Abstract

Are Dirt Ceramic Pellets Strong Enough to Solve a Uranium

Contamination Problem Author:Jeremy Jones1, Moticha F. Yellowman1, Matthew Simpson2, Dr. Antonio S. Lara1

1 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 88003, 2 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 88003

Figure A. Ultimate strength (psi) vs Amount of Clay (%) Relative to

Temperature (°C)

Figure C. Ultimate strength (psi) vs Amount of Clay (%) Relative to Time (h)

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Ultimate Stength vs Clay:Water Gallup DCPs Sintered for 5 hours

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Ultimate Stength vs Clay:Water Gallup Clay Pellets Sintered at 600 °C

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Figure D. Ultimate strength (psi) vs Time (h) Relative to Clay (%)

Figure B. Ultimate strength (psi) vs Temperature (°C) Relative to Clay (%)

Results Hypothesis

Introduction Uranium contaminated water throughout northwestern NM

• Especially affects the Navajo Nation

Uranium is a toxic heavy metal and radioactive

• Renal failure, liver damage, and cancer

No economically viable solution available

• Water treatment, reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, etc.

Clay economically viable solution

• Sequesters uranium from aqueous environments

Clay drawback

• Clay is difficult to manage when wet

Solution to mud manageability

• Sintered clay pellets

Dirt ceramic pellets (DCPs)

• Robust, manageable, simple and sustainable

Determine the parameters that affect DCP robustness

• Robustness – Ultimate strength in pounds per square inch (psi)

Methods & Materials Mix clay and water to shape pellet then oven dry

• Ohaus balance 1500, 50 mL Kimax buret, Ziploc baggies,

Silcone mold, VWR Oven 1320E

Pellets are sintered at different temperatures and durations

• Sybron Thermolyne Furnace A1638

Compress dirt ceramic pellets to determine robustness with

• Instron Model 5882

Analyze compression data

• Microsoft Excel

Conclusion Within the objective and method parameters, all dirt ceramic pellets display

substantial robustness adequate for utility in fielding.

• DCP Robustness: Max (2600 psi) ; Min (400 psi)

• Optimal Sintering parameters: Clay (70%) ; Temp. (800 °C) ; Time (15 h)

• Human bite force: (108 – 150) psi

• Human grip force: (68.3 – 103.6) psi

Compression Data needs further analysis

Future Directions Correlation between plasticity and robustness

Compress and compare 4 other clays

Acknowledgements

New Mexico State Legislature NMWRRI2017-18, administered by the

New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute

National Institutes of General Medical Health MBRS R25GM061222

Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement

Engineering Technology and Surveying Engineering (ETSE)

Eduardo Gamillo

Kenny Stevens, P.E.

Mathias Schauer

Dirt ceramic pellet robustness is directly related to firing time,

temperature, and the amount of water in a clay water mixture. Objective

• Determine optimal DCP fabrication method for robustness

Clay to water ratio, sintering duration and temperature

Results display a variation robustness with trends.

2+

O

U

O

High levels of uranium in drinking water in the Four Corners Area

Over ten years, time, effort, money with no viable solution

30% of the Navajo Nation have no access to regulated water

Dirt ceramic pellets are an appropriate solution

Dirt ceramic pellet robustness is related to how pellet is made

Study produced robust dirt ceramic pellets