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Altman, Susan Jeanne

Publications and source records attributed to Altman, Susan Jeanne.

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2012

Site characterization methodology for deep borehole disposal

Deep Borehole Disposal (DBD) for radioactive waste has many clear advantages over mined repositories: 1) the possibility of incremental construction and loading at multiple locations, 2) the enhanced natural barriers in the deep continental crystalline basement, and 3) reduced site characterization. This report identifies characterization methods relevant to DBD of spent nuclear fuel or vitrified high-level waste (HLW). A systematic process based on performance assessment methodology and in particular an analysis of features, events, and processes (FEPs) is used to focus the selection of characterization methods.

Vaughn, Palmer↗
DOE OSTI2012

Deep borehole disposal of nuclear waste summary (Final Report)

Research and development activities carried out at Sandia National Laboratories from 2009-2012 have built the technical baseline for perform ance of a deep bor ehole for disposal of nuclear waste. Early work established the coupled thermo-hydrological-mechanical-chemical forces likely to control radionuclide m ovement from a deep borehole. This report emphasizes more recent borehole science and engineering activities including: 1. Establishing a reference borehole design; 2. Developing the design for borehole seals; and 3. Identifying the nature and extent of site characterization needed for deep borehole siting.

Brady, Patrick Vane↗
DOE OSTI2012

Linking Ceragenins to Water-Treatment Membranes to Minimize Biofouling

Ceragenins were used to create biofouling resistant water-treatment membranes. Ceragenins are synthetically produced antimicrobial peptide mimics that display broad-spectrum bactericidal activity. While ceragenins have been used on bio-medical devices, use of ceragenins on water-treatment membranes is novel. Biofouling impacts membrane separation processes for many industrial applications such as desalination, waste-water treatment, oil and gas extraction, and power generation. Biofouling results in a loss of permeate flux and increase in energy use. Creation of biofouling resistant membranes will assist in creation of clean water with lower energy usage and energy with lower water usage. Five methods of attaching three different ceragenin molecules were conducted and tested. Biofouling reduction was observed in the majority of the tests, indicating the ceragenins are a viable solution to biofouling on water treatment membranes. Silane direct attachment appears to be the most promising attachment method if a high concentration of CSA-121a is used. Additional refinement of the attachment methods are needed in order to achieve our goal of several log-reduction in biofilm cell density without impacting the membrane flux. Concurrently, biofilm forming bacteria were isolated from source waters relevant for water treatment: wastewater, agricultural drainage, river water, seawater, and brackish groundwater. These isolates can be used for future testing of methods to control biofouling. Once isolated, the ability of the isolates to grow biofilms was tested with high-throughput multiwell methods. Based on these tests, the following species were selected for further testing in tube reactors and CDC reactors: Pseudomonas ssp. (wastewater, agricultural drainage, and Colorado River water), Nocardia coeliaca or Rhodococcus spp. (wastewater), Pseudomonas fluorescens and Hydrogenophaga palleronii (agricultural drainage), Sulfitobacter donghicola, Rhodococcus fascians, Rhodobacter katedanii, and Paracoccus marcusii (seawater), and Sphingopyxis spp. (groundwater). The testing demonstrated the ability of these isolates to be used for biofouling control testing under laboratory conditions. Biofilm forming bacteria were obtained from all the source water samples.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