also provides a mechanistic understanding of the Cs-bacteria (or PVD)-illite-plant interactions by using a simplified experimental design, i.e.

Towards speciation of organically bound tritium and deuterium: Quantification of non-exchangeable forms in carbohydrate molecules.

An original methodology to quantitatively explore exchangeability of hydrogen isotopes in carbohydrate molecules is proposed. To access the speciation of organically bound hydrogen isotopes, isotopic exchanges were carried out under a soft path regime in the vapor phase at 20 °C with set (D,T/H) vapor pressure ratios. When steady states were reached, the fraction of exchangeable hydrogen of microcrystalline cellulose, alpha-cellulose and wheat grains were obtained and ranged from 13 to 31% (versus a theoretical value of 30%).

Offshore experiments on styrene spillage in marine waters for risk assessment.

Within the context of risk evaluation of chemical spillages into the marine environment, this paper reports on an offshore experiment to study the behaviour of styrene spilled into sea under natural conditions and discusses theoretical approaches. Floating structures were used to enclose the spillage and the gaseous cloud formation, and dissolution processes were in situ monitored. The identification of spill risks for man and marine environment through GESAMP's hazard profile is described for styrene: Styrene is rated as a chemical with a significant health hazard that will float but also evaporate.

Quantitative SERS sensors for environmental analysis of naphthalene.

In the investigation of chemical pollutants, such as PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) at low concentration in aqueous medium, Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) stands for an alternative to the inherent low cross-section of normal Raman scattering. Indeed, SERS is a very sensitive spectroscopic technique due to the excitation of the surface plasmon modes of the nanostructured metallic film. The surface of quartz substrates was coated with a hydrophobic film obtained by silanization and subsequently reacted with polystyrene (PS) beads coated with gold nanoparticles.

First steps of in situ surface-enhanced Raman scattering during shipboard experiments.

It is shown that the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique can be applied to detect organic molecules during in situ experiments. To this purpose, we used trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (BPE) as a target molecule. Adsorbed on the SERS chemosensor surface and excited under laser, the vibration modes of the molecules can be identified.

Detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds in artificial sea-water using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS).

This paper reports an accurate synthesis of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active substrates, based on gold colloidal monolayer, suitable for in situ environmental analysis. Quartz substrates were functionalized by silanization with (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPMS) or (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) and they subsequently reacted with colloidal suspension of gold metal nanoparticles: respectively, the functional groups SH and NH(2) bound gold nanoparticles. Gold nanoparticles were prepared by the chemical reduction of HAuCl(4) using sodium tricitrate and immobilized onto silanized quartz substrates.

19F high magnetic field NMR study of beta-ZrF4 and CeF4: from spectra reconstruction to correlation between fluorine sites and 19F isotropic chemical shifts.

High magnetic field and high spinning frequency one- and two-dimensional one-pulse MAS 19F NMR spectra of beta-ZrF4 and CeF4 were recorded and reconstructed allowing the accurate determination of the 19F chemical shift tensor parameters for the seven different crystallographic fluorine sites of each compound. The attributions of the NMR resonances are performed using the superposition model for 19F isotropic chemical shift calculation initially proposed by Bureau et al. (Bureau, B.