Harry
Reid Center for Environmental Studies
Chemistry Division
|
Chemistry Division
|
|
|
University of Nevada, Las Vegas Harry Reid Center for Environmental Studies Analytical Chemistry Division Annual Report - 2004 Mission The Chemistry Group provides accurate and precise analytical measurements in support of environmental research and monitoring programs. We employ state-of-the-art instrumentation, experienced analysts, and an extensive quality assurance program. Researchers Dr. James Cizdziel, Group Leader Scott Page, Hydrologic Monitoring Program Director Amanda Brandt, Research Scientist Caixia Guo, Research Chemist Kaz Lindley, Research Chemist Tanya Jankovic, Research Chemist Jeanette Daniels, Research Chemist Julie Bertoia, Research Chemist Summary This past year our group experienced a number of changes and had some significant accomplishments, including a change in leadership, major funding awards, expansion of our research capabilities, and publication of several peer-reviewed articles. With the retirement of Dr. Baepler, long-time HRC Executive Director, former chemistry group leader Dr. Klaus Stetzenbach has taken the reins. An Executive Committee, currently consisting of eight Division leaders and the HRC Director, has been established to create by-laws, advise the Director, and generally help govern the Center. Dr. James Cizdziel has been appointed the Director of the Chemistry Division and will carry out many of the functions previously handled by Dr. Stetzenbach. Our group continues to benefit from the Yucca Mountain Project and our long-time relationship with the US DOE. We have established long-term monitoring projects for groundwater level measurements, headed by Scott Page, and precipitation events, managed by Amanda Brandt. These projects bring significant funds to the Center and were highlighted in President Harter’s state-of-university address. We also continue to receive funding for chemical measurements in support of Yucca Mountain (YM) studies, including characterizing groundwater collected from Nye County Early Warning Drilling Project wells. Kaz Lindley and Caixia Guo provided results for trace elements and rare earth elements, respectively, and Tanya Jankovic analyzed samples for alkalinity and major cations and anions. This year we were also involved in several hydrologic tracer studies. Jeanette Daniels and Julie Bertoia prepared tracer solutions and analyzed numerous samples collected in the field. Work continues on another DOE funded project measuring Cl-36 in rock collected from inside YM. After a lengthy delay due to shut down of underground activities in the tunnel, the study picked up steam in the fall of the year. All these projects were conducted under UCCSN’s QA program and many provided qualified data to the YM Project’s Technical Data Archive (TDA), used in assessing the suitability and potential performance of the repository. A number on non-YM related projects were also completed during the year. Completed Projects Groundwater samples were collected from Nye County Early Warning Drilling Program wells located in and around the Nevada Test Site in May 2004 and November 2004. Samples were collected following a strict protocol, including chain-of-custody, and were analyzed for temperature, pH, alkalinity, conductivity, major anions and cations, trace elements and rare earth elements. Field data for Nye County groundwater samples collected from August-November 2004 were submitted to the TDA. Inorganic and organic groundwater tracers were prepared at the HRC in collaboration with the Nye County Nuclear Waste Repository Project Office. Field samples were collected on a daily basis after injection and results for iodide were reported within a 24 hour period. Hundreds of samples of seepage from Alcove 8/Niche 3 inside YM were analyzed for three inorganic and three organic groundwater tracers injected into the subsurface. The data from these analyses have been reduced and will be submitted to the TDA after technical review Groundwater level data were collected on a quarterly basis for select boreholes near YM. Several new electronic (in-situ) probes were installed in the wells, which simplified field work and provided a greater number of data points per sampling period. Fluctuations in groundwater related to barometric pressure, earth tide and earthquake events were evident in field data. In what may be the first of its kind, an intact (uninterrupted), hourly-sampled, Q-level, 1-year data set was completed for two wells. Data sets were submitted to the TDA. A detailed year end report prepared by program director Scott Page is provided later in this report. Data from a 17-station precipitation gauge network located in the proximity of Yucca Mountain were collected throughout the year. Data were submitted to the TDA for the period of 7/1/03-12/31/03. A detailed year end report prepared by Amanda Brandt is provided later in this report. The Underground Test Area (UGTA) tracer project at the Nevada Test Site was subcontracted from Desert Research Institute. Tracer injectates (iodide, bromide, lithium, PFBA, 2,4,5-TFBA, and 2,5-DFBA) were prepared and groundwater samples were analyzed. The data and report for this project have been reviewed and submitted to the TDA. Selenium was determined in water and biota from the Las Vegas Nature Preserve in collaboration with Mr. Jim Pollard (HRC Environmental Assessment Division). A final report was submitted to the funding agency and a journal article is in preparation. Mercury was measured in the caudal fin of northern pike and walleye from northern Arizona lakes using combustion atomic absorption spectrometry. The results correlate with fish muscle-Hg and