Uranium is known for its toxicity and has been a nuclear hazard. Its radioactive nature has made it a cause of lung and bone cancer. The uranium content in water bodies in several countries has surpassed the maximum permissible limits. In such regions of radioactive contamination of local soil and groundwater, the chemical toxicity of uranium has tremendously aggravated health concerns. Large scale loss of aquatic species has been witnessed due to uranium contamination. Governments have imposed regulations and set standards to limit the disposal of uranium in water bodies. Owing to its ability of fission, uranium simultaneously finds its application is nuclear energy generation. It is also used as a shield against radiation, as ammunition in military weaponry, as a counterweight for aircraft control surfaces, in radiotherapy and on-stream analysis of a wide range of minerals. With an objective to advance the understanding, this article covers the various techniques for the recovery of uranium along with a wide range of removal agents, considering the various factors that affect uranium uptake. The techniques contemplated upon include adsorption, membrane filtration, phytoremediation, reductive precipitation, microbiological methods and bio-precipitation. The isotherm and kinetic models used in adsorption have been stated and a comparative evaluation of the above listed techniques has also been done.

A review of potential remediation techniques for uranium(VI) ion retrieval from contaminated aqueous environment

Keeping in view the toxicity of uranium and to reduce exposure to uranium and avoid high doses, it is essential to examine on routine bases the concentration of natural radionuclide uranium (U) in surface and groundwater resources. In this approach, the concentrations of U (total U) were summarized in worldwide surface and groundwater resources. U(+6) is the major form of U in oxic surface waters, while U(+4) is the major form in anoxic waters. An efficient way of uranium measurement in all water sources must be utilized to obtain reliable results. For this purpose a summary of available analytical techniques for U determination has also been presented. On the basis of the available data, the chemical exposures from these contaminated water sources were specified and some important epidemiological cross-sectional, ecological, and case-control studies and influence of heavy metal mining on water quality were also included. The literature review results revealed that the concentrations of natural U are high...

Distribution of Natural Uranium in Surface and Groundwater Resources: A Review

Magnetic-watermelon rinds biochar for uranium-contaminated water treatment using an electromagnetic semi-batch column with removal mechanistic investigations.

The groundwater quality of southwestern Punjab, India, is a serious cause of concern due to the presence of chemical contaminants in it. However, limited studies of groundwater quality, sources of chemical contaminants and their health risks are available for the region. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the source, distribution and potential health risk assessment of groundwater quality in three districts of southwestern Punjab, India. The spatial distribution of groundwater chemical contaminants and their potential health risks have been illustrated using inverse distance weighting interpolation technique. The concentration of fluoride (F−; ranged from 0.08 to 4.79 mg L−1) exceeded the WHO limit (1.5 µg L−1) in 80 and 50% samples collected from Bathinda and Ludhiana districts, respectively. The uranium (U) concentration ranged from 0.5 to 432 µg L−1 and shows ~ 85%, 75% and 10% of samples collected from Bathinda, Barnala and Ludhiana districts exceeded the WHO drinking water limit (30 µg L−1), respectively. The groundwater quality of the Bathinda district is a matter of concern due to elevated levels of alkalinity, hardness, fluoride, uranium and nitrate (NO3−). The principal component analysis shows close association between F− and U, which indicates their geogenic origin. Further, they also seem to be subordinately influenced by diffuse anthropogenic activities. The clustering of Cu and Pb with NO3− and SO42− indicates their anthropogenic origin. The non-carcinogenic health risk assessment indicates that F−, NO3− and U are the major health risk pollutants in the study area. The carcinogenic health risk of As and Cr exceeded the USEPA limits (10−6) in the entire study area, but observed to be more serious for the district Bathinda (10−3–10−5). The spatial distribution maps illustrate that the health risk for Bathinda district inhabitants is higher than Barnala and Ludhiana districts.

