Radioactive elements

U radu je izvršena ocjena ranjivosti vodnih tijela podzemnih voda u podslivu rijeke Bosne, odnosno Spreče, zatim podslivu rijeke Drine (Drinjača), kao i dijelovi neposrednog sliva rijeke Save (čelićko područje - rijeka Gnjica i sliv rijeke Turije) EPIK metodom. Za EPIK metodu uzeta su u obzir vodna tijela podzemnih voda koja su karstno-pukotinske poroznosti,
tako da su vodna tijela intergranularne poroznosti izuzeta iz proračuna i nisu prikazani na karti ranjivosti po EPIK-u. Sva vodna tijela analizirana su sa aspekta dubine podzemnih voda, debljine krovinskih sedimenata, infiltracije, nagiba padine, koeficijenta filtracije i litološkog sastava akvifera. Za ocjenu ranjivosti podzemih voda korištena je formula indeksa zaštite.

The paper assessed the vulnerability of groundwater bodies in the Bosna River subbasin, i.e. the Spreča River, then the Drina River sub-basin (Drinjača), as well as parts of the immediate Sava River basin (the Čelići area - the Gnjica River and the Turija River basin) using the EPIK method. The EPIK method took into account groundwater bodies with karstfracture
porosity, so that water bodies with intergranular porosity were excluded from the calculation and are not shown on the EPIK vulnerability map. All water bodies were analyzed from the aspect of groundwater depth, thickness of overlying sediments, infiltration, slope slope, filtration coefficient and lithological composition of the aquifer. The protection index formula was used to assess the vulnerability of groundwater.

In this paper, the hydrochemical zoning of groundwater in the area of Northeastern
Bosnia was performed. The zoning of groundwater was performed in order to determine
the distribution and regularity of their occurrence. Based on the chemical characteristics
of groundwater and statistical data processed with the software package OriginLab 9.0,
the hydrochemical zoning of groundwater was made and a map of hydrochemical types
of groundwater in the scale of 1: 100 000 was drafted.

The clayey fissural fillings ( 18 O data obtained from the quartz vein and the 2 ++ phosphate precipitation. The high organic C content in the clay fractions could be due to present biological activity in the clayey fissural filling or to organic acids transported from the topographic surface by the percolating water. In this last case, organie-clay complexes would probbly be formed.

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. The solar photospheric abundance of hafnium and thorium. Results from CO5BOLD 3D hydrodynamic model atmospheres.

Objective: In the current study, we aimed to ascertain the levels of heavy metals and radioactive elements in the ovarian follicular fluids of pregnant and non-pregnant Kyrgyz mares. Materials and Methods: To this end, follicular fluids were obtained from 49 Kyrgyz mares aged 3-5 years. The mares were in various stages of pregnancy (Group 1, n = 27) or were non-pregnant (Group 2, n = 22). We measured the levels of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), antimony (Sb), cobalt (Co), potassium (K), uranium (U), nickel (Ni), and thorium (Th) in follicular fluids using atomic emission mass spectrometry. Subsequently, the data were statistically analyzed according to whether the mare was pregnant or not, the pregnancy stage, the presence or absence of the corpus luteum in the ovaries, the corpus luteum's diameter if present, and the presence or absence and diameter of follicles. Results: We found that K levels were higher in non-pregnant mares (0.00564 ± 0.000590 ppm, p = 0.009). Furthermore, Ni (0.01033 ± 0.001880 ppm, p = 0.07) and K (0.00563 ± 0.000498 ppm, p = 0.026) levels were higher in mares with a follicle diameter of 1-3 cm. However, these results did not change according to the month of pregnancy, number of follicles, presence or absence of the corpus luteum in the ovaries, number of corpora lutea, and their diameters. Conclusion: Thus, we concluded that heavy metal and radioactive element levels in the ovarian follicular fluids of Kyrgyz mares do not significantly change with pregnancy status, and there are limited detrimental effects of pollution on the follicular fluids.

Bauxite residue (BR) is the main by-product of the alkaline production of alumina from bauxite containing significant amounts of valuable metals such as scandium that belongs to rare-earth elements (REEs), classified by the European Community as critical raw materials (CRMs). BR is considered a hazardous waste due to its huge volume and high alkalinity making its disposal a serious universal environmental problem. The recovery of scandium from Greek BR can be an excellent approach for waste management and resource efficiency of the waste using environmentally friendly biometallurgical methods. In this work, bioleaching of scandium from bauxite residue using the fungus Aspergillus niger was studied. Bioleaching experiments were performed using the Taguchi experimental design, in batch cultures with BR at various pulp densities (1, 5 and 10%, w/v), sucrose concentrations (40, 90 and 140 g/L) and fungus suspension of 2, 4, and 6% v/v under one-step bioleaching condition and subculturin...

The disposal of voluminous, highly alkaline, bauxite residue (BR), the industrial by-product of alumina production by the Bayer process, constitutes an intricate global environmental problem. BR, containing valuable metals such as rare-earth elements (REEs)—in particular, scandium (Sc)—can be used as a secondary source for REE extraction. The scope of this study was the investigation of bioleaching as an innovative and environmentally friendly approach for the extraction of Sc from BR. The bioleaching parameters were studied on Greek BR and experiments were performed using different microbial cultures and solid to liquid ratios (S/L). The maximum extraction of Sc was 42% using Acetobacter tropicalis in a one-step bioleaching process at 1% S/L. The main organic acids produced were acetic, oxalic, and citric. The bioleaching data indicated a probable synergistic effect of the different organic acids produced by microorganisms along with a more targeted leaching mechanism.

