Energy News  
CIVIL NUCLEAR
Graphene filter can clean nuclear wastewater
by Brooks Hays
Manchester, England (UPI) Jan 5, 2016


disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only

Just a few days into 2016, and the first graphene story of the year is already here. New research further suggests there's nothing graphene can't do. The wonder material's latest feat is the production of heavy water -- water with higher levels of the hydrogen isotope deuterium.

Graphene sieves work as an ultra-fine filter, separating hydrogen atoms with single-proton nuclei from heavier deuterium atoms. The isotope deuterium is a hydrogen atom with both a proton and a neutron in its nucleus.

Deuterium is used as a tracer in chemistry, biochemistry and environmental sciences. Nuclear power plant operations require significant amounts of heavy water.

The new graphene technology could be scaled to produce large amounts of heavy water much more cheaply and efficiently than current methods.

"This is really the first membrane shown to distinguish between subatomic particles, all at room temperature," study author Marcelo Lozada-Hidalgo, a postdoctoral researcher at University of Manchester, said in a press release. "Now that we showed that it is a fully scalable technology, we hope it will quickly find its way to real applications."

Researchers say the membrane filter could also be used to filter out the less stable and dangerous radioactive isotope tritium -- a toxic byproduct of electricity production at nuclear power plants.

"We were stunned to see that a membrane can be used to separate subatomic particles," said co-author Irina Grigorieva. "It is a really simple set up. We hope to see applications of these filters not only in analytical and chemical tracing technologies but also in helping to clean nuclear waste from radioactive tritium."


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Science, Nuclear Technology
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

Previous Report
CIVIL NUCLEAR
Last Magnox nuclear power plant throws off switch in Wales
London (XNA) Jan 01, 2016
The world's last surviving Magnox nuclear power plant closed Wednesday when the off switch was finally thrown. Wylfa power plant on the island of Anglesey in Wales has generated electricity for 44 years. It was capable of producing 20 percent of the electricity needs of Wales. Wylfa was one of the 11 nuclear power reactors in Britain, using a magnesium-aluminium alloy, hence the name ... read more


CIVIL NUCLEAR
IU scientists create 'nano-reactor' for the production of hydrogen biofuel

A metabolic pathway in cyanobacteria could yield better biofuels

Wearable energy generator uses urine to power wireless transmitter

New catalyst paves way for bio-based plastics, chemicals

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Researchers teach bacterium how to photosynthesize

How to train your bacterium

Milbank advises on purchase of stake in solar portfolio from Dominion

Cellular sensor helps plants find light

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Scotland sees local benefits from renewables

Dutch vote 'setback' to green energy plan: Greenpeace

South Australian Government renews energy for change

Approval of South Australian Wind Farm

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Global electricity production vulnerable to climate and water resource change

Improving electric motor efficiency via shape optimization

Cool roofs in China offer enhanced benefits during heat waves

US Christmas lights use more energy than entire countries

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Generating electric current without energy consumption at room temps

Physicists come up with a way to make cleaner fuel cells

Creation of Jupiter interior, a step towards room temp superconductivity

ORNL achieves milestone with plutonium-238 sample

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Nearby star hosts closest alien planet in the 'habitable zone'

ALMA reveals planetary construction sites

Monster planet is 'dancing with the stars'

Exoplanets Water Mystery Solved

CIVIL NUCLEAR
German shipyard launches Egyptian Navy submarine

China flies J-15 fighters from lone carrier in demonstration

Milestone in modernization of Canada's Halifax-class frigates

Saab upgrading Swedish Navy torpedo

CIVIL NUCLEAR
NASA suspends March launch of InSight mission to Mars

University researchers test prototype spacesuits at Kennedy

Marshall: Advancing the technology for NASA's Journey to Mars

Opportunity positioned on steeper slopes for another Martian winter









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.