Removal of Trace Elements by Cupric Oxide Nanoparticles from Uranium In Situ Recovery Bleed Water and Its Effect on Cell Viability

Authors

• Jodi R. Schilz, Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation, University of New Mexico; jschilz@salud.unm.edu.
• K J. Reddy, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Wyoming.
• Sreejayan Nair, School of Pharmacy, University of Wyoming.
• Thomas E. Johnson, Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University.
• Ronald B. Tjalkens, Center for Environmental Medicine, Colorado State University.
• Kem P. Krueger, School of Pharmacy, University of Wyoming.
• Suzanne Clark, College of Pharmacy, California Northstate University.

Document Type

Article

Abstract

In situ recovery (ISR) is the predominant method of uranium extraction in the United States. During ISR, uranium is leached from an ore body and extracted through ion exchange. The resultant production bleed water (PBW) contains contaminants such as arsenic and other heavy metals. Samples of PBW from an active ISR uranium facility were treated with cupric oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs). CuO-NP treatment of PBW reduced priority contaminants, including arsenic, selenium, uranium, and vanadium. Untreated and CuO-NP treated PBW was used as the liquid component of the cell growth media and changes in viability were determined by the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay in human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep G2) cells. CuO-NP treatment was associated with improved HEK and HEP cell viability. Limitations of this method include dilution of the PBW by growth media components and during osmolality adjustment as well as necessary pH adjustment. This method is limited in its wider context due to dilution effects and changes in the pH of the PBW which is traditionally slightly acidic however; this method could have a broader use assessing CuO-NP treatment in more neutral waters.

Medical Subject Headings

Cell Survival (drug effects); Copper (chemistry); Extraction and Processing Industry; HEK293 Cells; Hep G2 Cells; Humans; Kidney (cytology, drug effects); Liver (cytology, drug effects); Nanoparticles (chemistry); Trace Elements (chemistry, isolation & purification); Uranium (chemistry, isolation & purification, toxicity); Water Pollution, Radioactive (analysis)

Publication Date

6-21-2015

Publication Title

Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE

E-ISSN

1940-087X

Issue

100

First Page

e52715

PubMed ID

26132311

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3791/52715

Recommended Citation

Schilz, Jodi R.; Reddy, K J.; Nair, Sreejayan; Johnson, Thomas E.; Tjalkens, Ronald B.; Krueger, Kem P.; and Clark, Suzanne, "Removal of Trace Elements by Cupric Oxide Nanoparticles from Uranium In Situ Recovery Bleed Water and Its Effect on Cell Viability" (2015). Translational Neuroscience. 2560.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neurobiology/2560