The IOCG Sin Quyen deposit is located in the Red River shear zone of North Vietnam. The ore bodies are known as hydrothermal veins and are hosted in Proterozoic metapelite. A block modelling approach was used to build a 3D model of the ore bodies. An analysis was carried out on SurferR 11 computer software using the archival data recorded from several dozen boreholes distributed within the study area, as well as data obtained from the mineral and chemical analysis of 50 samples collected recently in the deposit. The ore bodies generally trend in a NW-SE direction with an average azimuth of 107° and a dip of around 70°.  Cu content in the ore bodies is inhomogeneous. In the bed extension direction, the exponential correlation of Cu concentration in ore bodies is recognized within 2,500 m, while in the direction perpendicular to the bed strike, the exponential dependence is observed at 500 m of distance. The high-grade mineralisation of copper within the ore bodies is often at the alt...

Bauxite residue (BR) is the main by-product of the alkaline production of alumina from bauxite containing significant amounts of valuable metals such as scandium that belongs to rare-earth elements (REEs), classified by the European Community as critical raw materials (CRMs). BR is considered a hazardous waste due to its huge volume and high alkalinity making its disposal a serious universal environmental problem. The recovery of scandium from Greek BR can be an excellent approach for waste management and resource efficiency of the waste using environmentally friendly biometallurgical methods. In this work, bioleaching of scandium from bauxite residue using the fungus Aspergillus niger was studied. Bioleaching experiments were performed using the Taguchi experimental design, in batch cultures with BR at various pulp densities (1, 5 and 10%, w/v), sucrose concentrations (40, 90 and 140 g/L) and fungus suspension of 2, 4, and 6% v/v under one-step bioleaching condition and subculturin...

The Coordinating Committee for Coastal and Offshore Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP) devotes to coordination and cooperation in scientific activity related to coastal and offshore geological and geophysical surveys, regional map compilation, database construction, human resources development and technology transfer.

The unique characteristics of sulfurous river sediment located in Ungaran, Indonesia, are a reservoir of novel fungi with manganese bioleaching properties. Fungi are known to produce metabolic organic acids that have a potential for the industrial application of leaching metal from the ores. This application has high advantages, including low cost, low energy, and creates minimal environmental damage. Therefore, this research was performed to analyze the manganese bioleaching activities of two fungal isolates (KA2B2 and KB4B) from Indonesian sulfurous river sediment on pyrolusite and determine their phenotypic characters. These activities were investigated in terms of changes in fungal biomass, soluble manganese concentration, pH reduction, and organic acid production during 16 days of leaching. Soluble manganese concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), whereas organic acid concentrations were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). According to bioleaching investigations, KA2B2 strain was more efficient than KB4B1 strain in extracting manganese from 0.02 g/cm 3 pyrolusite. It also produced higher levels of organic acids, such as oxalic acid and citric acid, than KB4B1 strain, proving that strain of KA2B2 could be used to extract manganese from pyrolusite. Based on the phenotypic characters, both strains were identified as genus Penicillium.

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One of the important rare earth deposits is the Dong Pao localized in Lai Chau province, West-North of Vietnam. Generally, the deposit is composed of two parts, the lower and the upper. The lower part is composed of dolomite, limestone and intrusive rocks, while the upper part of the profile is represented by a weathered zone containing soil and fragments of mixed barite-fluorite ores. The concentrations of natural radionuclides, chemical compositions of ores, including rare earth elements (REE) in solid samples, were determined by gamma spectrometer equipped with a HPGe detector, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA ICPMS) and activation method, respectively. In the samples taken from the ore bodies within the weathered zone the REE concentration is about 10 wt.% and both 238 U and 232 Th amount to 0.01 wt.%, while in the samples from the hard part of ore the REE and 238 U as well as 232 Th contents amount only to 0.3 wt.% and 0.001 wt.%, respectively. So the enrichment of the REE and natural radioactive elements in the deposit is a consequence of the weathering processes. The water samples were taken from the streams, natural tap and thermal water intakes localized in the studied deposit and surrounding region. The 238 U, 234 U, 228 Ra, 226 Ra concentrations in the water samples were prepared by the adequate radiochemical procedures and measured using an alpha spectrometer coupled with silicon semiconductor detector and / liquid scintillation counter. In the stream water, the concentrations of both 226 Ra and 228 Ra vary from 100 to above 300 mBq/L, while in the natural tap and thermal waters they amount to tens mBq/L. The concentration of 238 U, 234 U in the thermal water is 80 and 110 mBq/L respectively, while in the surface water concentrations of uranium isotopes are below 30 mBq/L.

The paper presents the potential areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) for injecting CO 2 into underground geological formations by boreholes. Areas are determined based on the geological structure of Bosnia ana Herzegovina, and development of Miocene formations which are the most prevalent in the northern and northeastern parts of the country, in the central part of country and southwest of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Furthermore paper gives an overview of potentials for injecting CO 2 into abandoned coal mines, and abandoned salt mine.

Bauxite residue (BR) is the main by-product of the alkaline production of alumina from bauxite containing significant amounts of valuable metals such as scandium that belongs to rare-earth elements (REEs), classified by the European Community as critical raw materials (CRMs). BR is considered a hazardous waste due to its huge volume and high alkalinity making its disposal a serious universal environmental problem. The recovery of scandium from Greek BR can be an excellent approach for waste management and resource efficiency of the waste using environmentally friendly biometallurgical methods. In this work, bioleaching of scandium from bauxite residue using the fungus Aspergillus niger was studied. Bioleaching experiments were performed using the Taguchi experimental design, in batch cultures with BR at various pulp densities (1, 5 and 10%, w/v), sucrose concentrations (40, 90 and 140 g/L) and fungus suspension of 2, 4, and 6% v/v under one-step bioleaching condition and subculturing. The highest Sc recovery equal to 46%, was achieved in 20 days at 1% pulp density. Biosorption phenomena were observed during the leaching process. Lactic, acetic, oxalic and citric were the main organic acids identified.

