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At least 487 records · Page 27
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

Ageing and Its Influence on Vibration Characteristics of Jute/Polyester Composites

In this work, the influence of ageing on vibration characteristics of jute/polyester composite was investigated by varying the fiber length and weight percent. The ageing of composite was carried out under normal and seawater in room temperature. From the result, it is observed that the composite with the fiber length of 5 mm and 25-weight percentage has least moisture absorption and permeability than other types in both normal and seawater due to better fiber-matrix adhesion and closed pack arrangement of fibers. In addition, the above said combination shows better stability and vibration properties are least effected. Further, due to aging, the bonding between fiber and matrix is significantly affected to a larger degree with increase in the fiber content and length, which in turn decreases the natural frequency and damping properties of the composites.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Improving the Tribocorrosion Resistance of Monel 400 Alloy by Aluminizing Surface Modification

A pack aluminizing treatment was performed to improve the tribocorrosion resistance of Monel 400 alloy. The microstructure of the coating was investigated using SEM, XRD, and TEM. The mechanical property of aluminizing coating was studied by microhardness tester. The tribocorrosion behavior of Monel 400 alloy and aluminizing coating in artificial seawater was revealed, using a reciprocating tribometer integrated with an electrochemical workstation. The results show that the single-phase Ni{sub 2}Al{sub 3} was obtained on Monel 400 alloy surface by pack aluminizing at 900 °C for 4 h. The tribocorrosion resistance of Monel 400 alloy was improved after aluminizing. The mechanism of improvement in tribocorrosion resistance by aluminizing is that the high hardness of aluminizing surface modification coating results in a reduction in the material loss volume of wear-induced corrosion. The aluminizing coating exhibits better tribocorrosion resistance than that of Monel 400 alloy in seawater.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Effect of input parameters intensity and duration on dynamic performance of MED-TVC plant

Multi-Effect-Desalination (MED) may be exposed to fluctuations (disturbances) in input parameters during operation. Therefore, there is a requirement to analyze the transient behavior of such MED systems. In this work, a dynamic model is developed and used to examine the effect of abrupt and ramp changes in the main operational parameters on the plant behavior and performance. The results show that the disturbance intensity variation has a major role in the desalination plant behavior. For the current MED-TVC configuration, it is recommended to limit the reduction in the seawater cooling flow rate to under 12% of the designed steady-state value to avoid dry out in the evaporators. Here, a reduction in the motive steam flow rate and cooling seawater temperature of more than 20% and 35% of the nominal operating values, respectively, may lead to flooding in the evaporators and a complete plant shutdown. On the other hand, the disturbance period has a minimal effect on plant performance if it avoids the critical values of the disturbance intensity that can cause plant shutdown. Simultaneous combinations of two different disturbances with opposing effects result in a modest effect on the plant operation and they can be used to control and mitigate the flooding/drying effects of the disturbances. For simultaneous combinations of disturbances with similar effect, the plant needs an accurate control system to avoid an operational shutdown.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2015

Ostreopsis cf. ovata dynamics in the NW Mediterranean Sea in relation to biotic and abiotic factors

An expansion of the distribution of Ostreopsis cf. ovata, a dinoflagellate which produces palytoxin-like compounds, has been reported in recent years. Economical and social interests are affected by blooms, as they are responsible for respiratory and skin problems in humans and may cause damage to marine organisms. In order to identify the most influential environmental factors that trigger proliferations of O. cf. ovata in the area of the adjacent shallow rocky coast of the Ebro Delta (NW Mediterranean Sea) a three-year survey was performed on the metaphytic microalgae community growing on the macrophytes Jania rubens and Corallina elongata. Small-size diatoms were more abundant than dinoflagellates; O. cf. ovata was identified as the only species present from the genus. Seawater temperature was the primary driver defining the ecological niche of O. cf. ovata. Freshwater and groundwater fluxes were more pronounced in southern than in northern sites, which may have resulted in a distinct O. cf. ovata spatial distribution, with the highest records of abundance and more frequent blooms in the north. In consequence, negative correlations between the abundance of O. cf. ovata and nitrate concentrations and significant positive correlation with salinity were observed. The temporal pattern of O. cf. ovata dynamics from mid-July to early-November is probably due to the fact that this species is observed only above a certain threshold temperature of seawater. Metaphytic cells of O. cf. ovata were smaller in the northern site than in the south, possibly as a result of an increase in cell division, coinciding with higher abundance, and this could be an indicator of favorable conditions. Toxicity in planktonic cells was negatively correlated with cell abundance in the water column, achieving maximum concentrations of 25 pg. PLTX eq cell{sup −1}. - Highlights: • Presence of a single Ostreopsis genotype in confirmed through qPCR. • Temperature confirmed as the most important parameter affecting its distribution. • Salinity positively correlated with Ostreopsis cf. ovata abundance. • Ostreopsis cf. ovata has a restricted ecological niche. • Toxicity in Ostreopsis planktonic cells negatively correlated with cell abundance.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Photocatalytic inactivation of Vibrio fischeri using Fe2O3-TiO2-based nanoparticles

