Purification of Crude Sodium Di-Uranate from Tummalapalle Source, India to Nuclear Grade Ammonium Di-Uranate Using Sulphamic Acid Dissolution Route

Crude Sodium Di-Uranate (SDU) of Tummalapalle mine India, contains 2-3% (w/w) of silica besides 5-7% (w/w) of organic matter including polyacrylamides and humic masses with 2-5% Zirconium (Zr) (w/w) as major impurities, hence the direct conversion of SDU, to Nuclear Grade (NG) Ammonium Di-Uranate Cake (ADUC) for fuel fabrication via HNO3-Tributyl Phosphate (TBP) extraction route is onerous due to silica gel creation, third phase inception enounces presence of excess Zr and micro-emulsion formation confirms organic matter introduces difficulties in filtration, recovery and purification stages. Various analytical techniques such as X-Ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) as well as Inductively Coupled Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) has been utilized to characterize raw material (SDU), intermediate products (gel and residues) as well as final product (NG-ADUC). In this research; an innovative, novel route for dissolution of SDU employing sulphamic acid (25% w/v) to remove silica, organic matter, and Zr followed by the conventional route to NG-ADU; eliminates the three major process difficulties viz., (i) gelation, (ii) third phase formation and (iii) microemulsion formation. In addition, sulphamic acid extracted Uranium (U)-bearing stream ultimately articulates 99.5% overall U recovery and enunciates nuclear grade U with desirable morphological characteristics.

Investigation of the Effectiveness of Disinfectants Used in Meat-Processing Facilities to Control Clostridium sporogenes and Clostridioides difficile Spores

Spore-forming bacteria are a major concern for the food industry as they cause both spoilage and food safety issues. Moreover, as they are more resistant than vegetative cells, their removal from the food processing environment may be difficult to achieve. This study investigated the efficacy of the ten most commonly used disinfectant agents (assigned 1–10), used at the recommended concentrations in the meat industry, for their ability to eliminate Clostridium sporogenes and Clostridioides difficile spores. Test-tube based suspension assays suggested that disinfectants 2 (10% v/v preparation of a mixture of hydrogen peroxide (10–30%), acetic acid (1–10%) and peracetic acid (1–10%)), 7 (4% w/v preparation of a mixture of peroxymonosulphate (30–50%), sulphamic acid (1–10%) and troclosene sodium (1–10%)) and 10 (2% v/v preparation of a mixture of glutaraldehyde (10–30%), benzalkonium chloride (1–10%)) were the most effective formulations. D-values for these ranged from 2.1 to 8.4 min at 20 °C for the target spores. Based on these findings, it is recommended that these disinfectants are used to control Clostridium spores in the meat plant environment.

Curcumin Decorated Silver Nanoparticles as Bioinspired Corrosion Inhibitor for Carbon Steel

Background: Curcumin-stabilized silver nanoparticles (Cur-AgNp) synthesized by a facile chemical method. The synthesized AgNp was, for the first time, used as a bio-derived corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in the 1M sulphamic acid medium. Methods: The electrochemical studies via impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarization, and surface analysis are reported in the communication. The maximum inhibition efficiency of 92.87% obtained at 800 mgL-1 . Results: The impedance measurements revealed an elevation in the polarization resistance with growth in the inhibitor concentration, which supports the adsorption and inhibition behavior of Cur-AgNp on the steel surface. The inhibitor functioned by adsorption on the steel surface and obeyed the Langmuir kinetic-thermodynamic isotherm with a mixed mode of physical/ chemical adsorption. The potentiodynamic polarization study revealed cathodic predominating behavior. Conclusion: The SEM analysis depicted the development of a protective inhibitor film on the steel substrate, and FTIRATR analysis of the inhibited steel surface supported the adsorption of the corrosion inhibitor on the metallic surface.