The recovery of rare earth elements from coal-related materials, primarily fly ash, has become an emerging topic for the past few years. The availability of fly ash as solid waste from coal combustion and its low radionuclide concentrations benefit its utilization as an alternative source of rare earth elements. Using organic substances like citric acid to extract the elements further helps the environmental aspect. The maximum recovery value of cerium and yttrium was determined by reacting magnetic fly ash of 5 grams with 0.5 M of a citric acid solution with an S/L ratio of 10 for 24 hours at various temperatures. A mathematical model is also suggested to elucidate the leaching phenomenon better. The mechanistic model is developed based on the metal complex's diffusion through the ash layer. The results show that the leaching capacity of either cerium or yttrium rises along with the temperature. The maximum recovery value for leaching at 363 K is 40.21% and 54.90% for cerium and yttrium, respectively. The product diffusion model presents befitting graphs to the experimental data quite well. The effective diffusion coefficient (De) for both cerium and yttrium rises exponentially with extraction temperature. It is found that the value of De's increases from the order of 10-10 at 298 K to 10-8 cm 2 /s at 363 K. The diffusion activation energy for cerium and yttrium complexes appears to be 62.5 kJ/mole and 58.4 kJ/mole, respectively.

The study area is located in Nehbandan-Khash zone according to the structural classification of Iran. The outcrops of this area are mainly composed of Cenozoic and Quaternary units. The structure of the area, under the influence of faults and folding, has a trend from north-northwest to south-southeast. Airborne data of radiometric was collected in the study area. In the exploration area of Zahedan, after processing and statistical analysis airborne radiometric data and preparing the map of the radioactive elements with the same intensity, the anomaly ranges were determined. For this purpose, two Ordinary Kriging and inverse distance squared technique were used to estimate the data. The trend of these radioactive element anomalies in the area was the general northwest-southeast trend, as identified in the maps. These anomalies of the radioactive elements are found in the Oligo-Miocene granodiorites units. Three anomaly ranges are located in the northeastern corner of the sheet, whic...

Bauxite residue (BR) is the main by-product of the alkaline production of alumina from bauxite containing significant amounts of valuable metals such as scandium that belongs to rare-earth elements (REEs), classified by the European Community as critical raw materials (CRMs). BR is considered a hazardous waste due to its huge volume and high alkalinity making its disposal a serious universal environmental problem. The recovery of scandium from Greek BR can be an excellent approach for waste management and resource efficiency of the waste using environmentally friendly biometallurgical methods. In this work, bioleaching of scandium from bauxite residue using the fungus Aspergillus niger was studied. Bioleaching experiments were performed using the Taguchi experimental design, in batch cultures with BR at various pulp densities (1, 5 and 10%, w/v), sucrose concentrations (40, 90 and 140 g/L) and fungus suspension of 2, 4, and 6% v/v under one-step bioleaching condition and subculturin...

Bauxite residue (BR) is the main by-product of the alkaline production of alumina from bauxite containing significant amounts of valuable metals such as scandium that belongs to rare-earth elements (REEs), classified by the European Community as critical raw materials (CRMs). BR is considered a hazardous waste due to its huge volume and high alkalinity making its disposal a serious universal environmental problem. The recovery of scandium from Greek BR can be an excellent approach for waste management and resource efficiency of the waste using environmentally friendly biometallurgical methods. In this work, bioleaching of scandium from bauxite residue using the fungus Aspergillus niger was studied. Bioleaching experiments were performed using the Taguchi experimental design, in batch cultures with BR at various pulp densities (1, 5 and 10%, w/v), sucrose concentrations (40, 90 and 140 g/L) and fungus suspension of 2, 4, and 6% v/v under one-step bioleaching condition and subculturin...

In present investigation the biological leaching of aluminum by isolated fungi from red mud, the main waste product of the alkaline extraction of Al from bauxite was studied. Biological leaching experiments were carried out using indigenous, date and orange specimen fungi, Aspergillus Niger, Penicillium simplicissimum notatum. Savored Dextrose chloramphenicol Agar (SDA) was used as medium for the selected fungi. All microorganisms were tested for acidproduction and leaching capabilities of aluminum from red mud. Leaching tests were performed in 250 mL Erlenmeyer flasks at 28 °C and at 150 rpm under aseptic conditions. Preheating of red mud and its impact on leaching process was investigated. Indigenous specimen fungi were the most efficient of the fungal cultures; 2082 mg of Al 2 O 3 /l was solubilized at 15 % pulp density of red mud. The metal content of leeching solution was determined by using wet chemical and atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