Highlights: • A marine bacterium (Vibrio fisheri) was examined as biofilm forming microorganism. • The inactivation of bacteria was performed in saline and nutrient growth media. • The performance of five TiO{sub 2} based photocatalysts was investigated. • Effective inactivation of bacteria was achieved by visible light driven photocatalysts. Biofouling is a major problem in water membrane processes, especially in seawater reverse osmosis plants. Inactivation of Vibrio fischeri (a well-known marine bacterium forming biofilm) through photocatalysis via visible light was investigated in this work using active Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}-TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles. Five Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}-TiO{sub 2} photocatalysts with different weight percentage of Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} (0–5 wt%) were synthesized using an ultrasonic-assisted co-precipitation method. The photocatalysts were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET surface area, transmission electron Æ (TEM) plus selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). Based on the design of experiments, the synthesized photocatalysts were tested for inactivation of V. fischeri under visible light irradiation at different temperatures (25–35 °C) and different photocatalyst dosage (0.1–2 g/L). The photocatalytic microbial inactivation experiments were performed in artificial seawater appropriate for growth of the marine bacterium. The results revealed that the highest inactivation efficiency of V. fischeri was achieved when 1 g/L of 2.5 wt% Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}-TiO{sub 2} were used, at 35 °C. Photocatalytic inactivation of microorganisms using visible light-driven Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}-TiO{sub 2} photocatalysts, could introduce an innovative green method in pretreatment units of reverse osmosis plants to control the membrane biofouling.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Influence of hydrophilic groups and metal-ion adsorption on polymer-chain conformation of amidoxime-based uranium adsorbents

In this study, we focus on the influence of hydrophilic groups and metal-ion loading on adsorbent polymer conformation, which controls access to adsorption sites and may limit adsorption capacity. Gaining a better understanding of the factors that influence conformation may yield higher-capacity adsorbents. Polyamidoxime (PAO), deuterated-PAO polyacrylic acid diblock copolymers (d-PAO-b-PAA), and randomly configured copolymers (PAO-co-PAA) were synthesized and characterized by neutron reflectometry in air and D 2 O. For d-PAO-b-PAA, characterization was also performed after alkali conditioning and in simulated seawater. PAO and PAO-co-PAA, with similar molecular weight and grafting density, extended from 95-Å thickness in air to 180 and 280-Å in D 2 O, respectively. This result suggests that polymer swelling may cause the additional adsorption capacity observed when polymer hydrophilicity increases. Two d-PAO-b-PAA samples, A and B, with a d-PAO thickness of 55-Å swelled to 110-Å and 140-Å, respectively, with an overall thickness increase of ~160% in D 2 O. After alkali conditioning, molecular interactions increased the density of PAA near the PAO-PAA interface, while the d-PAO thickness only decreased by ~10 Å. The d-PAO thickness of both samples declined to ~90-Å after adsorption in simulated seawater due to polymer-chain crosslinking. In conclusion, these results are expected to aid in improving adsorbent synthesis to increase uranium capacity.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2016

Effect of Biofouling on the Performance of Amidoxime-Based Polymeric Uranium Adsorbents

