In situ liquid SEM imaging analysis revealing particle dispersity in aqueous solutions

Abstract

A quantitative description on dispersity of boehmite (γ-AlOOH) particles, a key component for waste slurry at Hanford sites, can provide useful knowledge for understanding various physicochemical nature of the waste. In situ liquid scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to evaluate the dispersity of particles in aqueous conditions using a microfluidic sample holder, System for Analysis at Liquid Vacuum Interface (SALVI). Secondary electron (SE) images and image analyses were performed to determine particle centroid locations and the distance to the nearest neighbor particle centroid, providing reliable rescaled interparticle distances as a function of ionic strength in acidic and basic conditions. Our finding of the particle dispersity is consistent with physical insights from corresponding particle interactions under physicochemical conditions, demonstrating delicate changes in dispersity of boehmite particles based on novel in situ liquid SEM imaging and analysis.

Advancing radioactive material research method: the development of a novel in situ particle-attached microfluidic electrochemical cell

“…These features make microfluidic E-cells valuable for a variety of applications, including drug discovery (Sanjay et al, 2018), environmental monitoring (Marle and Greenway, 2005), and biochemical analysis (Mehling and Tay, 2014). Furthermore, an in situ microfluidic cell has additional advantages in that it can be utilized to gain chemical and morphological information using vacuum-based analytical techniques (Gallaway et al, 2010;Yao et al, 2017;Yao et al, 2020).…”