Cs are major long-lived radionuclides in spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive wastes. [1] Strontium-90 is present in surface soil around the world mainly as a result of fallout from past atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, as well as nuclear plant accidents. [2] Moreover, strontium as an element is relatively mobile and can move down with percolating water to underlying layers of soil and into groundwater. [3] The maximum contaminant level allowable by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for 90 Sr in public drinking water supplies is 0.33 Bq L −1 (USEPA, 2008). [4] This low level reflects the fact that radiostrontium is known as a "bone seeker" that exhibits biochemical behavior similar to calcium. 90 Sr concentrates in bone surfaces and bone marrow potentially causing bone cancer, cancer of nearby tissues, and leukemia. [5] The relatively long radioactive half-life of 90 Sr isotope combined with the long biological half-life makes it one of the most hazardous products of radioactive fallouts. [5,6] In many cases, reliable detection of 90 Sr is problematic due to its generally low concentration in the environment. A reliable radiological monitoring system requires highly selective, sensitive, and stable techniques, especially for pure beta emitters such as 90 Sr. A variety of methods, including solvent extraction, ion exchange, precipitation, among others, have been developed for the separation of strontium. [1,5-11] In all cases, a selective molecule or a functional group (such as crown ether derivatives) is used that has a higher affinity for Sr 2+ relative to other similar ions (Ca 2+ , Pb 2+) and especially radioactive isotopes of Ba and Ra that have a similar chemical behavior. Traditional methods of extracting groundwater samples and conducting laboratory analyses are expensive, time-consuming, and induce significant disposal challenges. The ideal real-time in situ monitoring system should have limited handling and should measure the radioactivity in aqueous samples directly under environmental conditions without using harsh chemicals. One successful detection scheme is based on detection of Cherenkov radiation generated by the high-energy electrons produced by 90 Y, the daughter element of 90 Sr beta decay. [9,10] This approach assumes that the 90 Sr and 90 Y are in a secular equilibrium in the groundwater environment that is both Halloysite Clay Nanotubes Combining extraction and scintillation properties within the same material is a relatively new approach in development of sensors for detection of radioactive elements. Structural organization of such materials at a nanoscale typically offers higher efficiency of detection and shorter response time. In this contribution, several new protocols are discussed for fabrication of stable extractive scintillating systems based on commercial Superlig 620 (SL) material with high affinity to radiostrontium. Application of hybrid organicinorganic beads with SL particles used as core and halloysite clay nanotubes (HNT) modified with a polyvinyltoluene (PVT) brush as a permeable shell combines high-performance extracting properties of the SL material with efficient light emission properties of the polymer scintillator. The developed SL-HNT-PVT hybrid extractive scintillating material allows real-time detection of low-level concentrations of radiostrontium in water. Moreover, the suggested approach is not limited to detection of Sr but can find broader application in development of chemical, biological, or radioluminescent sensors and multifunctional materials.

Deo An, Bo Luong deposits) mining areas are characterized by the large reserve and high grade of Pb-Zn ore and indium in Cho Dien district, Bac Kan Province, northeast Vietnam (Fig. 1). Total ore reserves in these mining areas reach up to 20.1 Mt of ores, in which there are 0.99 Mt of metals (Pb+Zn) (Dovzhikov et al., 1965; Tran et al., 2012, Nguyen et al., 2000). Some earlier studies classified ore deposits in the Cho Don and Cho Dien mining areas into Mississippi Valley type deposits (MVTs). Some of the later studies assign them to Pb-Zn hydrothermal deposits classified into magmatic hydrothermal system based on the mineral assemblage and trace elements characteristics. The aim of this study is to clarify the type of the Na Bop deposit in the Cho Don mining area and the Lung Hoai deposit in the Cho Dien mining area based on the characteristics of mineralogy, geochemistry and formation environment. 2 Outline of Geology of Ore Deposits The geology of the Cho Don and Cho Dien mining areas consists of Devonian shale, claystone, limestone, Permian-Triassic schist, chert, dolomitized, granitoid and gabbroid. Pb-Zn veins of the Na Bop and Lung Hoai deposits are located mainly in Permian-Triassic dolomitized and siliceous carbonate rocks. The strike and dip of Pb-Zn veins are NE-SW and nearly vertical, respectively. The ores of both deposits are Zn rich ores. 3 Mineralogical Characteristics of Ore Deposits The ores of the Na Bop deposit are classified into sphrich and po-rich ores. The po-rich ore occurs as clots in sph-rich ore. There is a possibility that the po-rich ore was formed prior to the formation of sph-rich ore. The mineral assemblages of the po-rich ore and sph-rich ore are po-asp >> sph-gn-py-cpy and sph >> po-asp, respectively. Gangue minerals are anhedral carbonates (Cal, Dol and Ank), euhedral Cal and Dol and graphite. The euhedral Cal and Dol were formed at the earlier stage of the mineralization and partially dissolved by po. Graphite is included in the anhedral carbonate and sometimes, surrounded by asp (Pham-Ngoc et al., 2011, Pham-Ngoc, 2013). The ores of the Lung Hoai deposit are classified into massive sph ore and bended ore consisting alternation of

During the last few years, we have witnessed more frequent floods affecting the northeastern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the valley of the Spreča River. Flooded soil has undergone various changes, in terms of numerous deficiencies and heavy metal contamination, where such soil represents a great danger both for people and animals. Therefore, in this paper the physicochemical analysis of soil and degree of pollution is determined. The aim of soil sampling and analysis is to determine its status after water withdrawal, in terms of nutrient supply, and to determine possible chemical pollution. Based on the results obtained, agricultural producers will receive recommendations regarding restoration of production on these areas, the choice of cultivated culture, corrective measures or remediation of these areas. As part of the analysis, hygroscopic moisture, acidbase soil status, oxidoreduction potential, organic matter content, carbonate content and heavy metals content were determined. Based on the performed analyzes, the soil was shown to be of neutral character (determined in 1M KCl), and weakly alkaline (determined in distilled H 2 O) with predominantly reducing condition prevailing in the soil. The conducted analyzes have shown that the soil is very poor in humus, and that the heavy metals content is within the limit values determined by the Rulebook on Determination of Allowed Quantities of Harmful and Dangerous Substances in Soil and Method of Testing there of ("Official Gazette of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina", number 52/09). Therefore, from the aspect of the pollution degree, the soil from this plot belongs to the first class when it comes to iron, manganese, cadmium and lead, to the second class when it comes to zinc, and the third class when it comes to copper.