The Marine Science Laboratory at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory evaluated the impact of biofouling on uranium adsorbent performance. A surface modified polyethylene adsorbent fiber provided by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, AF adsorbent, was tested either in the presence or absence of light to simulate deployment in shallow or deep marine environments. 42-day exposure tests in column and flume settings showed decreased uranium uptake by biofouling. Uranium uptake was reduced by up to 30 %, in the presence of simulated sunlight, which also increased biomass accumulation and altered the microbial community composition on the fibers. These results suggest that deployment below the photic zone would mitigate the effects of biofouling, resulting in greater yields of uranium extracted from seawater.

adsorbents↗
DOE OSTI2025

Investigating the Effects of Copper Impurity Deposition on the Structure and Electrochemical Behavior of Hydrogen Evolution Electrocatalyst Materials

Electrolysis of impure water (such as seawater) has recently garnered research interest as it may enable hydrogen production at reduced costs. However, the tendency of impurity ions and other species to degrade electrocatalysts and membranes within an electrolyzer is a serious challenge. Here, we investigate the effects of copper impurities of varying concentrations on the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) using platinum electrocatalysts. A decrease of current density is observed with an increasing copper concentration. By comparing the effect of ionic impurities on current density at different concentrations, we gain insight into how impurities can interfere with the HER at different potentials. Surface characterization of the electrodes reveals differences in the morphology and extent of copper deposition on HER-active platinum vs inactive gold electrodes. This enables an improved understanding of how copper nucleates and grows on the two types of electrodes under different electrochemical conditions while also confirming deposition in low-concentration cases, as present in seawater. The results indicate that copper electrodeposition competes with the HER, and the nature of copper electrodeposition varies depending on the electrocatalytic activity of the electrode. This study provides insight toward catalyst design that can withstand the effects of impurity-induced degradation over extended use.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2020

Mechanism of Chlorine-Mediated Electrochemical Ethylene Oxidation in Saline Water

Chlorine as a redox mediator allows for the selective oxidation of ethylene to 2-chloroethanol, which converts to ethylene oxide in alkaline aqueous electrolyte. This strategy utilizes abundant saline water as an electrolyte and source of oxygen atoms for functionalization. We present a mechanistic study of ethylene oxidation in saline water using cobalt oxide nanoparticle catalysts. Electrochemical kinetic analysis and in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy suggest that the resting state of the catalyst and the rate-determining step differ for the chlorine evolution reaction in the presence and absence of ethylene. In 0.6 M NaCl pH 8 electrolyte, which resembles seawater, the average current density was ~60 mA/cm 2 with a Faradaic efficiency of ~41% toward ethylene functionalization. The use of synthetic and natural seawater achieved Faradaic efficiencies above 70%, while the partial current toward the product remained invariant. Further conversion of the initial product 2-chloroethanol into ethylene glycol was also demonstrated. Here, we present a broader vision of harnessing saline water in electrochemical functionalization of organic molecules and coproduction of hydrogen.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

Exceptional ion rejection ability of directional solvent for non-membrane desalination

The recently demonstrated directional solvent extraction (DSE) is promising for very low temperature, membrane-free water desalination. In this paper, we combine atomistic simulations and experimental validation to demonstrate that the currently used directional solvent, decanoic acid, can reject all major salt ions in seawater, with very high rejection rates. The salinities of the DSE recovered water show that ion rejection rates are ∼98%–99%—similar to those of the best reverse osmosis membranes. Our test also shows that the DSE process can desalt seawater to produce fresh water that meets drinking water standards.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Experimental Investigation of Hydrodynamic Response of an Ocean Uranium Extraction Machine Attached to a Floating Wind Turbine

With conventional sources of uranium forecasted to be depleted within a century, developing methods to cost-effectively harvest uranium from seawater, which is estimated to contain 1000 times more uranium than on land, are crucial to the continued viability of nuclear power generation. Studies have shown that coupling a uranium harvester system with an existing offshore structure, such as a floating wind turbine (FWT), could greatly reduce the cost of harvesting uranium from seawater as it eliminates the need for dedicated moorings and increases the overall energy-gathering ability of the offshore wind farm. This study explores the hydrodynamic effects of adding a uranium harvester to an offshore floating wind turbine. The experimentally determined hydrodynamic responses of two designs of a Symbiotic Machine for Ocean uRanium Extraction (SMORE) are compared with that of an unmodified FWT. Both SMORE designs utilize adsorbent filament that is enclosed in a hard permeable shell to decouple the mechanical and chemical requirements of the device. In this work, it was found that both SMORE designs do not significantly shift the resonant peaks of the FWT.

