solid surface vitrification: Topics by Science.gov

Sample records for solid surface vitrification

Ultrastructural changes of sheep cumulus-oocyte complexes following different methods of vitrification.

PubMed

Ebrahimi, Bita; Valojerdi, Mojtaba Rezazadeh; Eftekhari-Yazdi, Poopak; Baharvand, Hossein

2012-05-01

To determine the ultrastructural changes of sheep cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) following different methods of vitrification, good quality isolated COCs (GV stage) were randomly divided into the non-vitrified control, conventional straw, cryotop and solid surface vitrification groups. In both conventional and cryotop methods, vitrified COCs were respectively loaded by conventional straws and cryotops, and then plunged directly into liquid nitrogen (LN2); whereas in the solid surface group, vitrified COCs were first loaded by cryotops and then cooled before plunging into LN2. Post-warming survivability and ultrastructural changes of healthy COCs in the cryotop group especially in comparison with the conventional group revealed better viability rate and good preservation of the ooplasm organization. However in all vitrification groups except the cryotop group, mitochondria were clumped. Solely in the conventional straw group, the mitochondria showed different densities and were extremely distended. Moreover in the latter group, plenty of large irregular connected vesicles in the ooplasm were observed and in some parts their membrane ruptured. Also, in the conventional and solid surface vitrification groups, cumulus cells projections became retracted from the zona pellucida in some parts. In conclusion, the cryotop vitrification method as compared with other methods seems to have a good post-warming survivability and shows less deleterious effects on the ultrastructure of healthy vitrified-warmed sheep COCs.
Niv versus dropping vitrification in cryopreservation of human ovarian tissue.

PubMed

Xiao, Z; Li, S W; Zhang, Y Y; Wang, Y; Li, L L; Fan, W

2014-01-01

The containers for vitrification of tissues include cryovials, copper grids, Pasteur pipettes, the solid-surface method and etc. Recently the acupuncture needle was used to achieve better result in vitrification of human ovarian tissue. To determine if the needle immersed vitrification method (NIV) is a promising approach to vitrify the human ovarian tissue. Human ovarian biopsies from five patients were vitrified using NIV and Dropping vitrification. After 14 days of in vitro culture, the incidence of apoptotic primordial follicles from fresh and vitrified groups was assessed by TUNEL assay. 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) were detected in the media after culturing of vitrified and fresh ovarian tissues. The incidence of apoptotic primordial follicles was significantly higher in the dropping vitrification group than in the NIV group (P < 0.05). E2 and P4 concentrations were significantly higher in NIV groups than in Dropping vitrification group (P < 0.05). NIV was an appropriate method to vitrify ovarian tissue by improving the growth potential of frozen-warmed ovarian tissue in vitro culture.
Thermomechanical Stress in Cryopreservation Via Vitrification With Nanoparticle Heating as a Stress-Moderating Effect.

PubMed

Eisenberg, David P; Bischof, John C; Rabin, Yoed

2016-01-01

This study focuses on thermomechanical effects in cryopreservation associated with a novel approach of volumetric heating by means on nanoparticles in an alternating electromagnetic field. This approach is studied for the application of cryopreservation by vitrification, where the crystalline phase is completely avoided-the cornerstone of cryoinjury. Vitrification can be achieved by quickly cooling the material to cryogenic storage, where ice cannot form. Vitrification can be maintained at the end of the cryogenic protocol by quickly rewarming the material back to room temperature. The magnitude of the rewarming rates necessary to maintain vitrification is much higher than the magnitude of the cooling rates that are required to achieve it in the first place. The most common approach to achieve the required cooling and rewarming rates is by exposing the specimen's surface to a temperature-controlled environment. Due to the underlying principles of heat transfer, there is a size limit in the case of surface heating beyond which crystallization cannot be prevented at the center of the specimen. Furthermore, due to the underlying principles of solid mechanics, there is a size limit beyond which thermal expansion in the specimen can lead to structural damage and fractures. Volumetric heating during the rewarming phase of the cryogenic protocol can alleviate these size limitations. This study suggests that volumetric heating can reduce thermomechanical stress, when combined with an appropriate design of the thermal protocol. Without such design, this study suggests that the level of stress may still lead to structural damage even when volumetric heating is applied. This study proposes strategies to harness nanoparticles heating in order to reduce thermomechanical stress in cryopreservation by vitrification.
Cryopreservation by vitrification: a promising approach for transplant organ banking.

PubMed

Finger, Erik B; Bischof, John C

2018-06-01

The objective of this review is to describe the physical and biological barriers to organ cryopreservation, historic approaches for conventional cryopreservation and evolving techniques for ice-free cryopreservation by vitrification. Vitrification is a process whereby a biologic substance is cooled to cryogenic temperatures without the destructive phase transition of liquid to solid ice. Recent advances in cryoprotective solutions, organ perfusion techniques and novel heating technologies have demonstrated the potential for vitrification and rewarming organs on a scale applicable for human transplantation. Successful strategies for organ cryopreservation could enable organ banking, which would recast the entire process in which organs are recovered, allocated, stored and prepared for transplant.
Vitrification and levitation of a liquid droplet on liquid nitrogen.

PubMed

Song, Young S; Adler, Douglas; Xu, Feng; Kayaalp, Emre; Nureddin, Aida; Anchan, Raymond M; Maas, Richard L; Demirci, Utkan

2010-03-09

The vitrification of a liquid occurs when ice crystal formation is prevented in the cryogenic environment through ultrarapid cooling. In general, vitrification entails a large temperature difference between the liquid and its surrounding medium. In our droplet vitrification experiments, we observed that such vitrification events are accompanied by a Leidenfrost phenomenon, which impedes the heat transfer to cool the liquid, when the liquid droplet comes into direct contact with liquid nitrogen. This is distinct from the more generally observed Leidenfrost phenomenon that occurs when a liquid droplet is self-vaporized on a hot plate. In the case of rapid cooling, the phase transition from liquid to vitrified solid (i.e., vitrification) and the levitation of droplets on liquid nitrogen (i.e., Leidenfrost phenomenon) take place simultaneously. Here, we investigate these two simultaneous physical events by using a theoretical model containing three dimensionless parameters (i.e., Stefan, Biot, and Fourier numbers). We explain theoretically and observe experimentally a threshold droplet radius during the vitrification of a cryoprotectant droplet in the presence of the Leidenfrost effect.
Vitrification and levitation of a liquid droplet on liquid nitrogen

PubMed Central

Song, Young S.; Adler, Douglas; Xu, Feng; Kayaalp, Emre; Nureddin, Aida; Anchan, Raymond M.; Maas, Richard L.; Demirci, Utkan

2010-01-01

The vitrification of a liquid occurs when ice crystal formation is prevented in the cryogenic environment through ultrarapid cooling. In general, vitrification entails a large temperature difference between the liquid and its surrounding medium. In our droplet vitrification experiments, we observed that such vitrification events are accompanied by a Leidenfrost phenomenon, which impedes the heat transfer to cool the liquid, when the liquid droplet comes into direct contact with liquid nitrogen. This is distinct from the more generally observed Leidenfrost phenomenon that occurs when a liquid droplet is self-vaporized on a hot plate. In the case of rapid cooling, the phase transition from liquid to vitrified solid (i.e., vitrification) and the levitation of droplets on liquid nitrogen (i.e., Leidenfrost phenomenon) take place simultaneously. Here, we investigate these two simultaneous physical events by using a theoretical model containing three dimensionless parameters (i.e., Stefan, Biot, and Fourier numbers). We explain theoretically and observe experimentally a threshold droplet radius during the vitrification of a cryoprotectant droplet in the presence of the Leidenfrost effect. PMID:20176969
Three-Dimensional Printing of Vitrification Loop Prototypes for Aquatic Species.

PubMed

Tiersch, Nolan J; Childress, William M; Tiersch, Terrence R

2018-05-16

Vitrification is a method of cryopreservation that freezes samples rapidly, while forming an amorphous solid ("glass"), typically in small (μL) volumes. The goal of this project was to create, by three-dimensional (3D) printing, open vitrification devices based on an elliptical loop that could be efficiently used and stored. Vitrification efforts can benefit from the application of 3D printing, and to begin integration of this technology, we addressed four main variables: thermoplastic filament type, loop length, loop height, and method of loading. Our objectives were to: (1) design vitrification loops with varied dimensions; (2) print prototype loops for testing; (3) evaluate loading methods for the devices; and (4) classify vitrification responses to multiple device configurations. The various configurations were designed digitally using 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) software, and prototype devices were produced with MakerBot ® 3D printers. The thermoplastic filaments used to produce devices were acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA). Vitrification devices were characterized by the film volumes formed with different methods of loading (pipetting or submersion). Frozen films were classified to determine vitrification quality: zero (opaque, or abundant crystalline ice formation); one (translucent, or partial vitrification), or two (transparent, or substantial vitrification, glass). A published vitrification solution was used to conduct experiments. Loading by pipetting formed frozen films more reliably than by submersion, but submersion yielded fewer filling problems and was more rapid. The loop designs that yielded the highest levels of vitrification enabled rapid transfer of heat, and most often were characterized as being longer and consisting of fewer layers (height). 3D printing can assist standardization of vitrification methods and research, yet can also provide the ability to quickly design and fabricate custom devices when needed.
Thermal treatment and vitrification of boiler ash from a municipal solid waste incinerator.