Source apportionment, chemometric pattern recognition and health risk assessment of groundwater from southwestern Punjab, India

Magnetic-watermelon rinds biochar for uranium-contaminated water treatment using an electromagnetic semi-batch column with removal mechanistic investigations

The elemental concentration of uranium in the samples collected from the ground water and the canal water in the Bathinda district of Punjab state, India, have been investigated using X-ray fluorescence technique. The residues obtained after drying the water samples were analysed using the energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer consisting of Mo-anode X-ray tube equipped with selective absorbers as an excitation source and an Si(Li) detector. The uranium concentration values in significant fraction of the shallow ground water samples from the hand pumps is found to be above the permissible level of 15 ppb recommended by World Health Organisation for the drinking water, and its values in the canal water samples are below 5 ppb. To investigate the flyash from the coal-fired thermal power plants as a possible source of ground water contamination, the water samples collected from the surroundings of the power plants and the flyash samples were also analyzed. The results rule out flyash as a source of uranium contamination. Agrochemical processes occurring in the calcareous soils in the region are the favoured potential source of uranium contamination of the ground water.

Study of uranium contamination of ground water in Punjab state in India using X-ray fluorescence technique

In the present paper, a series of complex of the type [MLX2] where M = Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II), L = 6-methyl-2-phenyl-4H-chromen 4-thisemicarbazone (MPCT) have been synthesized. Their structure were confirmed by means of IR, electronic spectra, elemental analysis and molar conductance, coupled with magnetic susceptibility measurements. All the compounds were assayed for antibacterial activities against one gram positive bacterial strain Bacillus subtilis and one gram negative bacterial strain Eschericpia coli, using disc diffusion technique. It was observed on comparison with reference to antibiotic and fungicides. The complexes were found to be more effective than ligands. Key word: MPCT/ Cobalt(II)/ Nickel(II)/ Copper(II)/ Complexes. Schiff base coordination compounds, the present work was undertaken to study the complexes of Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions with bioactive ligands. In the present paper, we report a series of new Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of Schiff base 6-methyl2-phenyl-4H-chromen-4-thiosemicarbazone. The complexes have general molecular formula [MLX2]; where M = Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II); L = 6-methyl-2phenyl-4H-chromen-4-thiosemicarbazone (MPCT) and X = Cl-, Br-, Iand NO3 -. 272 RAI et al., Orient. J. Chem., Vol. 29(1), 271-276 (2013)

http://orientjchem.org/dnload/BK-RAI-S-N-VIDYARTHI-PUJA-SINHA-VINEETA-SINGH-and-SANJIV-KUMAR-/OJCV029I01P271-276.pdf

Spectroscopic and Biocidal Study of Co(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II) Chelates of Nitrogen and Sulphur Containing Schiff Base Derived from 6-methyl-2-phenyl-4H-chromen-4-one

The queries made by Rathore in the preceding Letter to Editor (J Radioanal Nucl Chem, 2013) regarding the “Studies of ground water contamination in Punjab state in India using X-ray fluorescence technique” by Alrakabi et al. (J Radioanal Nucl Chem 294:221–227, 2012. doi: 10.1007/s10967-011-1585-x
 ), are responded. The points raised by Rathore are important in case of sensitive analytical techniques, where only a small fraction (~few hundred μL of water) of the water sample collected in the container is effectively used as analyte. The biasing due to chemical speciation and physical escape of element of interest becomes significant in such rapid techniques if the ionic species of interest in the analyte are not stabilised using suitable additives. In the reported study based on X-ray fluorescence technique, the analyte used for elemental analysis was obtained by drying about 500–1000 mL of water sample. Adequate precautions were taken to minimize possibility of element of interest to escape or adhere to the bottle surface or lost as residue. The onsite acidification of collected water sample to pH 1 with reagent-grade nitric acid for sample preservation is not a pre-requisite in the procedure followed. The contribution of particulate matter to the reported concentrations of uranium was estimated to be insignificant. Also, the query related to effect of co-precipitation of uranium with formation of CaF2 is found to be inconsequential. The comment made by Rathore (J Radioanal Nucl Chem, 2013) stating that ‘proceeding further in the measurement of uranium is a waste of time and has no meaning and results and discussion have no meaning too’ is extraneous.

B. Rai

Papers

Study of uranium contamination of ground water in Punjab state in India using X-ray fluorescence technique

Spectroscopic and Biocidal Study of Co(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II) Chelates of Nitrogen and Sulphur Containing Schiff Base Derived from 6-methyl-2-phenyl-4H-chromen-4-one

Reply to query related to “Study of uranium contamination of ground water in Punjab state in India using X-ray fluorescence technique”