Removal of Trace Elements by Cupric Oxide Nanoparticles from Uranium <em>In Situ</em> Recovery Bleed Water and Its Effect on Cell Viability

Abstract

In situ recovery (ISR) is the predominant method of uranium extraction in the United States. During ISR, uranium is leached from an ore body and extracted through ion exchange. The resultant production bleed water (PBW) contains contaminants such as arsenic and other heavy metals. Samples of PBW from an active ISR uranium facility were treated with cupric oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs). CuO-NP treatment of PBW reduced priority contaminants, including arsenic, selenium, uranium, and vanadium. Untreated and CuO-NP treated PBW was used as the liquid component of the cell growth media and changes in viability were determined by the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay in human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep G2) cells. CuO-NP treatment was associated with improved HEK and HEP cell viability. Limitations of this method include dilution of the PBW by growth media components and during osmolality adjustment as well as necessary pH adjustment. This method is limited in its wider context due to dilution effects and changes in the pH of the PBW which is traditionally slightly acidic however; this method could have a broader use assessing CuO-NP treatment in more neutral waters.

Intrinsic properties of cupric oxide nanoparticles enable effective filtration of arsenic from water

“…As shown in the model, arsenic laden water is passed through the point-of-use filter with CuO-NP to capture arsenic. Since CuO-NP also exhibit anti-bacterial properties, the outlet water will not only be clean from arsenic species but also from pathogens 47 . The outlet water from the point-of-use filter will be monitored for arsenic using an arsenic field testing kit, such as the Arsenic Low Range Quick test, as a real-time measurement.…”

Adsorption Behavior of Trace Beryllium (II) onto Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Dispersed in Water

“…Recently, they also attract attention as adsorbents for heavy metal ions (Hua et al, 2012;Cao et al, 2012;Al-Saad et al, 2012;Mahdavi, Jalali, & Afkhami, 2012;Schilz et al, 2015;Taman, Ossman, Mansour, & Farag, 2015;Vélez et al, 2016;Sadegh et al, 2017). On the other hand, metal oxides are naturally present as colloidal nanoparticles in aquatic systems and play an important role in the distribution and diffusion of trace metals in the environment (Brown & Parks, 2001).…”