PubMed

Yang, Y; Xiao, Y; Voncken, J H L; Wilson, N

2008-06-15

Boiler ash generated from municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerators is usually classified as hazardous materials and requires special disposal. In the present study, the boiler ash was characterized for the chemical compositions, morphology and microstructure. The thermal chemical behavior during ash heating was investigated with thermal balance. Vitrification of the ash was conducted at a temperature of 1400 degrees C in order to generate a stable silicate slag, and the formed slag was examined with chemical and mineralogical analyses. The effect of vitrification on the leaching characteristics of various elements in the ash was evaluated with acid leaching. The study shows that the boiler ash as a heterogeneous fine powder contains mainly silicate, carbonate, sulfates, chlorides, and residues of organic materials and heavy metal compounds. At elevated temperatures, the boiler ash goes through the initial moisture removal, volatilization, decomposition, sintering, melting, and slag formation. At 1400 degrees C a thin layer of salt melt and a homogeneous glassy slag was formed. The experimental results indicate that leaching values of the vitrified slag are significantly reduced compared to the original boiler ash, and the vitrification could be an interesting alternative for a safer disposal of the boiler ash. Ash compacting, e.g., pelletizing can reduce volatilization and weight loss by about 50%, and would be a good option for the feed preparation before vitrification.
Vitrification and xenografting of human ovarian tissue.

PubMed

Amorim, Christiani Andrade; Dolmans, Marie-Madeleine; David, Anu; Jaeger, Jonathan; Vanacker, Julie; Camboni, Alessandra; Donnez, Jacques; Van Langendonckt, Anne

2012-11-01

To assess the efficiency of two vitrification protocols to cryopreserve human preantral follicles with the use of a xenografting model. Pilot study. Gynecology research unit in a university hospital. Ovarian biopsies were obtained from seven women aged 30-41 years. Ovarian tissue fragments were subjected to one of three cryopreservation protocols (slow freezing, vitrification protocol 1, and vitrification protocol 2) and xenografted for 1 week to nude mice. The number of morphologically normal follicles after cryopreservation and grafting and fibrotic surface area were determined by histologic analysis. Apoptosis was assessed by the TUNEL method. Morphometric analysis of TUNEL-positive surface area also was performed. Follicle proliferation was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. After xenografting, a difference was observed between the cryopreservation procedures applied. According to TUNEL analysis, both vitrification protocols showed better preservation of preantral follicles than the conventional freezing method. Moreover, histologic evaluation showed a significantly higher proportion of primordial follicles in vitrified (protocol 2)-warmed ovarian tissue than in frozen-thawed tissue. The proportion of growing follicles and fibrotic surface area was similar in all groups. Vitrification procedures appeared to preserve not only the morphology and survival of preantral follicles after 1 week of xenografting, but also their ability to resume folliculogenesis. In addition, vitrification protocol 2 had a positive impact on the quiescent state of primordial follicles after xenografting. Copyright © 2012 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
CRYOPRESERVATION STRATEGY FOR TISSUE ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTS CONSISTING OF HUMAN MESENHYMAL STEM CELLS AND HYDROGEL BIOMATERIALS.

PubMed

Wu, Y; Wen, F; Gouk, S S; Lee, E H; Kuleshova, L

2015-01-01

The development of vitrification strategy for cell-biomaterial constructs, particularly biologically inspired nanoscale materials and hydrogels mimicking the in vivo environment is an active area. A cryopreservation strategy mimicking the in vivo environment for cell-hydrogel constructs may enhance cell proliferation and biological function. To demonstrate the efficacy of vitrification as a platform technology involving tissue engineering and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Microcarriers made from alginate coated with chitosan and collagen are used. Conventional freezing and vitrification were compared. The vitrification strategy includes 10 min step-wise exposure to a vitrification solution (40% v/v EG, 0.6M sucrose) and immersion into liquid nitrogen. Confocal imaging of live/dead staining of hMSCs cultured on the surface of microcarriers demonstrated that vitrified cells had excellent appearance and prolonged spindle shape morphology. The proliferation ability of post-vitrified cells arbitrated to protein Ki-67 gene expression was not significantly different in comparison to untreated control, while that of post-freezing cells was almost lost. The ability of hMSCs cultured on the surface of microcarriers to proliferate has been not affected by vitrification and it was significantly better after vitrification than after conventional freezing during continuous culture. Collagen II related mRNA expression by 4 weeks post-vitrification and post-freezing showed that ability to differentiate into cartilage was sustained during vitrification and reduced during conventional freezing. No significant difference was found between control and vitrification groups only. Vitrification strategy coupled with advances in hMSC-expansion platform that completely preserves the ability of stem cells to proliferate and subsequently differentiate allows not only to reach a critical cell number, but also demonstrate prospects for effective utilization and transportation of cells with their support system, creating demand for novel biodegradable materials.
Incorporating technetium in minerals and other solids: A review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luksic, Steven A.; Riley, Brian J.; Schweiger, Michael; Hrma, Pavel

2015-11-01

Technetium (Tc) can be incorporated into a number of different solids including spinel, sodalite, rutile, tin dioxide, pyrochlore, perovskite, goethite, layered double hydroxides, cements, and alloys. Synthetic routes are possible for each of these phases, ranging from high-temperature ceramic sintering to ball-milling of constituent oxides. However, in practice, Tc has only been incorporated into solid materials by a limited number of the possible syntheses. A review of the diverse ways in which Tc-immobilizing materials can be made shows the wide range of options available. Special consideration is given to hypothetical application to the Hanford Tank Waste and Vitrification Plant, such as adding a Tc-bearing mineral to waste glass melter feed. A full survey of solid Tc waste forms, the common synthesis routes to those waste forms, and their potential for application to vitrification processes are presented. The use of tin dioxide or ferrite spinel precursors to reduce Tc(VII) out of solution and into a durable form are shown to be of especially high potential.
Forskolin improves the cryosurvival of in vivo-derived porcine embryos at very early stages using two vitrification methods.

PubMed

Gomis, J; Cuello, C; Sanchez-Osorio, J; Gil, M A; Parrilla, I; Angel, M A; Vazquez, J M; Roca, J; Martinez, E A

2013-04-01

This study was aimed to determine the effect of forskolin on the viability of in vivo-derived porcine embryos vitrified by the superfine open pulled straw (SOPS) or solid surface vitrification (SSV) methods at the 2-cell, 4-cell, and blastocyst stages. Zygotes, 2- to 4-cell embryos, and morulae were obtained from superovulated sows. After collection, embryos were cultured for 24h with 0 or 10 μM forskolin and then vitrified using the SOPS and SSV method, or not vitrified (fresh controls). Fresh and vitrified-warmed 2-cells, 4-cells, and blastocysts were cultured for additional 96 h, 72 h and 24 h, respectively. At the end of the culture, embryos were evaluated for progression to the blastocyst stage and total cell number. The vitrification method did not affect any of the parameters evaluated for any embryo stage. Forskolin increased (P<0.01) the blastocyst formation and the final developmental stage of vitrified 2- and 4-cell embryos. However, these embryos exhibited lower (P<0.003) blastocyst formation rates than their fresh counterparts. The total cell number and hatching rate were similar in both groups (vitrified and fresh) of 2- and 4-cell embryos. Vitrified blastocysts exhibited viabilities, final developmental stages, hatching rates, and total cell numbers that were similar to those of their fresh counterparts, regardless of the addition of forskolin. In conclusion, the SOPS and SSV methods are suitable for the cryopreservation of in vivo-derived 2- to 4-cell porcine embryos. Pre-treatment with forskolin for 24h before vitrification improves the cryotolerance of 2- and 4-cell porcine embryos. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Cryopreservation of mango (Mangifera indica L.) embryogenic cultures.

PubMed

Wu, Yong-Jie; Huang, Xue-Ling; Xiao, Jie-Ning; Li, Xiao-Ju; Zhou, Ming-De; Engelmann, Florent

2003-01-01

Three techniques were compared for cryopreserving embryogenic masses (EMs) sampled from mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Zihua embryogenic cultures: (i) encapsulation/dehydration; (ii) pregrowth/dehydration; and (iii) vitrification. In all experiments, EMs were sampled from embryogenic cultures during their exponential growth phase and pretreated for 24 h on solid medium containing 0.5 M sucrose before freezing. No recovery was achieved after cryopreservation using the encapsulation/dehydration technique, whatever the moisture content (fresh weight basis) of EMs, which ranged from 78.3% without dehydration to 40.8% after 6 h dehydration. With the pregrowth plus dehydration technique, limited recovery (8.3%) was achieved after desiccation of EMs for 1 h, to 58.5% MC. Using the vitrification technique, recovery ranged from 94.3% after treatment of EMs with the PVS3 vitrification solution for 20 min (EM moisture content of 34.7%) to 10.9% after a 120 min treatment with the vitrification solution (EM moisture content of 26.0%).
Influence of Cryopreservation Solution on the In Vitro Culture of Skin Tissues Derived from Collared Peccary (Pecari tajacu Linnaeus, 1758).