42 ENGINEERING↗
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↗
DOE OSTI2015

Transition of Iodine Analysis to Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

The goal of the project, New Paradigms for Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry: Raising the Scientific Profile and Improved Performance for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) and Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TIMS), is to ensure that the ongoing isotope ratio determination capability within the U.S. Department of Energy complex is the world’s best for application to nonproliferation. This report spells out the progress of Task 4, Transition of TIMS to AMS for Iodine Analysis, of the larger project. The subtasks under Task 4 and the accomplishments throughout the three year project life cycle are presented in this report. Progress was made in optimization of chemical extraction, determination of a detection limit for 127Iodine, production of standard materials for AMS analysis quality assurance, facilitation of knowledge exchange with respect to analyzing iodine on an AMS, cross comparison with a world-leading AMS laboratory, supercritical fluid extraction of iodine for AMS analysis and electrodeposition of seawater as a direct method of preparation for iodine analysis by AMS--all with the goal of minimizing the time required to stand up an AMS capability for iodine analysis of exposed air filters at INL. An effective extraction method has been developed and demonstrated for iodine analysis of exposed air filters. Innovative techniques to accomplish the cathode preparation for AMS analysis were developed and demonstrated and published. The known gap of a lack of available materials for reference standards in the analysis of iodine by AMS was filled by the preparation of homogenous materials that were calibrated against NIST materials. A minimum limit on the amount of abundant isotope in a sample was determined for AMS analysis. The knowledge exchange occurred with fantastic success. Scientists engaged the international AMS community at conferences, as well as in their laboratories for collaborative work. The supercritical fluid extraction work has positive data, but is not a replacement for leaching yet. The added seawater work has led to a good method and a possible publication. The focus of this project was to minimize the time to stand up the AMS capability, by having all the preparation and supporting functions worked out ahead of the instrument arrival. Due to all the preparatory work and its success, the instrument was delivered and turned over to the INL in February 2015. Since then, INL scientists have been successfully vetting the capabilities and accomplishing their own measurements that agree well with the leading laboratories of the world for iodine analysis by AMS. Initially, all AMS data was gathered on other laboratories instruments, but during the last six months data for this project has come from INL’s AMS.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

An Enrichment of CRISPR and Other Defense-Related Features in Marine Sponge-Associated Microbial Metagenomes

Many marine sponges are populated by dense and taxonomically diverse microbial consortia. We employed a metagenomics approach to unravel the differences in the functional gene repertoire among three Mediterranean sponge species, Petrosia ficiformis , Sarcotragus foetidus , Aplysina aerophoba and seawater. Different signatures were observed between sponge and seawater metagenomes with regard to microbial community composition, GC content, and estimated bacterial genome size. Our analysis showed further a pronounced repertoire for defense systems in sponge metagenomes. Specifically, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, restriction modification, DNA phosphorothioation and phage growth limitation systems were enriched in sponge metagenomes. These data suggest that defense is an important functional trait for an existence within sponges that requires mechanisms to defend against foreign DNA from microorganisms and viruses. Furthermore, this study contributes to an understanding of the evolutionary arms race between viruses/phages and bacterial genomes and it sheds light on the bacterial defenses that have evolved in the context of the sponge holobiont.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2011

Natural Organobromine in Marine Sediments: New Evidence of Biogeochemical Br Cycling