The paper presents the results of the geochemical-pedological researches based on the leadconcentrations in soil of the Tuzla's urban area. The main goal of the research was to determine to whatextent, the urban area of Tuzla was contaminated by lead and to determine the pollutant origin. The 129soil samples were collected in situ on the of area about 100 km2. The testing of the lead concentration insoil samples was performed by mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with detection range of 0.02 to 10.000ppm. The exceeding of the maximum permissible concentrations of lead (as defined by the „Pravilnik outvrđivanju dozvoljenih količina štetnih i opasnih tvari u zemljištu i metode njihovog ispitivanja“), wasrecorded in eight soil samples (samples 108, 170, 171, 182, 187, 189, 195 and 244), 6.20% of the totalanalyzed. The exceeded lead concentrations range from 114.0 - 190.82 ppm and the average value is146.72 ppm. The concentration of lead in the soil, which is within the limits of the doses,...

The composition of mare basalt units in the Orientale Basin are investigated by using the potassium (K) map derived from Chang'E-2 gamma-ray spectrometer (CE-2 GRS) and FeO map derived from Clementine UV-Vis data set. Together with crater retention ages of the mare basalts from literature data, we aim to investigate possible magma sources underneath the Orientale Basin and their chemical evolution over time. Analyses of the chemical composition of the resurfaced mare basalts together with the reported eruption ages suggest a unique magma generating process for the resurfaced mare deposits. The early mare basalts in the central Mare Orientale and the later resurfaced mare deposits probably derived from magma generated by heat release due to high radioactive element concentrations. Based on forward modeling, the similar K abundances observed in the small mare deposits of the SW polygon area, Lacus Veris, and Lacus Autumni and those in the central Mare Orientale imply the same heat source for these lava eruptions. The chemical similarities (e.g., K, FeO, and TiO 2) of these regions suggest that mare basalts within the Orientale Basin are a result of multiple eruptions from a relatively homogeneous source underneath the Basin.

The aim of this work is to evaluate the rare earth elements (REEs) recovery from fluid catalytic cracking spent catalyst (FCC-SC) by chemical and biochemical strategies while also examining a route for the valorization of biodiesel-derived glycerin (RG), which is presently unprofitable to refine. Recovery tests for REEs were performed with no pretreatment of the FCC-SC. A chemical leaching investigation was carried out using HCl, HNO 3 , NaOH, CaCl 2 and citric acid aqueous solutions (1 mol L À1 , at 30, 50, 60 or 70 ± 1 C). The leaching tests carried out with 1 mol L À1 citric acid at 50 C provided the best recovery of La (27%). Subsequent bioleaching tests were carried out with four strains of Yarrowia lipolytica to evaluate their potential to produce organic acids using RG as the main carbon source. The FCC-SC contains some REEs, predominantly La. Remarkable biorecovery rates for REEs (namely, La (53%), Ce and Nd (both 99%)) were achieved using the Y. lipolytica IM-UFRJ 50678 fermented medium at 50 C. Thus, here, a sustainable approach to recovering metals from spent cracking catalyst using RG under low-cost and non-energy-intensive processing conditions is reported.

The Interoceanmetal Joint Organization’s (IOM) exploration license is granted in the area located within the Clarion–Clipperton Zone of the Eastern Central Pacific. All activities related to exploration of minerals in this area are beyond the limits of national jurisdiction and come under the provision of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and related regulations. The geological survey, which was the subject of the exploration, focused on the polymetallic nodule deposits. Other activities covered the tests of nodule processing, including alternative methods of metal extraction. This article describes the methodology of the bioleaching process and provides a summary of the initial results of the bioleaching test, applied to the samples of polymetallic nodules taken from the H22 exploration block of the IOM exploration area. The bioleaching efficiency under different pulp density conditions was studied. The enrichment of heterotrophic Mn-reducing microorganisms was pr...

Research on potentially toxic elements chromium and nickel and laboratory testing of theirconcentrations was carried out in the wider area of Maglaj, with the aim to detect and determine theirquantities, which gave basis for discussion about origins of these pollutants in soil. Field and laboratoryobservations included 45 soil samples, taken by the network, which is dictated by geomorphologicalconditions. The most frequently sampled type of soil are fluvisol and humofluvisol. Concentration ofchromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) are obtained by the most sophisticated laboratory method (ICP-MS),with a highly sensitive detection threshold (0.1 to 10,000 ppm).Evaluation of test results showed that concentrations of Cr (max. 954 ppm, min 154 ppm, average 457.5pmm) and Ni (max 504.5 ppm, min 103.5 ppm; average 275.57 pmm) are significantly increasedcompared to the concentrations prescribed in the Regulations on determination of allowed amounts ofharmful and hazardous substances in soil (Cr max =...

The paper assesses the vulnerability of 27 groundwater bodies in the basin of the river Bosna, ie Spreča, then the river basin of the Drina river (Drinjača), as well as parts of the immediate Sava river basin (Čelić area - Gnjica river and Turija basin) by the GLA method. For each water body, the determination of the effective soil capacity, degree of infiltration and rock type was made, as well as the final assessment of the protective efficiency of the unsaturated zones soil covering.