PubMed

Borges, Alana A; Lira, Gabriela P O; Nascimento, Lucas E; Queiroz Neta, Luiza B; Santos, Maria V O; Oliveira, Moacir F; Silva, Alexandre R; Pereira, Alexsandra F

2018-04-01

Skin vitrification is a promising and alternative tool for the conservation of biodiversity, especially for wild mammals, such as collared peccaries. Several factors can affect the success of this procedure, such as the cryoprotectant solution used. Therefore, this study was carried out to compare the efficiency of various vitrification solutions for recovery of viable cells after in vitro culture of cryopreserved skin tissues derived from the collared peccary, aiming to study the application in biobanking, where cellular use is not immediately required. Then, Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) composed of 2.2 g/L sodium bicarbonate and 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) was supplemented with 3.0 M ethylene glycol (EG) or 3.0 M dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or 1.5 M EG plus 1.5 M DMSO with or without sucrose (SUC; 0.25 M) to produce six solutions for solid-surface vitrification. After warming, skin tissues were cultured in vitro and recovered cells were analyzed for morphology, adhesion, subconfluence, and proliferative activity for developing the growth curve and determining the population doubling time (PDT), and viability by Trypan Blue. The vitrification did not alter the ability of the tissues to adhere to the culture dish, as well as the day of all explants with cell growth, subconfluence samples, subconfluence total time, and PDT (p > 0.05). Moreover, independent of the cryoprotectant solution used, the vitrification altered the day of all attached explants (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, for viability after the first passage, only the EG-SUC (86.9%) and DMSO-SUC (91.4%) groups maintained viable cell recovery similar to the nonvitrified group (96.3%, p > 0.05). Additionally, for viability after the third passage, only the EG-SUC group maintained the cell quality (88.3%), when compared with the nonvitrified (97.8%, p > 0.05). In conclusion, DMEM with 10% FBS, 3.0 M EG, and 0.25 M sucrose was the most efficient solution for vitrifying collared peccary skin tissues, leading to the in vitro culture of viable cells.
Assessment of external heat transfer coefficient during oocyte vitrification in liquid and slush nitrogen using numerical simulations to determine cooling rates.

PubMed

Santos, M V; Sansinena, M; Zaritzky, N; Chirife, J

2012-01-01

In oocyte vitrification, plunging directly into liquid nitrogen favor film boiling and strong nitrogen vaporization. A survey of literature values of heat transfer coefficients (h) for film boiling of small metal objects with different geometries plunged in liquid nitrogen revealed values between 125 to 1000 W per per square m per K. These h values were used in a numerical simulation of cooling rates of two oocyte vitrification devices (open-pulled straw and Cryotop), plunged in liquid and slush nitrogen conditions. Heat conduction equation with convective boundary condition was considered a linear mathematical problem and was solved using the finite element method applying the variational formulation. COMSOL Multiphysics was used to simulate the cooling process of the systems. Predicted cooling rates for OPS and Cryotop when cooled at -196 degree C (liquid nitrogen) or -207 degree C (average for slush nitrogen) for heat transfer coefficients estimated to be representative of film boiling, indicated lowering the cooling temperature produces only a maximum 10 percent increase in cooling rates; confirming the main benefit of plunging in slush over liquid nitrogen does not arise from their temperature difference. Numerical simulations also demonstrated that a hypothetical four-fold increase in the cooling rate of vitrification devices when plunging in slush nitrogen would be explained by an increase in heat transfer coefficient. This improvement in heat transfer (i.e., high cooling rates) in slush nitrogen is attributed to less or null film boiling when a sample is placed in slush (mixture of liquid and solid nitrogen) because it first melts the solid nitrogen before causing the liquid to boil and form a film.
Vitrification of ovarian tissue of Brazilian North-eastern donkeys (Equus asinus) using different cryoprotectants.

PubMed

Lopes, Kátia Regina F; Praxedes, Erica Camila G; Campos, Livia B; Bezerra, Marcelo B; Lima, Gabriela L; Saraiva, Márcia Viviane A; Silva, Alexandre R

2018-05-29

The aim of this study was to assess a vitrification protocol for asinine ovarian tissue, to preserve preantral follicles using different cryoprotectant solutions, composed of various concentrations (EG 3 M or 6 M) of dimethyl sulfoxide or ethylene glycol isolate, or as a combination (DMSO 3 M + EG 3 M). Ten pairs of ovaries from Brazilian north-eastern breed jennies were obtained through videolaparoscopy, and cortical fragments were submitted to a solid-surface vitrification (SSV) using each cryoprotectant solution. The ovarian tissue was evaluated for follicular morphology and viability, DNA integrity (TUNEL technique) and the presence of nucleolar organizing regions in granulosa cells (AgNOR technique). After thawing, the percentage of normal preantral follicles was significantly reduced in the vitrified ovarian tissue fragments compared to the fresh control (p < 0.05). When comparing treatments, the use of DMSO 3 M (81.7 ± 37.5%), EG 3 M (83.7 ± 27.4%) and the combination of both DMSO 3 M + EG 3 M (81.8 ± 46.8%) allowed a greater percentage of follicular survival in contrast to DMSO 6 M (69.8 ± 16.5%) and EG 6 M (72.3 ± 18.0%; p < 0.05). When vitrified using the DMSO + EG combination, a higher percentage (62.5 ± 29.1%) of viable follicles (trypan blue) was observed in relation to the other vitrification treatments (p < 0.05). The TUNEL technique identified that all treatments tested showed DNA fragmentation in the follicular cells, except in the case of the DMSO 3 M + EG 3 M treatment. When evaluating the presence of NORs, no significant differences were observed in the amount of NORs between the fresh and vitrified groups using DMSO 3 M + EG 3 M (p > 0.05). We concluded that the combination DMSO 3 M + EG was more efficient for the vitrification of ovarian tissue taken from Equus asinus, allowing adequate preservation of PAFs morphology, viability, DNA integrity and cell proliferative capacity. © 2018 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
A sampling device with a capped body and detachable handle

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jezek, Gerd-Rainer

1997-12-01

The present invention relates to a device for sampling radioactive waste and more particularly to a device for sampling radioactive waste which prevents contamination of a sampled material and the environment surrounding the sampled material. During vitrification of nuclear wastes, it is necessary to remove contamination from the surfaces of canisters filled with radioactive glass. After removal of contamination, a sampling device is used to test the surface of the canister. The one piece sampling device currently in use creates a potential for spreading contamination during vitrification operations. During operations, the one piece sampling device is transferred into and outmore » of the vitrification cell through a transfer drawer. Inside the cell, a remote control device handles the sampling device to wipe the surface of the canister. A one piece sampling device can be contaminated by the remote control device prior to use. Further, the sample device can also contaminate the transfer drawer producing false readings for radioactive material. The present invention overcomes this problem by enclosing the sampling pad in a cap. The removable handle is reused which reduces the amount of waste material.« less
[Influence of liquid ceramic additive on binding of heavy metal during the vitrification of fly ash from municipal solid waste incinerator].

PubMed

Li, Run-dong; Nie, Yong-feng; Li, Ai-min; Wang, Lei; Chi, Yong; Cen, Ke-fa

2004-09-01

Vitrification process can effectively control the leachability of heavy metals in fly ash generated from municipal solid waste incinerator (MWSI). The use of liquid ceramic (LC) additive as a heavy metal chemical stabilization agent was evaluated for MSWI fly ash. The residuals of chromium, lead and zinc in slag increase by different degree with liquid ceramic additive at 1400 degrees C, while those of cadmium and copper decreases. The migrating characteristic of nickel is hardly affected by the additive less than 10%. The volatilization of Cr and Zn occurs after 61 minute with 10% addition of LC, and the binding efficiency of Cr decreases with increasing of melting temperature. The results indicate that the binding efficiency of heavy metals was affected greatly by LC additive and showed significant differences according to type of heavy metal during melting process. The short melting time (no longer than 33 min) is useful to obtain high binding efficiency of heavy metals.
Melter feed viscosity during conversion to glass: Comparison between low-activity waste and high-level waste feeds

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jin, Tongan; Chun, Jaehun; Dixon, Derek R.

