Award Abstract # 0851191
Collaborative Research: Examining the Binding of Radionuclides with Marine Biopolymers, A Comparative Study on TH, PA, BE, PO and PB Isotopes

NSF Org: OCE
Division Of Ocean Sciences
Recipient: TEXAS A & M RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Initial Amendment Date: June 25, 2009
Latest Amendment Date: October 6, 2009
Award Number: 0851191
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Donald L. Rice
OCE  Division Of Ocean Sciences
GEO  Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date: September 1, 2009
End Date: August 31, 2012 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $460,487.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $460,487.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2009 = $460,487.00
ARRA Amount: $460,487.00
History of Investigator:
  • Peter Santschi (Principal Investigator)
     santschi@tamug.edu
  • Kathleen Schwehr (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Texas A&M Research Foundation
 400 HARVEY MITCHELL PKWY S STE 300
 COLLEGE STATION
 TX  US  77845-4375
(979)862-6777
Sponsor Congressional District: 10
Primary Place of Performance: Texas A&M University at Galveston
 200 SEAWOLF PKWY
 GALVESTON
 TX  US  77554
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:		 14
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): EQH8NQ4AXFT7
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): Chemical Oceanography
Primary Program Source: 01R00910DB RRA RECOVERY ACT
Program Reference Code(s): 1389, EGCH, 0000, 6890
Program Element Code(s): 167000
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.050

ABSTRACT

"This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)."

Although natural radioisotopes, such as Th(IV), Pa(IV, V), Po(IV, II, -II), and Be(II), are important proxies that have long been used in oceanographic investigations, the molecular interactions and binding relationships between radionuclides and marine organic matter remain unclear. Through years of research, it has become evident that metal ions in the ocean are mostly controlled by biopolymers and other organic molecules excreted by marine micro-organisms, and that biopolymers play a significant role in the biogeochemical cycles of the natural radionuclides that are used as oceanographic tracers.

To identify and characterize the relationships between these biopolymeric carrier compounds and the radionuclides used in tracer research, scientists from Texas A&M University and the University of Southern Mississippi will conduct a comparative study on radioisotopes of thorium (Th), protactinium (Pa), polonium (Po), lead (Pb), and beryllium (Be). This laboratory and field experiment will identify the radioisotope carriers that are effective marine binding ligands and clarify the basics of oceanographic chemical tracer applications of various natural radioisotopes.

Broader Impacts: The results from this research will enhance our fundamental understanding of the biogeochemical controls on natural radionuclide and carbon cycling, in the oceans. This research will also refine the interpretation of data collected in the GEOTRACES program. The project also involves the training of students and international collaborations.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

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(Showing: 1 - 10 of 11)
Ding, Y.-X., Hung, C.-C., Santschi, P.H., Verdugo, P., and Chin, W.-C. "Spontaneous assembly of exopolymers from phytoplankton" Terrestrial, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (TAO) , v.20 , 2009 , p.741
Ding, Y.-X., Hung, C.-C., Santschi, P.H., Verdugo, P., and Chin, W.-C. "Spontaneous assembly of exopolymers from phytoplankton." Terrestrial, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (TAO) , v.20 , 2009 , p.741
Guo, L.D., White, D.M., Xu, C., and Santschi, P.H. "Chemical and isotopic composition of estuarine colloidal organic matter from the Mississippi River plume" Marine Chemistry , v.114 , 2009 , p.63
Hung, C.-C., Xu, C., Santschi, P.H., Zhang, S., Schwehr, K.A., Quigg, Guo, L., Gong, G.-C., A., Pinckney, J., Long, R., and Wei, C.-L. "Comparative evaluation of sediment-trap and 234Th-derived POC fluxes from the upper oligotrophic waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the subtropical northwestern Pacific Ocean" Marine Chemistry , v.121 , 2010 , p.1
Roberts, K.A., Santschi, P.H., Hung, C.-C., Xu, C., Conte, M.H. "Thorium vs. Protactinium fractionation in the ocean, as determined from particle-water partitioning experiments with sediment trap material from the Gulf of Mexico and Sargasso Sea" Earth Planet Sci. Lett , v.286 , 2009 , p.131
Verdugo, P., Santschi, P.H. "Polymer dynamics of DOC networks and gel formation in seawater" Deep Sea Research II , v.57 , 2010
Wei, C.-L., Lin, S.-Y., Sheu, D.D.-D., Chou, W.-C., Yi, M-C., Santschi, P.H., and Wen, L.-S. 2011. "Particle-reactive Radionuclides (234Th, 210Pb, 210Po) as Tracers for the Estimation of Export Production in the South China Sea." Biogeosciences , v.8 , 2011 , p.3793
Wen, L.-S., Warnken, K.W., Santschi, P.H., Li, H.-P., Davison, W., Zhang, H., Li, H.-P., and Jiann, K.-T. "Molecular weight and chemical reactivity of dissolved trace metals (Cd, Cu, Ni) in surface waters from the Mississippi River to Gulf of Mexico" Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science , v.92 , 2011 , p.649
Xu, C., Santschi, P. H., Hung, C.-C., Zhang, S. , Schwehr, K,A., Roberts, K.A., Guo, L.D., Gong, G.-C., Quigg, A., Long, R., Pinckney, J., Duan, S.W., Amon, R., Wei, C.-L. "Controls of Th-234 removal from the oligotrophic ocean by polyuronic acids and modification by microbial activity" Marine Chemistry , v.123 , 2011 , p.11
Xu, C., Santschi, P.H., Schwehr, K.A., and Hung, C.-C. "Optimized isolation and purification procedure for obtaining strongly actinide binding exopolymeric substances (EPS) from two bacteria (Sagittula stellata and Pseudomonas fluorescens Biovar II)" Bioresource Technology , v.100 , 2009 , p.610
Yang, W. and Guo, L. "Depositional fluxes and residence time of atmospheric radioiodine (I-131) from Fukushima accident" Journal of Environmental Radioactivity , v.113 , 2012 , p.32
(Showing: 1 - 10 of 11)

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