The disposal of voluminous, highly alkaline, bauxite residue (BR), the industrial by-product of alumina production by the Bayer process, constitutes an intricate global environmental problem. BR, containing valuable metals such as rare-earth elements (REEs)—in particular, scandium (Sc)—can be used as a secondary source for REE extraction. The scope of this study was the investigation of bioleaching as an innovative and environmentally friendly approach for the extraction of Sc from BR. The bioleaching parameters were studied on Greek BR and experiments were performed using different microbial cultures and solid to liquid ratios (S/L). The maximum extraction of Sc was 42% using Acetobacter tropicalis in a one-step bioleaching process at 1% S/L. The main organic acids produced were acetic, oxalic, and citric. The bioleaching data indicated a probable synergistic effect of the different organic acids produced by microorganisms along with a more targeted leaching mechanism.

The paper presents the potential areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) for injecting  CO2 into underground geological formations by boreholes. Areas are determined based on the geological structure of Bosnia ana Herzegovina, and development of Miocene formations which are the most prevalent in the northern and northeastern parts of the country, in the central part of country and southwest of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Furthermore paper gives an overview of  potentials for injecting CO2 into abandoned coal mines, and abandoned salt mine.

The use of modern global navigation system (GPS-GNSS) is massively being used in the modern research. Therefore, the use of these methods in science can do much to facilitate scientific research work. In this scientific work we analyzed the database obtained by the GPS device and field testing engineers, and the data is used to produce maps of the field, engineering geological map and we recorded elements of landslide that were used for mapping (cracks, landslide mass, water sources, forehead scar and glide plane). Based on the results obtained, we made morphology of landslide and landslide engineering geological map in scale 1:500.

The disposal of voluminous, highly alkaline, bauxite residue (BR), the industrial by-product of alumina production by the Bayer process, constitutes an intricate global environmental problem. BR, containing valuable metals such as rare-earth elements (REEs)—in particular, scandium (Sc)—can be used as a secondary source for REE extraction. The scope of this study was the investigation of bioleaching as an innovative and environmentally friendly approach for the extraction of Sc from BR. The bioleaching parameters were studied on Greek BR and experiments were performed using different microbial cultures and solid to liquid ratios (S/L). The maximum extraction of Sc was 42% using Acetobacter tropicalis in a one-step bioleaching process at 1% S/L. The main organic acids produced were acetic, oxalic, and citric. The bioleaching data indicated a probable synergistic effect of the different organic acids produced by microorganisms along with a more targeted leaching mechanism.

The paper presents the results of the geochemical-pedological researches based on the leadconcentrations in soil of the Tuzla's urban area. The main goal of the research was to determine to whatextent, the urban area of Tuzla was contaminated by lead and to determine the pollutant origin. The 129soil samples were collected in situ on the of area about 100 km2. The testing of the lead concentration insoil samples was performed by mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with detection range of 0.02 to 10.000ppm. The exceeding of the maximum permissible concentrations of lead (as defined by the „Pravilnik outvrđivanju dozvoljenih količina štetnih i opasnih tvari u zemljištu i metode njihovog ispitivanja“), wasrecorded in eight soil samples (samples 108, 170, 171, 182, 187, 189, 195 and 244), 6.20% of the totalanalyzed. The exceeded lead concentrations range from 114.0 - 190.82 ppm and the average value is146.72 ppm. The concentration of lead in the soil, which is within the limits of the doses,...

We calculated statistical average of thermal data to speculate regional thermal structure of the forearc area of the Japanese Islands. The three thermal statistical averages show a difference of a high thermal regime in the western part of forearc inner zone and a low in the Kanto forearc outer zone. The Kanto zone marks 18 K km -1 for mean geothermal gradient, 44 mW m -2 for mean heat flow, while the western inner zone shows 27 K km -1 for mean geothermal gradient, 63 mW m -2 for mean heat flow. The geothermal gradients of the Nobi Plain and the Osaka Plain in the western inner zone are 29 and 36 K km -1 , respectively, while the value of the Kanto Plain in the Kanto zone is 21 K km -1 . Taking account of the effect of accumulation of sediments, we see the difference in the thermal regime between the plains and conclude that the difference is significant. Heat flux in the crust depends on the volume of granite rich in radioactive elements. There are few granitic rocks in the Kanto zone, while granitic rocks are dominant in the western inner zone. The heat flow of 20 mW m -2 is attributed to the granitic rocks of about 8 km in thickness. There are two oceanic plate subductions of the Pacific plate and the Philippine Sea plate under the Kanto zone, while only the Philippine Sea plate has been subducting under the western inner zone. The model simulation based on thermal and subduction model shows a heat flow ranging 50-60 mW m -2 in the southwest Japan forarc area and a low value of about 20 mW m -2 in the northeast Japan forearc area. The heat flux from the cooling oceanic lithosphere depends on the age of plate. The Shikoku Basin, a part of the Philippine Sea plate, off the western inner zone is 15-30 Ma, while the Pacific plate off the Kanto zone is 122-132 Ma. Theoretically, heat flux values of 15 and 50 Ma oceanic plates range 60-120 mW m -2 and those of 122-132 Ma could be about 10 mW m -2 . If the heat flux contribution from the Philippine Sea plate under the Kanto zone is smaller than the plate under the western inner zone, there could be a thermal regime difference in order of several tens of mW m -2 . Conclusively, the cause of the difference of heat flux could be the uneven granitic rocks distribution and/or the difference of heat flux between the two subducting plate.