During nuclear waste vitrification, a melter feed (generally a slurry-like mixture of a nuclear waste and various glass forming and modifying additives) is charged into the melter where undissolved refractory constituents are suspended together with evolved gas bubbles from complex reactions. Knowledge of flow properties of various reacting melter feeds is necessary to understand their unique feed-to-glass conversion processes occurring within a floating layer of melter feed called a cold cap. The viscosity of two low-activity waste (LAW) melter feeds were studied during heating and correlated with volume fractions of undissolved solid phase and gas phase. In contrast to themore » high-level waste (HLW) melter feed, the effects of undissolved solid and gas phases play comparable roles and are required to represent the viscosity of LAW melter feeds. This study can help bring physical insights to feed viscosity of reacting melter feeds with different compositions and foaming behavior in nuclear waste vitrification.« less
Pretreatment of Hanford medium-curie wastes by fractional crystallization.

PubMed

Nassif, Laurent; Dumont, George; Alysouri, Hatem; Rousseau, Ronald W

2008-07-01

Acceleration of the schedule for decontamination of the Hanford site using bulk vitrification requires implementation of a pretreatment operation. Medium-curie waste must be separated into two fractions: one is to go to a waste treatment and immobilization plant and a second, which is low-activity waste, is to be processed by bulk vitrification. The work described here reports research on using fractional crystallization for that pretreatment. Sodium salts are crystallized by evaporation of water from solutions simulating those removed from single-shell tanks, while leaving cesium in solution. The crystalline products are then recovered and qualified as low-activity waste, which is suitable upon redissolution for processing by bulk vitrification. The experimental program used semibatch operation in which a feed solution was continuously added to maintain a constant level in the crystallizer while evaporating water. The slurry recovered at the end of a run was filtered to recover product crystals, which were then analyzed to determine their composition. The results demonstrated that targets on cesium separation from the solids, fractional recovery of sodium salts, and sulfate content of the recovered salts can be achieved by the process tested.

SECONDARY WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR HANFORD EARLY LOW ACTIVITY WASTE VITRIFICATION

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

UNTERREINER BJ

2008-07-18

More than 200 million liters (53 million gallons) of highly radioactive and hazardous waste is stored at the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Site in southeastern Washington State. The DOE's Hanford Site River Protection Project (RPP) mission includes tank waste retrieval, waste treatment, waste disposal, and tank farms closure activities. This mission will largely be accomplished by the construction and operation of three large treatment facilities at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP): (1) a Pretreatment (PT) facility intended to separate the tank waste into High Level Waste (HLW) and Low Activity Waste (LAW); (2) a HLW vitrification facilitymore » intended to immobilize the HLW for disposal at a geologic repository in Yucca Mountain; and (3) a LAW vitrification facility intended to immobilize the LAW for shallow land burial at Hanford's Integrated Disposal Facility (IDF). The LAW facility is on target to be completed in 2014, five years prior to the completion of the rest of the WTP. In order to gain experience in the operation of the LAW vitrification facility, accelerate retrieval from single-shell tank (SST) farms, and hasten the completion of the LAW immobilization, it has been proposed to begin treatment of the low-activity waste five years before the conclusion of the WTP's construction. A challenge with this strategy is that the stream containing the LAW vitrification facility off-gas treatment condensates will not have the option of recycling back to pretreatment, and will instead be treated by the Hanford Effluent Treatment Facility (ETF). Here the off-gas condensates will be immobilized into a secondary waste form; ETF solid waste.« less
DWPF Safely Dispositioning Liquid Waste

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

2016-01-05

The only operating radioactive waste glassification plant in the nation, the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) converts the liquid radioactive waste currently stored at the Savannah River Site (SRS) into a solid glass form suitable for long-term storage and disposal. Scientists have long considered this glassification process, called “vitrification,” as the preferred option for treating liquid radioactive waste.
HIGH TEMPERATURE TREATMENT OF INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES - SIA RADON EXPERIENCE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sobolev, I.A.; Dmitriev, S.A.; Lifanov, F.A.

2003-02-27

This review describes high temperature methods of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste (LILW) treatment currently used at SIA Radon. Solid and liquid organic and mixed organic and inorganic wastes are subjected to plasma heating in a shaft furnace with formation of stable leach resistant slag suitable for disposal in near-surface repositories. Liquid inorganic radioactive waste is vitrified in a cold crucible based plant with borosilicate glass productivity up to 75 kg/h. Radioactive silts from settlers are heat-treated at 500-700 0C in electric furnace forming cake following by cake crushing, charging into 200 L barrels and soaking with cement grout. Variousmore » thermochemical technologies for decontamination of metallic, asphalt, and concrete surfaces, treatment of organic wastes (spent ion-exchange resins, polymers, medical and biological wastes), batch vitrification of incinerator ashes, calcines, spent inorganic sorbents, contaminated soil, treatment of carbon containing 14C nuclide, reactor graphite, lubricants have been developed and implemented.« less
Glass transition of polymers in bulk, confined geometries, and near interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Napolitano, Simone; Glynos, Emmanouil; Tito, Nicholas B.

2017-03-01

When cooled or pressurized, polymer melts exhibit a tremendous reduction in molecular mobility. If the process is performed at a constant rate, the structural relaxation time of the liquid eventually exceeds the time allowed for equilibration. This brings the system out of equilibrium, and the liquid is operationally defined as a glass—a solid lacking long-range order. Despite almost 100 years of research on the (liquid/)glass transition, it is not yet clear which molecular mechanisms are responsible for the unique slow-down in molecular dynamics. In this review, we first introduce the reader to experimental methodologies, theories, and simulations of glassy polymer dynamics and vitrification. We then analyse the impact of connectivity, structure, and chain environment on molecular motion at the length scale of a few monomers, as well as how macromolecular architecture affects the glass transition of non-linear polymers. We then discuss a revised picture of nanoconfinement, going beyond a simple picture based on interfacial interactions and surface/volume ratio. Analysis of a large body of experimental evidence, results from molecular simulations, and predictions from theory supports, instead, a more complex framework where other parameters are relevant. We focus discussion specifically on local order, free volume, irreversible chain adsorption, the Debye-Waller factor of confined and confining media, chain rigidity, and the absolute value of the vitrification temperature. We end by highlighting the molecular origin of distributions in relaxation times and glass transition temperatures which exceed, by far, the size of a chain. Fast relaxation modes, almost universally present at the free surface between polymer and air, are also remarked upon. These modes relax at rates far larger than those characteristic of glassy dynamics in bulk. We speculate on how these may be a signature of unique relaxation processes occurring in confined or heterogeneous polymeric systems.
System Description for Tank 241-AZ-101 Waste Retrieval Data Acquisition System

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

ROMERO, S.G.

2000-01-10

Describes the hardware and software for the AZ-101 Mixer Pump Data Acquisition System. The purpose of the tank 241-AZ-101 retrieval system Data Acquisition System (DAS) is to provide monitoring and data acquisition of key parameters in order to confirm the effectiveness of the mixer pumps utilized for suspending solids in the tank. The suspension of solids in Tank 241-AZ-101 is necessary for pretreatment of the neutralized current acid waste (NCAW), and eventual disposal as glass via the Hanford Waste Vitrification Plant.
DWPF Safely Dispositioning Liquid Waste

ScienceCinema

None

2018-06-21

The only operating radioactive waste glassification plant in the nation, the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) converts the liquid radioactive waste currently stored at the Savannah River Site (SRS) into a solid glass form suitable for long-term storage and disposal. Scientists have long considered this glassification process, called âvitrification,â as the preferred option for treating liquid radioactive waste.
Industrial scale-plant for HLW partitioning in Russia

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dzekun, E.G.; Glagolenko, Y.V.; Drojko, E.G.

1996-12-31

Radiochemical plant of PA <> at Ozersk, which was come on line in December 1948 originally for weapon plutonium production and reoriented on the reprocessing of spent fuel, till now keeps on storage HLW of the military program. Application of the vitrification method since 1986 has not essentially reduced HLW volumes. So, as of September 1, 1995 vitrification installations had been processed 9590 m{sup 3} HLW and 235 MCi of radionuclides was included in glass. However only 1100 m{sup 3} and 20.5 MCi is part of waste of the military program. The reason is the fact, that the technology andmore » equipment of vitrification were developed for current waste of Purex-process, for which low contents of corrosion-dangerous impurity to materials of vitrification installation is characteristic of. With reference to HLW, which are growing at PA <> in the course of weapon plutonium production, the program of Science-Research Works includes the following main directions of work. Development of technology and equipment of installations for immobilising HLW with high contents of impurity into a solid form at induction melter. Application of High-temperature Adsorption Method for sorption of radionuclides from HLW on silica gel. Application of Partitioning Method of radionuclides from HLW, based on extraction cesium and strontium into cobalt dicarbollyde or crown-ethers, but also on recovery of cesium radionuclides by sorption on inorganic sorbents. In this paper the results of work on creation of first industrial scale-plant for partitioning HLW by the extraction and sorption methods are reported.« less
Vitrification, encapsulation-vitrification and droplet-vitrification: a review.