fish size, suggesting the method could be used as a non-lethal alternative for monitoring programs that sacrifice large numbers of fish for data collection and for measurements on endangered species. A paper on the subject has been submitted and is in peer review. Trace metal analysis of natural water samples from the Grand Staircase-Escalante region of Utah for Water Resource Program graduate students. Trace metal analysis of tissues collected from a population of Overton birds for an Environmental Studies graduate student. Monitoring of plutonium and uranium in air samples collected during the decommissioning and destruction of Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Publications Cizdziel, J.V., Gerstenberger, S. (2004) “Determination of total mercury in human hair and animal fur by combustion atomic absorption spectrometry” Talanta 64: 918-921. Cizdziel, J.V. (2004) “Mercury concentrations in groundwater collected from wells on and near the Nevada Test Site”, Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 72:202-210. Page, S. (2004) Ground water level measurements in selected boreholes near the site of the proposed repository: a programmatic description, Southwest Hydrology Nov/Dec issue. Guo, C., Stetzenbach, K., Hodge, V. (in press) “Determination of 56 trace elements in three aquifer-type rocks by ICP-MS and approximation of the relative solubilities for these elements in a carbonate system by water-rock concentration ratios” In Rare Earth Elements in Groundwater Flow Systems (Karen Johannesson, Ed.); Water Science and Technology Library, Vol. 51, Springer Science. Cizdziel, J.V., Farmer, D., Hodge, V., Lindley, K., Stetzenbach, K. (in press) “234U/238U isotope ratios in groundwater from southern Nevada: a comparison of alpha counting and magnetic sector ICP-MS”, Science of the Total Environment. Cizdziel, J.V., Zhou, X. (in press) “Sources and concentrations of Hg and Se in compartments within the Las Vegas Wash during a period of rapid change” Environ Monitoring & Assess. Kimura, H., Azmy, K., Yamamuro, M., Zhi-Wen, J., Cizdziel, J.V., (in review) “Integrated stratigraphy of the upper Neoproterozoic succession in Yunnan of South China: re-evaluation of global correlation and carbon cycle”, submitted to Precambrian Research. Gremillion, P., Cizdziel, J.V., (in review) “Direct analysis of caudal fin clippings for mercury: a non-lethal measure of Hg in fish and a proxy for fish muscle-Hg”, submitted to Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. Presentations Cizdziel, J.V.
“Scientific Research in the Death Valley Region by the Harry Reid Center: Koonce, J.E., F. Pan, Z. Yu, and K. Stetzenbach, “On evaluating the regional groundwater flow system in southern Nevada with an integrated hydrogeochemical approach”, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, 2004. Dong, W., Z. Yu, M. Young, and K. Stetzenbach, “Bromide transport in vadose zone of southern Nevada”, Devils Hole Workshop, 2004. Infrastructure The chemistry division now has access to a new ICP-AES (Ciros; Spectro Inc.), which was purchased by the nuclear group. The instrument, based on measuring light emitted from excited atoms and ions, is well suited for the determination of major cations and some trace elements. It expands our capabilities and complements our existing instrumentation. In addition, after years of neglect, the wet chemistry lab was painted and reorganized. Personnel This year we said goodbye to our good friend and colleague Dr. Ingrid Wengatz who is currently pursuing another occupation. We wish her the best. Ms. Julie Bertoia completed was awarded a Master’s degree in Chemistry in May 2004. Her thesis involved the analysis of the arsenic and chromium oxidation state concentrations in the groundwater in and around the Nevada Test Site. Service Dr. Cizdziel served as Chair-Elect for the American Chemical Society (ACS) Southern Nevada Section (SNS); Kaz Lindley served as Treasurer; and Julie Bertoia served as Secretary. Kaz Lindley participated in the U.S. EPA open house, representing the HRC at a poster discussing the detection of plutonium by ICP-MS. Proposals Dr. Cizdziel and Dr. Czerwinski (Chemistry Dept.) submitted a proposal to the National Nuclear Security Agency titled “laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for rapid identification and isotopic characterization of actinides and other radionuclides in soils, swipes and air filter samples”. Although the proposal received high marks, it was not funded. The proposal may be modified and resubmitted elsewhere. Other Accomplishments Several new or revised Implementing Procedures were written as part of the YM QA Program.
Task 5 2004 Year End Report Prepared by H. Scott Page Publications and Program Recognition
Data Analysis and Academic Faculty Collaboration
Professional and Program Development
Program Metrics:
Quality Assurance
ORD-Y04-007 Precipitation Monitoring at Yucca Mountain Annual Report December 22, 2004 Work continues on the 17-station Precipitation Monitoring Network during calendar year 2004. 2004 Milestones: All 2004 milestones have been completed on or before schedule. Data submitted: Precipitation data for 07/01/2003-12/31/2003 (DTN#MO0408UCC007AB.001; DID#007AB.001) received by Technical Data Archive on 08/06/2004. Precipitation data for 01/01/2004-12/31/2004 will be compiled. Submittal to TDMS is anticipated by 03/01/05. Achievements during 2004:
Challenges during 2004: NCR UNLV-04/012 was generated as a result of use of dataloggers past calibration dates until others became available. The NCR was quickly resolved and closed out on 07/29/04. |
Send mail to
jacobyg@unlv.edu with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