The main goal of the research was to determine to which extent the copper (Cu) is dominant in the topsoils ofTuzla's area. Considering the defined goal, the detailed soil analyze for the presence of this element in thearea of Tuzla, was carried out. The terrain work was based on soil sampling (240 samples) from the area ofabout 303 km2. The sampling network for the urban part of the town was 1x1 km, and for the rural part1,5x1,5 km and according to URGE instructions. The Cu concentrations are obtained by the most sophisticatedlaboratory method (ICP-MS), with a highly sensitive detection threshold (0.02 to 10,000 ppm). Elevatedconcentrations of copper in the Tuzla’s topsoil are recorded in 64 samples. The copper concentrations in thesesamples ranges from 50 ppm to 156,1 ppm. Highly exceeded concentrations are recorded in samples No: 64,66, 163, 170, 171, 182, 187, 195, 214 and 249a, located mostly in the western part of the Tuzla. The increasedconcentrations copper are primarily ...

The paper presents the results of the geochemical-pedological researches based on the leadconcentrations in soil of the Tuzla's urban area. The main goal of the research was to determine to whatextent, the urban area of Tuzla was contaminated by lead and to determine the pollutant origin. The 129soil samples were collected in situ on the of area about 100 km2. The testing of the lead concentration insoil samples was performed by mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with detection range of 0.02 to 10.000ppm. The exceeding of the maximum permissible concentrations of lead (as defined by the „Pravilnik outvrđivanju dozvoljenih količina štetnih i opasnih tvari u zemljištu i metode njihovog ispitivanja“), wasrecorded in eight soil samples (samples 108, 170, 171, 182, 187, 189, 195 and 244), 6.20% of the totalanalyzed. The exceeded lead concentrations range from 114.0 - 190.82 ppm and the average value is146.72 ppm. The concentration of lead in the soil, which is within the limits of the doses,...

Aspergillus ficuum and Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibit good potential in generating varieties of organic acids effective for bioleaching some rare earth elements (REEs) from Egyptian monazite (purity 97 %) and (thorium-uranium) concentrate. Batch experiments are performed to compare the bioleaching efficiencies of the one and 2-step bioleaching processes. The highest percentages of bioleached REEs from monazite and (Th-U) concentrate directly by A. ficuum are found to be 75.4, 63.8 % at a pulp density 0.6, 1.2 % (w/v), respectively, after 9 days of incubation at 30 C and 63.5, 52.6 % by P. aeruginosa after 8 days of incubation at 35 C using a shaking incubator at 175 rpm. It is also found that 14.3 and 1.4 g/l of citric and oxalic acid, respectively, are produced by A. ficuum, while 6.3 g/l of 2ketogluconic acid is produced by P. aeruginosa. The highest percentages of chemical leaching of REEs from 0.6 % monazite using citric acid 14.3 g/l, oxalic acid 1.4 g/l, citric/oxalic acids 15.7 g/l and 2ketogluconic acid 6.3 g/l after 24 h are 55.7, 26.0, 58.8 and 45.6 %, respectively. This work addresses the area of beneficiation of the used mineral to solubilize REEs through the biotechnological route in Egypt, where the bioleaching method is more effective than the chemical one using organic acids.

Since the early days of mankind, plants have been used as food and for medicinal purposes. Still, little information exists in literature about the activity concentration of 238 U and 232 Th decay products, as well as stable element concentrations in Brazilian plants. Activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 228 Ra and 210 Pb, and chemical concentrations of As,

We calculated statistical average of thermal data to speculate regional thermal structure of the forearc area of the Japanese Islands. The three thermal statistical averages show a difference of a high thermal regime in the western part of forearc inner zone and a low in the Kanto forearc outer zone. The Kanto zone marks 18 K km −1 for mean geothermal gradient, 44 mW m −2 for mean heat flow, while the western inner zone shows 27 K km −1 for mean geothermal gradient, 63 mW m −2 for mean heat flow. The geothermal gradients of the Nobi Plain and the Osaka Plain in the western inner zone are 29 and 36 K km −1 , respectively, while the value of the Kanto Plain in the Kanto zone is 21 K km −1. Taking account of the effect of accumulation of sediments, we see the difference in the thermal regime between the plains and conclude that the difference is significant. Heat flux in the crust depends on the volume of granite rich in radioactive elements. There are few granitic rocks in the Kanto zone, while granitic rocks are dominant in the western inner zone. The heat flow of 20 mW m −2 is attributed to the granitic rocks of about 8 km in thickness. There are two oceanic plate subductions of the Pacific plate and the Philippine Sea plate under the Kanto zone, while only the Philippine Sea plate has been subducting under the western inner zone. The model simulation based on thermal and subduction model shows a heat flow ranging 50-60 mW m −2 in the southwest Japan forarc area and a low value of about 20 mW m −2 in the northeast Japan forearc area. The heat flux from the cooling oceanic lithosphere depends on the age of plate. The Shikoku Basin, a part of the Philippine Sea plate, off the western inner zone is 15-30 Ma, while the Pacific plate off the Kanto zone is 122-132 Ma. Theoretically, heat flux values of 15 and 50 Ma oceanic plates range 60-120 mW m −2 and those of 122-132 Ma could be about 10 mW m −2. If the heat flux contribution from the Philippine Sea plate under the Kanto zone is smaller than the plate under the western inner zone, there could be a thermal regime difference in order of several tens of mW m −2. Conclusively, the cause of the difference of heat flux could be the uneven granitic rocks distribution and/or the difference of heat flux between the two subducting plate.