PubMed

Sakai, Akira; Engelmann, Florent

2007-01-01

This paper discusses the importance of the successive steps of the vitrification technique and reviews the current development and use of vitrification and of the two derived protocols, encapsulation-vitrification and droplet-vitrification. Vitrification refers to the physical process by which a highly concentrated cryoprotective solution supercools to very low temperatures and finally solidifies into a metastable glass, without undergoing crystallization at a practical cooling rate. Samples are thus cryopreserved without detrimental intracellular ice formation. In a standard vitrification protocol, excised explants are precultured on medium enriched with sucrose, treated (loaded) with a loading solution composed of 2 M glycerol + 0.4 M sucrose, dehydrated with a highly concentrated vitrification solution [e.g. the PVS2 vitrification solution, which contains 30 percent (w/v) glycerol, 15 percent (w/v) ethylene glycol and 15 percent (w/v) DMSO and 0.4 M sucrose], frozen and rewarmed rapidly, unloaded with basal culture medium supplemented with 1.2 M sucrose, and then transferred to standard culture conditions. In the encapsulation-vitrification technique, the explants are encapsulated in alginate beads, loaded and dehydrated with a vitrification solution before rapid immersion in liquid nitrogen. In the droplet-freezing technique, excised explants are loaded, treated with the vitrification solution and frozen in individual microdroplets of vitrification solution placed on aluminium foils, which are immersed rapidly in liquid nitrogen. These three techniques have been applied to different tissues of over 100 plant species from temperate and tropical origins and the number of cases where they are being tested on a large scale or applied routinely is increasing.
Vitrification as an alternative means of cryopreserving ovarian tissue.

PubMed

Amorim, Christiani A; Curaba, Mara; Van Langendonckt, Anne; Dolmans, Marie-Madeleine; Donnez, Jacques

2011-08-01

Because of the simplicity of vitrification, many authors have investigated it as an alternative to slow freezing for cryopreserving ovarian tissue. In the last decade, numerous studies have evaluated vitrification of ovarian tissue from both humans and animals.Different vitrification solutions and protocols, mostly adapted from embryo and oocyte vitrification, have been applied. The results have been discrepant from species to species and even within the same species, but lately they appear to indicate that vitrification can achieve similar or even superior results to conventional freezing. Despite the encouraging results obtained with vitrification of ovarian tissue from humans and different animal species, it is necessary to understand how vitrification solutions and protocols can affect ovarian tissue, notably preantral follicles. In addition, it is important to bear in mind that the utilization of different approaches to assess tissue functionality and oocyte quality is essential in order to validate the promising results already obtained with vitrification procedures. This review summarizes the principles of vitrification, discusses the advantages of vitrification protocols for ovarian tissue cryopreservation and describes different studies conducted on the vitrification of ovarian tissue in humans and animal species. Copyright © 2011 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Vitrification of polymer solutions as a function of solvent quality, analyzed via vapor pressures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bercea, Maria; Wolf, Bernhard A.

2006-05-01

Vapor pressures (headspace sampling in combination with gas chromatography) and glass transition temperatures [differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)] have been measured for solutions of polystyrene (PS) in either toluene (TL) (10-70°C) or cyclohexane (CH) (32-60°C) from moderately concentrated solutions up to the pure polymer. As long as the mixtures are liquid, the vapor pressure of TL (good solvent) is considerably lower than that of CH (theta solvent) under other identical conditions. These differences vanish upon the vitrification of the solutions. For TL the isothermal liquid-solid transition induced by an increase of polymer concentration takes place within a finite composition interval at constant vapor pressure; with CH this phenomenon is either absent or too insignificant to be detected. For PS solutions in TL the DSC traces look as usual, whereas these curves may become bimodal for solutions in CH. The implications of the vitrification of the polymer solutions for the determination of Flory-Huggins interaction parameters from vapor pressure data are discussed. A comparison of the results for TL/PS with recently published data on the same system demonstrates that the experimental method employed for the determination of vapor pressures plays an important role at high polymer concentrations and low temperatures.
Modeling and Simulation of A Microchannel Cooling System for Vitrification of Cells and Tissues.

PubMed

Wang, Y; Zhou, X M; Jiang, C J; Yu, Y T

The microchannel heat exchange system has several advantages and can be used to enhance heat transfer for vitrification. To evaluate the microchannel cooling method and to analyze the effects of key parameters such as channel structure, flow rate and sample size. A computational flow dynamics model is applied to study the two-phase flow in microchannels and its related heat transfer process. The fluid-solid coupling problem is solved with a whole field solution method (i.e., flow profile in channels and temperature distribution in the system being simulated simultaneously). Simulation indicates that a cooling rate >10 4 C/min is easily achievable using the microchannel method with the high flow rate for a board range of sample sizes. Channel size and material used have significant impact on cooling performance. Computational flow dynamics is useful for optimizing the design and operation of the microchannel system.
Cold cap subsidence for in situ vitrification and electrodes therefor

DOEpatents

Buelt, James L.; Carter, John G.; Eschbach, Eugene A.; FitzPatrick, Vincent F.; Koehmstedt, Paul L.; Morgan, William C.; Oma, Kenton H.; Timmerman, Craig L.

1992-01-01

An electrode for use in in situ vitrification of soil comprises a molybdenum rod received within a conductive sleeve or collar formed of graphite. Electrodes of this type are placed on either side of a region containing buried waste material and an electric current is passed therebetween for vitrifying the soil between the electrodes. The graphite collar enhances the thermal conductivity of the electrode, bringing heat to the surface, and preventing the formation of a cold cap of material above the ground surface. The annulus between the molybdenum rod electrode and the graphite collar is filled with a conductive ceramic powder of a type that sinters upon the molybdenum rod, protecting the same from oxidation as the graphite material is consumed, or a metal powder which liquifies at operating temperatures. The molybdenum rod in the former case may be coated with an oxidation protectant, e.g. of molybdenum disilicide. As insulative blanket is suitably placed on the surface of the soil during processing to promote subsidence by allowing off-gassing and reducing surface heat loss. In other embodiments, connection to vitrification electrodes is provided below ground level to avoid loss of connection due to electrodes deterioration, or a sacrificial electrode may be employed when operation is started. Outboard electrodes can be utilized to square up the vitrified area. Further, the center of the molybdenum rod can be made hollow and filled with a powdered metal, such as copper, which liquifies at operating temperatures. In one embodiment, the molybdenum rod and the graphite collar are physically joined at the bottom.
Crystallization in high-level waste glass: A review of glass theory and noteworthy literature

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Christian, J. H.

2015-08-18

There is a fundamental need to continue research aimed at understanding nepheline and spinel crystal formation in high-level waste (HLW) glass. Specifically, the formation of nepheline solids (K/NaAlSiO 4) during slow cooling of HLW glass can reduce the chemical durability of the glass, which can cause a decrease in the overall durability of the glass waste form. The accumulation of spinel solids ((Fe, Ni, Mn, Zn)(Fe, Cr) 2O 4), while not detrimental to glass durability, can cause an array of processing problems inside HLW glass melters. In this review, the fundamental differences between glass and solid-crystals are explained using kinetic,more » thermodynamic, and viscosity arguments, and several highlights of glass-crystallization research, as it pertains to high-level waste vitrification, are described. In terms of mitigating spinel in the melter and both spinel and nepheline formation in the canister, the complexity of HLW glass and the intricate interplay between thermal, chemical, and kinetic factors further complicates this understanding. However, new experiments seeking to elucidate the contributing factors of crystal nucleation and growth in waste glass, and the compilation of data from older experiments, may go a long way towards helping to achieve higher waste loadings while developing more efficient processing strategies. Higher waste loadings and more efficient processing strategies will reduce the overall HLW Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) vitrification facilities mission life.« less
What is the best cryopreservation protocol for human testicular tissue banking?

PubMed

Baert, Y; Van Saen, D; Haentjens, P; In't Veld, P; Tournaye, H; Goossens, E

2013-07-01

Is there a better alternative to the conventional cryopreservation protocols for human testicular tissue banking? Uncontrolled slow freezing (USF) using 1.5 M dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and 0.15 M sucrose as cryoprotectants appears to be a user-friendly and efficient method for the cryopreservation of human testicular tissue. Currently, time-consuming controlled slow freezing (CSF) protocols that need expensive equipment are commonly used for human testicular tissue banking. USF and vitrification are cryopreservation techniques that were successfully applied in several animal models but need further exploration with human tissue. Fragments (n = 160) of testicular tissue from 14 patients undergoing vasectomy reversal were assigned to a fresh control group or one of the following cryopreservation procedures: CSF using DMSO at a concentration of 0.7 or 1.5 M in the presence (+S) or absence of sucrose (-S), USF using either 0.7 or 1.5 M DMSO combined with sucrose, solid-surface vitrification (SSV) or direct cover vitrification (DCV). Light microscopic evaluations were performed to study apoptosis, germ cell proliferation ability, spermatogonial survival, coherence of the seminiferous epithelium and integrity of the interstitial compartment after cryopreservation. Ultrastructural alterations were studied by scoring cryodamage to four relevant testicular cell types. The USF 1.5 M DMSO + S protocol proved not solely to prevent cell death and to preserve seminiferous epithelial coherence, interstitial compartment integrity, SG and their potential to divide but also protected the testicular cell ultrastructure. A significant reduction in the number of SG per tubule from 21.4 ± 5.6 in control tissue to 4.9 ± 2.1, 8.2 ± 5.4, 11.6 ± 5.1, 8.8 ± 3.9, 12.6 ± 4.4 and 11.7 ± 5.7 was observed after cryopreservation combined with at least one other form of cryoinjury when using CSF 0.7 M DMSO -S, CSF 0.7 M DMSO + S, CSF 1.5 M DMSO + S, USF 0.7 M DMSO + S, SSV and direct cover vitrification (DCV), respectively (P < 0.001). Supplementary research is required to investigate the effect on tissue functionality and to confirm this study's findings using prepubertal tissue. An optimal cryopreservation protocol enhances the chances for successful fertility restoration. USF, being an easy and cost-effective alternative to CSF, would be preferable for laboratories in developing countries or whenever tissue is to be procured from a diseased child at a site distant from the banking facility.
Clay-sewage sludge co-pyrolysis. A TG-MS and Py-GC study on potential advantages afforded by the presence of clay in the pyrolysis of wastewater sewage sludge

