Mechanical retardation of actinide-bearing colloid migration from an underground repository: Theory and experiment.

A necessary condition for the sustainable development of nuclear power is the safe disposal of vitrified high-level radioactive waste from the processing of spent nuclear fuel in underground repositories. Their safety depends on the rate of radionuclide transport by groundwater from the repository to the biosphere. A significant fraction of the radionuclides is carried by groundwater in colloidal form.

Zinc-Intercalated Halloysite Nanotubes as Potential Nanocomposite Fertilizers with Targeted Delivery of Micronutrients.

This study reports on the development of nanocomposites utilizing a mineral inhibitor and a micronutrient filler. The objective was to produce a slow release fertilizer, with zinc sulfate as the filler and halloysite nanotubes as the inhibitor. The study seeks to chemically activate the intercalation of zinc into the macro-, meso-, and micropores of the halloysite nanotubes to enhance their performance.

Stable Sulfuric Vapor Transport and Liquid Sulfur Growth on Transition Metal Dichalcogenides.

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are an emergent class of low-dimensional materials with growing applications in the field of nanoelectronics. However, efficient methods for synthesizing large monocrystals of these systems are still lacking. Here, we describe an efficient synthetic route for a large number of TMDs that were obtained in quartz glass ampoules by sulfuric vapor transport and liquid sulfur.

Large in-plane vibrational and optical anisotropy in natural 2D heterostructure abramovite.

The design and formation of van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures with different two-dimensional (2D) materials provide an opportunity to create materials with extraordinary physical properties tailored toward specific applications. Mechanical exfoliation of natural vdW materials has been recognized as an effective way for producing high-quality ultrathin vdW heterostructures. Abramovite is one of such naturally occurring vdW materials, where the superlattice is composed of alternating PbBiS and SnInS 2D material lattices.

Zirconolite Polytypes and Murataite Polysomes in Matrices for the REE-Actinide Fraction of HLW.

Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) has been used for more than 30 years for analyzing the structure of minerals and artificial substances. In recent times, EBSD has been widely applied for investigation of irradiated nuclear fuel and matrices for the immobilization of radioactive waste. The combination of EBSD and scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS) methods allows researchers to obtain simultaneously data on a specimen's local composition and structure.

Approaches for the complex assessment of polychemical pollution of permafrost-affected soils and the upper layer of permafrost.

The analysis of about 200 samples taken from 42 permafrost-affected soil profiles was carried out on four key sites in different regions of cryolithozone (West Siberia, Central, North, and North-East Yakutia) characterized by different active layer depths and soil lithology. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of different processes of cryogenic mass-exchange on the redistribution and accumulation of major pollutants such as petroleum products, acid-soluble forms of trace elements, polycyclic hydrocarbons, and technogenic radionuclides transferred via atmospheric transport or after the local anthropogenic impact in different soil horizons of Cryosols and in the upper layers of permafrost. Samples were analyzed using modern precise techniques (direct γ-spectrometric measurements with Ge(Li) and NaI(Tl) detectors; fluorometric method; reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography; spectrofluorimetric detection; atomic absorption spectrometry with flame atomization).

Formation of Hydrogels Based on a Copolymer of -Vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and Glycidyl Methacrylate in the Presence of the Reaction Product of 1,3-Dimethylmidazolium Dimethylphosphate and Elemental Sulfur.

The aim of the study is to search for a reaction that provides the possibility of tandem "one-pot" formation of polymer networks during radical copolymerization of -vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and glycidyl methacrylate. It was shown that the addition of recently synthesized 1,3-dimethylimidazolium (phosphonooxy-)oligosulfanide makes it possible to obtain a cross-linked copolymer in one stage as a result of radical copolymerization of -vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and glycidyl methacrylate with a molar ratio of monomers less than 1.4.

Data on the soil and vegetation properties at the small gully catchment area: Steppe region of Kalmykia Republic (South Russia).

In rural areas, research on the environment in native (untaught) soils is important to understand the rate of pedogenesis and to prevent the problems associated with hidden huger. In this article, original data on vegetation, chemical properties and elemental and mineralogical composition of Kastanozems (Protosalic, Siltic) and Hypersalic Solonetz (Siltic) of the small gully catchment (2 ha in total) located at the NE Ergeni Upland (Western Kalmykia, Russia) were presented. Vegetation was described and cut off (to characterize an aboveground biomass) at 13 key plots of 1 × 1 m.