Organobromine (Br{sub org}) compounds, commonly recognized as persistent, toxic anthropogenic pollutants, are also produced naturally in terrestrial and marine systems. Several enzymatic and abiotic bromination mechanisms have been identified, as well as an array of natural Br{sub org} molecules associated with various marine organisms. The fate of the carbon-bromine functionality in the marine environment, however, remains largely unexplored. Oceanographic studies have noted an association between bromine (Br) and organic carbon (C{sub org}) in marine sediments. Even so, there has been no direct chemical evidence that Br in the sediments exists in a stable form apart from inorganic bromide (Br{sub inorg}), which is widely presumed conservative in marine systems. To investigate the scope of natural Br{sub org} production and its fate in the environment, we probed Br distribution and speciation in estuarine and marine sediments using in situ X-ray spectroscopy and spectromicroscopy. We show that Br{sub org} is ubiquitous throughout diverse sedimentary environments, occurring in correlation with C{sub org} and metals such as Fe, Ca, and Zn. Analysis of sinking particulate carbon from the seawater column links the Br{sub org} observed in sediments to biologically produced Br{sub org} compounds that persist through humification of natural organic matter (NOM). Br speciation varies with sediment depth, revealing biogeochemical cycling of Br between organic and inorganic forms as part of the burial and degradation of NOM. These findings illuminate the chemistry behind the association of Br with Corg in marine sediments and cast doubt on the paradigmatic classification of Br as a conservative element in seawater systems.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2012

Olkiluoto 1 and 2 - Plant efficiency improvement and lifetime extension-project (PELE) implemented during outages 2010 and 2011

Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO) is a non-listed public company founded in 1969 to produce electricity for its stakeholders. TVO is the operator of the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant. TVO follows the principle of continuous improvement in the operation and maintenance of the Olkiluoto plant units. The PELE project (Plant Efficiency Improvement and Lifetime Extension), mainly completed during the annual outages in 2010 and 2011, and forms one part of the systematic development of Olkiluoto units. TVO maintains a long-term development program that aims at systematically modernizing the plant unit systems and equipment based on the latest technology. According to the program, the Olkiluoto 1 and Olkiluoto 2 plant units are constantly renovated with the intention of keeping them safe and reliable, The aim of the modernization projects is to improve the safety, reliability, and performance of the plant units. PELE project at Olkiluoto 1 was done in 2010 and at Olkiluoto 2 in 2011. The outage length of Olkiluoto 1 was 26 d 12 h 4 min and Olkiluoto 2 outage length was 28 d 23 h 46 min. (Normal service-outage is about 14 days including refueling and refueling-outage length is about seven days. See figure 1) The PELE project consisted of several single projects collected into one for coordinated project management. Some of the main projects were as follows: - Low pressure turbines: rotor, stator vane, casing and turbine instrumentation replacement. - Replacement of Condenser Cooling Water (later called seawater pumps) pumps - Replacement of inner isolation valves on the main steam lines. - Generator and the generator cooling system replacement. - Low voltage switchgear replacement. This project will continue during future outages. PELE was a success. 100 TVO employees and 1500 subcontractor employees participated in the project. The execution of the PELE projects went extremely well during the outages. The replacement of the low pressure turbines and seawater pumps improved the efficiency of the plant units, and a power increase of nearly 20 MW was achieved at both plant units. PELE wonderfully manifests one of the strategic goals of our company; developing the competence of our in-house personnel by working in projects. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Treatment of Liquid Radioactive Waste with High Salt Content by Colloidal Adsorbents - 13274

Treatment processes have been fully developed for most of the liquid radioactive wastes generated during the operation of nuclear power plants. However, a process for radioactive liquid waste with high salt content, such as waste seawater generated from the unexpected accident at nuclear power station, has not been studied extensively. In this study, the adsorption efficiencies of cesium (Cs) and strontium (Sr) in radioactive liquid waste with high salt content were investigated using several types of zeolite with different particle sizes. Synthesized and commercial zeolites were used for the treatment of simulated seawater containing Cs and Sr, and the reaction kinetics and adsorption capacities of colloidal zeolites were compared with those of bulk zeolites. The experimental results demonstrated that the colloidal adsorbents showed fast adsorption kinetic and high binding capacity for Cs and Sr. Also, the colloidal zeolites could be successfully applied to the static adsorption condition, therefore, an economical benefit might be expected in an actual processes where stirring is not achievable. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