The disposal of voluminous, highly alkaline, bauxite residue (BR), the industrial by-product of alumina production by the Bayer process, constitutes an intricate global environmental problem. BR, containing valuable metals such as rare-earth elements (REEs)—in particular, scandium (Sc)—can be used as a secondary source for REE extraction. The scope of this study was the investigation of bioleaching as an innovative and environmentally friendly approach for the extraction of Sc from BR. The bioleaching parameters were studied on Greek BR and experiments were performed using different microbial cultures and solid to liquid ratios (S/L). The maximum extraction of Sc was 42% using Acetobacter tropicalis in a one-step bioleaching process at 1% S/L. The main organic acids produced were acetic, oxalic, and citric. The bioleaching data indicated a probable synergistic effect of the different organic acids produced by microorganisms along with a more targeted leaching mechanism.

The paper presents the results of the geochemical-pedological researches based on the lead concentrations in soil of the Tuzla's urban area. The main goal of the research was to determine to what extent, the urban area of Tuzla was contaminated by lead and to determine the pollutant origin. The 129 soil samples were collected in situ on the of area about 100 km 2. The testing of the lead concentration in soil samples was performed by mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with detection range of 0.02 to 10.000 ppm. The exceeding of the maximum permissible concentrations of lead (as defined by the " Pravilnik o utvrđivanju dozvoljenih količina štetnih i opasnih tvari u zemljištu i metode njihovog ispitivanja "), was recorded in eight soil samples (samples 108, 170, 171, 182, 187, 189, 195 and 244), 6.20% of the total analyzed. The exceeded lead concentrations range from 114.0-190.82 ppm and the average value is 146.72 ppm. The concentration of lead in the soil, which is within the ...

Since the early days of mankind, plants have been used as food and for medicinal purposes. Still, little information exists in literature about the activity concentration of 238 U and 232 Th decay products, as well as stable element concentrations in Brazilian plants. Activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 228 Ra and 210 Pb, and chemical concentrations of As,

Bauxite residue is the voluminous by-product of alumina production after Bayer process. Its high alkalinity causes disposal problems and harmful environmental impacts. However, the residue contains significant amounts of valuable elements, such as rare earth elements, including scandium. Greek bauxite residue contains a high amount of scandium close to its main resources. Taking into account scandium’s limited availability coupled with its high demand in modern technology, bauxite residue could be considered as a potential resource for scandium recovery. In this study, the optimization of scandium extraction from bauxite residue with sulfuric acid is investigated using Taguchi methodology. Based on previous studies, acid molarity, leaching time, solid/liquid ratio, and reaction temperature were selected as control parameters for the selective Sc recovery. Method optimization targeted the highest concentration of scandium combined with the lowest concentration of iron without taking ...

During the last few years, we have witnessed more frequent floods affecting the northeastern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the valley of the Spreča River. Flooded soil has undergone various changes, in terms of numerous deficiencies and heavy metal contamination, where such soil represents a great danger both for people and animals. Therefore, in this paper the physicochemical analysis of soil and degree of pollution is determined. The aim of soil sampling and analysis is to determine its status after water withdrawal, in terms of nutrient supply, and to determine possible chemical pollution. Based on the results obtained, agricultural producers will receive recommendations regarding restoration of production on these areas, the choice of cultivated culture, corrective measures or remediation of these areas. As part of the analysis, hygroscopic moisture, acid-base soil status, oxidoreduction potential, organic matter content, carbonate content and heavy metals content were determined. Based on the performed analyzes, the soil was shown to be of neutral character (determined in 1M KCl), and weakly alkaline (determined in distilled H 2 O) with predominantly reducing condition prevailing in the soil. The conducted analyzes have shown that the soil is very poor in humus, and that the heavy metals content is within the limit values determined by the Rulebook on Determination of Allowed Quantities of Harmful and Dangerous Substances in Soil and Method of Testing there of ("Official Gazette of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina", number 52/09). Therefore, from the aspect of the pollution degree, the soil from this plot belongs to the first class when it comes to iron, manganese, cadmium and lead, to the second class when it comes to zinc, and the third class when it comes to copper.

Research on potentially toxic elements chromium and nickel and laboratory testing of their concentrations was carried out in urban part of the Tuzla city, with the aim to detect and determine their quantities, which gave the basis for discussion about origins of these pollutants in the soil. The geochemical - pedogeographic soil researches (soil sampling) were made in the urban area of Tuzla (on the area of about 100 km2), in the proper network of 1x1 km, and according to URGE instructions. Concentration of Cr and Ni are obtained by the most sophisticated laboratory method (ICP-MS), with a highly sensitive detection threshold (0.1 to 10,000 ppm). The evaluation of test results showed that concentrations of Cr (max. 1582 ppm, min 145 ppm, average 417,9 pmm) and Ni (max 1005 ppm, min 40,8 ppm; average 309,5 pmm) are significantly increased in every sample compared to the concentrations prescribed in the Regulations on determination of allowed amounts of harmful and hazardous substances in soil (Cr max = 100 ppm and Ni max = 50 ppm). The increased concentrations of Cr and Ni are primarily a consequence of anthropogenic impacts in enviroment, i.e. pollution caused by industrial growth, traffic, improper waste disposal etc.

Key words:
potentially toxic elements, Cr and Ni, soil, Tuzla, concentration, genesis.

The paper presents the results of the pedological-geochemical researches of the soil in the Tuzla's urban area. The conducted researches, among the others, included the analysis of soil samples on radioactive element uranium (U). The research has required the few stages of research and application of different methods, such as literature analysis, the preparing of the work concept and the order of researches, terrain researches, analysis of the soil samples and drafting of the thematic maps and tables etc. Increased concentrations of U in soil samples are registered in several local communities located mainly on west and southwest of the investigated area. The conducted research results indicated that increased concentrations of this radiotoxic and cancerogenous element in the analyzed area are mostly the consequence of human activities.