Radioecological and geochemical peculiarities of cryoconite on Novaya Zemlya glaciers.

In recent years, cryoconite has received growing attention from a radioecological point of view, since several studies have shown that this material is extremely efficient in accumulating natural and anthropogenic radionuclides. The Novaya Zemlya Archipelago (Russian Arctic) hosts the second largest glacial system in the Arctic. From 1957 to 1962, numerous atmospheric nuclear explosions were conducted at Novaya Zemlya, but to date, very little is known about the radioecology of its ice cap.

Data on bulk rock compositions, geochemical and textural contrasts between central and marginal parts of dykes, and MELTS modeling of lamprophyre dykes in the Kola Alkaline Carbonatite Province (N Europe).

This publication is a series of datasets that accompany a manuscript on petrology of lamprophyre dykes in the Kola Alkaline Carbonatite Province (N Europe) [1]. The datasets served as the basis for interpretation of melt crystallization for lamprophyric and carbonatitic dykes in the crust, to supplement many papers devoted to mantle sources and melting parameters of these rocks based on radiogenic isotopes and trace elements. The first dataset contains bulk major and trace element compositions of the dykes in three areas, Kandalaksha, Kandaguba and Turiy Mys, along with supplementary information on sampling locations and dyke characteristics.

The trisulfur radical ion S controls platinum transport by hydrothermal fluids.

Platinum group elements (PGE) are considered to be very poorly soluble in aqueous fluids in most natural hydrothermal-magmatic contexts and industrial processes. Here, we combined in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and solubility experiments with atomistic and thermodynamic simulations to demonstrate that the trisulfur radical ion S forms very stable and soluble complexes with both Pt and Pt in sulfur-bearing aqueous solution at elevated temperatures (∼300 °C). These Pt-bearing species enable (re)mobilization, transfer, and focused precipitation of platinum up to 10,000 times more efficiently than any other common inorganic ligand, such as hydroxide, chloride, sulfate, or sulfide.

Compressional wave velocity measurements on mafic-ultramafic rocks under high aqueous fluid pressure and temperature help to explain low-velocity zones in the lithosphere.

Deep seismic studies have revealed that low-velocity zones mainly occurred in the continental lithosphere at the depth of 100-150 km. Their origin has not been clearly explained yet. The article demonstrates the possible scale of Vp changes in crystalline rocks of different composition.

The New Approach to the Preparation of Polyacrylamide-Based Hydrogels: Initiation of Polymerization of Acrylamide with 1,3-Dimethylimidazolium (Phosphonooxy-)Oligosulphanide under Drying Aqueous Solutions.

The new initiator of the polymerization of acrylamide, leading to the formation of crosslinked polyacrylamide, was discovered. The structure of the synthesized polyacrylamide was characterized by XRD, Н NMR, and С NMR spectroscopy. It was shown that 1,3-dimethylimidazolium (phosphonooxy-)oligosulphanide is able to initiate radical polymerization under drying aqueous solutions of acrylamide, even at room temperature.

The variability of soils and vegetation of hydrothermal fields in the Valley of Geysers at Kamchatka Peninsula.

The picturesque and high conservation value thermal landscapes of the Valley of Geysers feature endothermal (heated by endogenous fluids) soils which support endangered and unique species. However, such soils have not been distinguished as a separate taxon within most classification systems. In this study, we described the soil morphology at macro-, meso- and micro-scales, chemistry, mineralogy and vegetation of these landscapes as they are affected by the steam-heated acid-sulfate waters.

Taphonomic experiments imply a possible link between the evolution of multicellularity and the fossilization potential of soft-bodied organisms.

The reliability of evolutionary reconstructions based on the fossil record critically depends on our knowledge of the factors affecting the fossilization of soft-bodied organisms. Despite considerable research effort, these factors are still poorly understood. In order to elucidate the main prerequisites for the preservation of soft-bodied organisms, we conducted long-term (1-5 years) taphonomic experiments with the model crustacean buried in five different sediments.

Freshwater transport between the Kara, Laptev, and East-Siberian seas.

The Kara and Laptev seas receive about one half of total freshwater runoff to the Arctic Ocean from the Ob, Yenisei, and Lena rivers. Discharges of these large rivers form freshened surface water masses over wide areas in these seas. These water masses, i.

Revealing Structural Changes at Glass Transition via Radial Distribution Functions.