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ischia, Marco, E-mail: marco.ischia@ing.unitn.it; Maschio, Roberto Dal; Grigiante, Maurizio

2011-01-15

Wastewater sewage sludge was co-pyrolyzed with a well characterized clay sample, in order to evaluate possible advantages in the thermal disposal process of solid waste. Characterization of the co-pyrolysis process was carried out both by thermogravimetric-mass spectrometric (TG-MS) analysis, and by reactor tests, using a lab-scale batch reactor equipped with a gas chromatograph for analysis of the evolved gas phase (Py-GC). Due to the presence of clay, two main effects were observed in the instrumental characterization of the process. Firstly, the clay surface catalyzed the pyrolysis reaction of the sludge, and secondly, the release of water from the clay, atmore » temperatures of approx. 450-500 deg. C, enhanced gasification of part of carbon residue of the organic component of sludge following pyrolysis. Moreover, the solid residue remaining after pyrolysis process, composed of the inorganic component of sludge blended with clay, is characterized by good features for possible disposal by vitrification, yielding a vitreous matrix that immobilizes the hazardous heavy metals present in the sludge.« less
An ecotoxic risk assessment of residue materials produced by the plasma pyrolysis/vitrification (PP/V) process.

PubMed

Lapa, N; Santos, Oliveira J F; Camacho, S L; Circeo, L J

2002-01-01

Plasma is the fourth state of matter, following the three states of solid, liquid and gas. Experience has amply demonstrated that solids exposed to the oxygen-deficient plasma flame are converted to liquid, and liquid exposed to the same flame is converted to gas. A low amount of vitrified solid residue material usually remains at the end of this process. Plasma pyrolysis/vitrification (PP/V) has been demonstrated as a safe, efficient, cost-effective technology for the treatment of wastes, including hazardous wastes. Besides the low amounts of gaseous byproducts that PP/V produces, the solid vitrified residue presents a low leachability of pollutants. Studies have been performed in many countries in order to assess the leachability of chemical substances. But from the results of identified studies, none has reported results on the ecotoxicological properties of the leachates. The aim of this study was to contribute to the assessment of ecotoxic risk of four different vitrified materials. Vitrified samples of contaminated soils, municipal solid wastes, and incinerator bottom ashes were submitted to the European leaching pre-standard test number prEN 12457-2. The leachates were analyzed for 22 chemical parameters. The biological characterization comprised the assessment of bioluminescence inhibition of Photobacterium phosphoreum bacterium, growth inhibition of Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata algae and the germination inhibition of Lactuca sativa vegetable. The chemical and ecotoxicological results were analyzed according to the French proposal of Criteria on the Evaluation Methods of Waste Toxicity (CEMWT) and a Toxicity Classification System (TCS). The chemical and ecotoxicological results indicated a low leachability of pollutants and a low toxicity level of leachates. All samples studied were as below the TCS class 1 level (no significant toxicity observed) and as non-ecotoxic for CEMWT. Therefore, the environmental ecotoxic risk of the analyzed vitrified samples was determined to be very low.
Characterization of off-gases from a small-scale, joule-heated ceramic melter for nuclear waste vitrification. [Ru, Cl, F, /sup 137/Cs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Woolsey, G.B.; Wilhite, E.L.

1980-01-01

This paper confirmed with actual nuclear waste the thermodynamic predictions of the fate of some of the semivolatiles in off-gas. Ruthenium behaves erratically and it is postulated that it migrates as a finely divided solid, rather than as a volatile oxide. Provisions for handling these waste off-gasses will be incorporated in the design of facilities for vitrifying SRP waste.
Vitrification of copper flotation waste.

PubMed

Karamanov, Alexander; Aloisi, Mirko; Pelino, Mario

2007-02-09

The vitrification of an hazardous iron-rich waste (W), arising from slag flotation of copper production, was studied. Two glasses, containing 30wt% W were melted for 30min at 1400 degrees C. The first batch, labeled WSZ, was obtained by mixing W, blast furnace slag (S) and zeolite tuff (Z), whereas the second, labeled WG, was prepared by mixing W, glass cullet (G), sand and limestone. The glass frits showed high chemical durability, measured by the TCLP test. The crystallization of the glasses was evaluated by DTA. The crystal phases formed were identified by XRD resulting to be pyroxene and wollastonite solid solutions, magnetite and hematite. The morphology of the glass-ceramics was observed by optical and scanning electron microscopy. WSZ composition showed a high rate of bulk crystallization and resulted to be suitable for producing glass-ceramics by a short crystallization heat-treatment. WG composition showed a low crystallization rate and good sinterability; glass-ceramics were obtained by sinter-crystallization of the glass frit.
Slurry erosion induced surface nanocrystallization of bulk metallic glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, Xiulin; Wu, Jili; Pi, Jinghong; Cheng, Jiangbo; Shan, Yiping; Zhang, Yingtao

2018-05-01

Microstructure evolution and phase transformation of metallic glasses (MGs) could occur under heating condition or mechanical deformation. The cross-section of as-cast Zr55Cu30Ni5Al10 MG rod was impacted by the solid particles when subjected to erosion in slurry flow. The surface microstructure was observed by XRD before and after slurry erosion. And the stress-driven de-vitrification increases with the increase of erosion time. A microstructure evolution layer with 1-2 μm thickness was formed on the topmost eroded surface. And a short range atomic ordering prevails in the microstructure evolution layer with crystalline size around 2-3 nm embedded in the amorphous matrix. The XPS analysis reveals that most of the metal elements in the MG surface, except for Cu, were oxidized. And a composite layer with ZrO2 and Al2O3 phases were formed in the topmost surface after slurry erosion. The cooling rate during solidification of MG has a strong influence on the slurry erosion induced nanocrystallization. And a lower cooling rate favors the surface nanocrystallization because of lower activation energy and thermo-stability. Finally, the slurry erosion induced surface nanocrystallization and microstructure evolution result in surface hardening and strengthening. Moreover, the microstructure evolution mechanisms were discussed and it is related to the cooling rate of solidification and the impact-induced temperature rise, as well as the combined effects of the impact-induced plastic flow, inter-diffusion and oxidation of the metal elements.
Development And Initial Testing Of Off-Gas Recycle Liquid From The WTP Low Activity Waste Vitrification Process - 14333

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McCabe, Daniel J.; Wilmarth, William R.; Nash, Charles A.

2014-01-07

The Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) process flow was designed to pre-treat feed from the Hanford tank farms, separate it into a High Level Waste (HLW) and Low Activity Waste (LAW) fraction and vitrify each fraction in separate facilities. Vitrification of the waste generates an aqueous condensate stream from the off-gas processes. This stream originates from two off-gas treatment unit operations, the Submerged Bed Scrubber (SBS) and the Wet Electrospray Precipitator (WESP). Currently, the baseline plan for disposition of the stream from the LAW melter is to recycle it to the Pretreatment facility where it gets evaporated and processedmore » into the LAW melter again. If the Pretreatment facility is not available, the baseline disposition pathway is not viable. Additionally, some components in the stream are volatile at melter temperatures, thereby accumulating to high concentrations in the scrubbed stream. It would be highly beneficial to divert this stream to an alternate disposition path to alleviate the close-coupled operation of the LAW vitrification and Pretreatment facilities, and to improve long-term throughput and efficiency of the WTP system. In order to determine an alternate disposition path for the LAW SBS/WESP Recycle stream, a range of options are being studied. A simulant of the LAW Off-Gas Condensate was developed, based on the projected composition of this stream, and comparison with pilot-scale testing. The primary radionuclide that vaporizes and accumulates in the stream is Tc-99, but small amounts of several other radionuclides are also projected to be present in this stream. The processes being investigated for managing this stream includes evaporation and radionuclide removal via precipitation and adsorption. During evaporation, it is of interest to investigate the formation of insoluble solids to avoid scaling and plugging of equipment. Key parameters for radionuclide removal include identifying effective precipitation or ion adsorption chemicals, solid-liquid separation methods, and achievable decontamination factors. Results of the radionuclide removal testing indicate that the radionuclides, including Tc-99, can be removed with inorganic sorbents and precipitating agents. Evaporation test results indicate that the simulant can be evaporated to fairly high concentration prior to formation of appreciable solids, but corrosion has not yet been examined.« less

Glass-ceramics from municipal incinerator fly ash

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Boccaccini, A.R.; Petitmermet, M.; Wintermantel, E.