Transformation of glasses into liquids is discussed in terms of configuron (broken chemical bond or transformation of an atom from one to another atomic shell) percolation theory with structural changes caused. The first sharp diffraction minimum (FSDM) in the pair distribution function (PDF) is shown to contain information on structural changes in amorphous materials at the glass transition temperature (). A method to determine the glass transition temperature is proposed based on allocating to the temperature when a sharp kink in FSDM occurs.

Exceptional Concentrations of Gold Nanoparticles in 1,7 Ga Fluid Inclusions From the Kola Superdeep Borehole, Northwest Russia.

In the drill core of the Kola super-deep borehole (SG-3, 12,262 m depth) gold-bearing rocks of Archaean age have been located at depths of 9,500 to 11,000 m. In veins, between 9,052 and 10,744 m, within this gold zone, quartz contains fluid inclusions with gold nanoparticles. There are 4 types of fluid inclusions (1) gas inclusions of dense CO, (2) liquid-vapor two-phase aqueous inclusions, (3) three-phase inclusions with NaCl daughter crystals, and (4) CO-aqueous inclusions.

The main pulse of the Siberian Traps expanded in size and composition.

Emplacement of large volumes of (sub)volcanic rocks during the main pulse of the Siberian Traps occurred within <1 m.y., coinciding with the end-Permian mass extinction.

Bottom Sediments Reveal Inter-Annual Variability of Interaction between the Ob and Yenisei Plumes in the Kara Sea.

River discharge is the main source of terrigenous sediments in many coastal areas adjacent to estuaries and deltas of large rivers. Spreading and mixing dynamics of river plumes governs transport of suspended sediments and their deposition at sea bottom at these areas. Generally river plumes have very large synoptic and seasonal variability, which cannot be reconstructed from structure of bottom sediments due to their small accumulation velocity.

Dataset on heavy metal content in background soils of the three gully catchments at Western Siberia.

The criteria used include heavy metal (HM) levels in background soils of different countries and territories (Australia, China, Finland, North America, Northern Europe, and Western Siberia) and their threshold concentration values for soils of residential and/or agricultural areas in soil quality standards of Canada (soil quality guidelines), Germany (Trigger Values), the Netherlands (Serious Risk Concentrations), Russia (Maximum Permissible Concentrations), and the USA (Regional Screening Levels). The Retisols, Phaeozems and Chernozems of Western Siberia are characterized by the following range of mean concentrations of heavy metals in topsoil (in mg kg): Pb 5-35, Cu 5-100, V 5-180, Cr 5-212, Ni 7-100, Zn 10-135, Mn 50-1800, and Ba 373-1360.

Data on the concentration of fractions and the total content of chemical elements in catenae within a small catchment area in the Trans Urals, Russia.

Research on migration of chemical elements (ChEs) in soils is important for the understanding of geochemical processes in polluted and undisturbed landscapes. In this article, we report original data on Anthric Chernozems and Anthric Planosols within a small gully's catchment area in the Trans Urals (Russia). Mean total concentrations of 24 ChEs and content of mobile fractions (F1 - exchangeable, F2 - bound within organo-mineral complexes and F3 - bound with Fe and Mn hydroxides) of 61 ChEs including macro elements (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Ti, S, Si), heavy metals (Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Th, U, V, Zn), trace elements (Ag, As, B, Be, Bi, Br, Cd, Cs, Ge, Hf, Li, Mo, Nb, Pd, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn, Ta, Te, Tl, W, Zr) and rare earth elements (Ce, Er, Eu, Gd, La, Lu, Nd, Pr, Sm, Tb, Tm, Dy, Ho, Y, Yb) are determined from in a total of 60 samples from topsoil and subsoil of Anthric Chernozems and Anthric Planosols.

Supramolecular Organogels Based on -Benzyl, -Acylbispidinols.

The acylation of unsymmetrical -benzylbispidinols in aromatic solvents without an external base led to the formation of supramolecular gels, which possess different thicknesses and degrees of stability depending on the substituents in para-positions of the benzylic group as well as on the nature of the acylating agent and of the solvent used. Structural features of the native gels as well as of their dried forms were studied by complementary techniques including Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and small-angle X-ray scattering and diffraction (SAXS). Structures of the key crystalline compounds were established by X-ray diffraction.

Sills and gas generation in the Siberian Traps.

On its way to the surface, the Siberian Traps magma created a complex sub-volcanic plumbing system. This resulted in a large-scale sill emplacement within the Tunguska Basin and subsequent release of sediment-derived volatiles during contact metamorphism. The distribution of sills and the released sediment-stored gas volume is, however, poorly constrained.