1997-11-01

In countries where the population density is high and the availability of space for landfilling is limited, such as the west-European countries and Japan, the significance of municipal solid waste incineration, as part of the waste management strategy, is continuously increasing. In Germany and Switzerland, for example, more than {approximately}40% of unrecycled waste is being or will be incinerated. Also, in other countries, including the US, the importance of waste incineration will increase in the next few years. Although incineration reduces the volume of the waste by {approximately} 90%, it leaves considerable amounts of solid residues, such as bottom andmore » boiler ashes, and filter fly ashes. Consequently, new technological options for the decontamination and/or inertization of incinerator filter fly ash are being developed with the objective of rendering a product that can be reused or, at least, be deposited in standard landfill sites with no risk. The proposed alternatives include immobilization by cement-based techniques, wet chemical treatments and thermal treatments of vitrification. Of these, vitrification is the most promising solution, because, if residues are melted at temperatures > 1,300 C, a relatively inert glass is produced. In the present investigation, glass-ceramics were obtained by a controlled crystallization heat treatment of vitrified incinerator filter fly ashes. The mechanical and other technical properties of the products were measured with special emphasis on assessing their in vitro toxic potential.« less
PROJECT W-551 INTERIM PRETREATMENT SYSTEM PRECONCEPTUAL CANDIDATE TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTIONS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

MAY TH

The Office of River Protection (ORP) has authorized a study to recommend and select options for interim pretreatment of tank waste and support Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) low activity waste (LAW) operations prior to startup of all the WTP facilities. The Interim Pretreatment System (IPS) is to be a moderately sized system which separates entrained solids and 137Cs from tank waste for an interim time period while WTP high level waste vitrification and pretreatment facilities are completed. This study's objective is to prepare pre-conceptual technology descriptions that expand the technical detail for selected solid and cesium separation technologies. This revisionmore » includes information on additional feed tanks.« less
Improved low-CPA vitrification of mouse oocytes using quartz microcapillary.

PubMed

Choi, Jung Kyu; Huang, Haishui; He, Xiaoming

2015-06-01

Cryopreservation by low-cryoprotectant (CPA) vitrification has the potential to combine all the advantages of the conventional high-CPA vitrification and slow-freezing approaches while avoiding their drawbacks. However, current low-CPA vitrification protocol for cryopreservation of oocytes requires a lengthy and multi-step procedure for unloading CPAs. In this study, we report a much-simplified procedure of using quartz microcapillary (QMC) for low-CPA vitrification of mouse oocytes with only one step for unloading CPAs. The immediate viability of oocytes after the improved low-CPA vitrification was determined to be more than 90%. Moreover, no significant difference was observed in terms of embryonic development from the two-cell to blastocyst stages between the fresh and vitrified oocytes after in vitro fertilization (IVF). This improved low-CPA vitrification technology has the potential for efficient cryopreservation of oocytes to preserve the fertility of mammals including humans for assisted reproductive medicine, maintenance of animal resource and endangered species, and livestock management. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Vitrification-based cryopreservation of shoot-tips of Pinus kesiya Royle ex. Gord.

PubMed

Kalita, V; Choudhury, H; Kumaria, S; Tandon, P

2012-01-01

The present investigation was aimed at developing a protocol for long-term preservation of germplasm of Pinus kesiya Royle ex. Gord. through vitrification. Some of the critical components affecting explant tolerance to cryopreservation, such as effects of preculture, vitrification solutions, exposure time to vitrification solutions, volume of vitrification solution and its toxicity, washing of vitrified tissues after thawing, were analysed. The results showed that shoot regrowth of P. kesiya shoot-tips was considerably affected when exposed to cryoprotectants for longer periods of time (longer than 10 min). Among different vitrification solutions studied, maximum survival (76 percent) of shoot-tips was achieved with mVSL (using 0.6 ml of the solution) in MS basal medium containing 4.0 mg l-1 N6-benzyladenine (BA).
Comparison of apoptosis pathway following the use of two protocols for vitrification of immature mouse testicular tissue.

PubMed

Hajiaghalou, Samira; Ebrahimi, Bita; Shahverdi, Abdolhossein; Sharbatoghli, Mina; Beigi Boroujeni, Nasim

2016-11-01

Our objective was to evaluate the apoptosis incidence in immature mouse testicular tissue after two different protocols of vitrification and short-term culture. Testes of 7-day-old Naval Medical Research Institute mice were isolated and distributed into control and vitrification groups. In vitrification 1 group, testes were vitrified using a combination of ethylene glycol and DMSO in three steps, and in vitrification 2 group, testes were vitrified using a combination of ethylene glycol and sucrose in five steps. Then, fresh and vitrified-warmed testis fragments were cultured for 20 hours. Morphology, cell viability, apoptosis incidence, and apoptosis gene expression (BAX, BCL2, Caspase 3, Fas, Fas ligand, p53) were evaluated at 0, 3, and 20 hours of culture by light microscopy, flow cytometry, and real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Significant decrease of early apoptosis (annexin V+/PI- cells in vitrification 1 and 2 groups at 0 hours of culture, 37.34 ± 0.91 and 30.72 ± 2.2, and at 20 hours of culture, 1.46 ± 0.28 and 0.76 ± 0.11, respectively), increase of late apoptosis (annexin V+/PI+ cells in vitrification 1 group at 0 hours of culture, 14.46 ± 0.86, and at 20 hours of culture, 37.18 ± 2.34), and BAX/BCL-2 ratio (in vitrification 1 and 2 groups at 0 hours of culture, 7.31 ± 0.31 and 6.83 ± 1.38, and at 20 hours of culture, 24.08 ± 4.32 and 9.35 ± 1.91, respectively) were observed in vitrification groups during culture period. Caspase 3 expression was significantly decreased in all groups after 3 hours of culture (in control, vitrification 1, and vitrification 2 groups at 0 hours of culture, 1.00 ± 0.0, 1.56 ± 0.09, and 0.79 ± 0.06, and at 20 hours of culture, 0.37 ± 0.0, 0.96 ± 0.10, and 0.12 ± 0.03, respectively). Expression of p53 was significantly lower in vitrification 1 (0.32 ± 0.02) and control (0.50 ± 0.03) groups in 20 hours of culture as compared with vitrification 2 (0.88 ± 0.14) group. Fas (in vitrification 1 and 2 groups at 0 hours of culture, 2.29 ± 0.23 and 1.14 ± 0.15, and at 20 hours of culture, 12.43 ± 0.46 and 6.7 ± 0.48, respectively) and Fas Ligand (in vitrification 1 and 2 groups at 0 hours of culture, 1.2 ± 0.28 and 5.24 ± 0.32, and at 20 hours of culture, 21.75 ± 2.00 and 25.82 ± 2.15, respectively) expressions significantly increased in vitrification groups after 20 hours of culture. Although both vitrification protocols cause cell death via apoptotic and necrotic pathway, it seems that vitrification 1 protocol induces cell death more via apoptotic pathway than via necrosis. The apoptosis incidence after vitrification may have occurred independent of p53. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Appendix C: Automated Vitrification of Mammalian Embryos on a Digital Microfluidic Device.

PubMed

Liu, Jun; Pyne, Derek G; Abdelgawad, Mohamed; Sun, Yu

2017-01-01

This chapter introduces a digital microfluidic device that automates sample preparation for mammalian embryo vitrification. Individual microdroplets manipulated on the microfluidic device were used as microvessels to transport a single mouse embryo through a complete vitrification procedure. Advantages of this approach, compared to manual operation and channel-based microfluidic vitrification, include automated operation, cryoprotectant concentration gradient generation, and feasibility of loading and retrieval of embryos.
The effect of minimal concentration of ethylene glycol (EG) combined with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on mouse oocyte survival and subsequent embryonic development following vitrification.

PubMed

Wang, Yao; Okitsu, Osamu; Zhao, Xiao-Ming; Sun, Yun; Di, Wen; Chian, Ri-Cheng

2014-01-01

Vitrification techniques employ a relatively high concentration of cryoprotectant in vitrification solutions. Exposure of oocytes to high concentrations of cryoprotectant is known to damage the oocytes via both cytotoxic and osmotic effects. Therefore, the key to successful vitrification of oocytes is to strike a balance between the usage of minimal concentration of cryoprotectant without compromising their cryoprotective actions. The minimal concentration of ethylene glycol (EG) on mouse oocyte survival and subsequent embryonic development was evaluated following vitrification-warming and parthenogenetic activation. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) combined with EG on mouse oocyte survival and subsequent embryonic development as well as morphology of the spindle and chromosome alignment were also evaluated. Vitrification system was adapted with JY Straw and the cooling rate was approximately 442-500 °C/min. In contrast, the warming rate was approximately 2,210-2,652 °C/min. Survival rate of oocytes increased significantly when 15 % EG was combined with 2 % PVP in vitrification solution (VS). The effect of combination of EG and PVP was not significant when the concentration of EG was 20 % and higher. Although there were no significant differences in embryonic development, the percentage of abnormal spindle and chromosome alignment was significantly higher in the oocytes without 2 % PVP in VS. Our data provide a proof of principle for oocyte vitrification that may not require a high concentration of cryoprotectant. There are synergic effects of EG combined with PVP for oocyte vitrification, which may provide important information to the field in developing less cytotoxic VS.
In-situ vitrification of soil

DOEpatents

Brouns, Richard A.; Buelt, James L.; Bonner, William F.

1983-01-01

A method of vitrifying soil at or below a soil surface location. Two or more conductive electrodes are inserted into the soil for heating of the soil mass between them to a temperature above its melting temperature. Materials in the soil, such as buried waste, can thereby be effectively immobilized.
Cellular damage suffered by equine embryos after exposure to cryoprotectants or cryopreservation by slow-freezing or vitrification.

PubMed

Hendriks, W K; Roelen, B A J; Colenbrander, B; Stout, T A E

2015-11-01

Equine embryos are cryopreserved by slow-freezing or vitrification. While small embryos (<300 μm) survive cryopreservation reasonably well, larger embryos do not. It is not clear if slow-freezing or vitrification is less damaging to horse embryos. To compare the type and extent of cellular damage suffered by small and large embryos during cryopreservation by slow-freezing vs. vitrification. Sixty-three Day 6.5-7 embryos were subdivided by size and assigned to one of 5 treatments: control, exposure to slow-freezing or vitrification cryoprotectants (CPs), and cryopreservation by either technique. After thawing/CP removal, embryos were stained with fluorescent stains for various parameters of cellular integrity, and assessed by multiphoton microscopy. Exposing large embryos to vitrification CPs resulted in more dead cells (6.8 ± 1.3%: 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.1-10.4%) than exposure to slow-freezing media (0.3 ± 0.1%; 95% CI 0.0-0.6%: P = 0.001). Cryopreservation by either technique induced cell death and cytoskeleton disruption. Vitrification of small embryos resulted in a higher proportion of cells with fragmented or condensed (apoptotic) nuclei (P = 0.002) than slow-freezing (6.7 ± 1.5%, 95% CI 3.0-10.4% vs. 5.0 ± 2.1%, 95% CI 4.0-14.0%). Slow-freezing resulted in a higher incidence of disintegrated embryos (P = 0.01) than vitrification. Mitochondrial activity was low in control embryos, and was not differentially affected by cryopreservation technique, whereas vitrification changed mitochondrial distribution from a homogenous crystalline pattern in control embryos to a heterogeneous granulated distribution in vitrified embryos (P = 0.05). Cryopreservation caused more cellular damage to large embryos than smaller ones. While vitrification is more practical, it is not advisable for large embryos due to a higher incidence of dead cells. The choice is less obvious for small embryos, as vitrification led to occasionally very high percentages of dead or damaged cells, but a lower incidence of embryo disintegration. Modifications that reduce the level of cellular damage induced by vitrification are required before it can be considered the method of choice for cryopreserving equine embryos. © 2014 EVJ Ltd.
Effect of Sulfate on Rhenium Partitioning during Melting of Low-Activity Waste Glass Feeds

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jin, Tongan; Kim, Dong-Sang; Schweiger, Michael J.

2015-10-01

The volatile loss of technetium-99 (99Tc) is a major concern of the low-activity waste (LAW) vitrification at Hanford. We investigated the incorporation and volatile loss of Re (a nonradioactive surrogate for 99Tc) during batch-to-glass conversion up to 1100°C. The AN-102 feed, which is one of the representative Hanford LAW feeds, containing 0.59 wt% of SO3 (in glass if 100% retained) was used. The modified sulfate-free AN-102_0S feed was also tested to investigate the effect of sulfate on Re partitioning and retention during melting. After heating of the dried melter feed (mixture of LAW simulant and glass forming/modifying additives) to differentmore » temperatures, the heat-treated samples were quenched. For each heat-treated sample, the salts (soluble components in room temperature leaching), early glass forming melt (soluble components in 80°C leaching), and insoluble solids were separated by a two-step leaching and the chemical compositions of each phase were quantitatively analyzed. The final retention ratio of AN-102 and AN-102_0S in glass (insoluble solids) are 32% and 63% respectively. The presence of sulfate in the salt phase between 600 and 800°C leads to a significantly higher Re loss via volatilization from the salt layer. At ≥800°C, for both samples, there is no more incorporation of Re into the insoluble phase because: for AN-102_0S there is no salt left i.e., the split into the insoluble and gas phases is complete by 800°C and for AN-102 all the Re contained in the remaining salt phase is lost through volatilization. The present results on the effect of sulfate, although not directly applicable to LAW vitrification in the melter, will be used to understand the mechanism of Re incorporation into glass to eventually develop the methods that can increase the 99Tc retention during LAW vitrification at Hanford.« less
Recovery of valuable metals from electroplating sludge with reducing additives via vitrification.

PubMed

Huang, Ruth; Huang, Kuo-Lin; Lin, Zih-Yi; Wang, Jian-Wen; Lin, Chitsan; Kuo, Yi-Ming

2013-11-15

In this study, vitrification was applied to treat Ni-Cu electroplating sludge. The sludge was mixed with additives (limestone:cullet = 4:6) and then heated to 1450 °C. The cooled product could be separated into slag and ingot. An atomic absorption spectrometer was used to determine the metal levels of specimens and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) tests, whereas the crystalline and surface characteristics were examined using quantitative X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. With a glassy structure, the slag was mainly composed of Ca, Si, and Mg. The TCLP results of slags met the Taiwan regulated standards, suggesting that slag can be used for recycling purposes. With the aid of additives, the crystalline phase of slag was transformed form CaMgSiO4 into CsSiO3. The ingots were mainly composed of Ni (563,000-693,800 mg/kg), Cu (79,900-87,400 mg/kg), and Fe (35,000-43,600 mg/kg) (target metals) due the gravity separation during vitrification. At appropriate additives/sludge ratios (>0.2), >95% of target metals gathered in the ingot as a recoverable form (Ni-Fe alloy). The high Ni level of slag suggests that the ingot can be used as the raw materials for smelters or the additives for steel making. Therefore, the vitrification approach of this study is a promising technology to recover valuable metals from Ni-Cu electroplating sludge. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Successful vitrification of human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

PubMed

Moon, Jeong Hee; Lee, Jung Ryeol; Jee, Byung Chul; Suh, Chang Suk; Kim, Seok Hyun; Lim, Hyun Jung; Kim, Hae Kwon

2008-08-01

A cryopreservation protocol for human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HAMs) is required because these cells cannot survive for long periods in culture. The aim of this study was to determine whether vitrification is a useful freezing method for storage of HAMs. HAMs were cryopreserved using vitrification method. The morphology and viability of thawed HAMs was evaluated by Trypan Blue staining. The expression of several embryonic stem cell (ESC) markers was evaluated using flow cytometry, RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. Von Kossa, Oil Red O and Alcian Blue staining were used to asses the differentiation potential of thawed HAMs. The post-thawing viability of HAMs was 84.3 +/- 3.2% (Mean +/- SD, n = 10). The thawed HAMs showed morphological characteristics indistinguishable from the non-vitrified fresh HAMs. The expression of surface antigens (strong positive for CD44, CD49d, CD59, CD90, CD105 and HLA-ABC; weak positive for HLA-G; negative for CD31, CD34, CD45, CD106, CD117 and HLA-DR) and the expression of ESC markers [CK18, fibroblast growth factor-5, GATA-4, neural cell adhesion molecule, Nestin, Oct-4, stem cell factor, HLA-ABC, Vimentin, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 4, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF-4 alpha), Pax-6, alpha-fetoprotein, Brachyury, BMP-2, TRA-1-60, stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA-3, SSEA-4)] were maintained in the vitrified-thawed HAMs. The thawed HAMs retained ability to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes and chondrocytes under appropriate culture conditions. Our results suggest that vitrification is a reliable and effective method for cryopreservation of HAMs.
Label-free characterization of vitrification-induced morphology changes in single-cell embryos with full-field optical coherence tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zarnescu, Livia; Leung, Michael C.; Abeyta, Michael; Sudkamp, Helge; Baer, Thomas; Behr, Barry; Ellerbee, Audrey K.

2015-09-01

Vitrification is an increasingly popular method of embryo cryopreservation that is used in assisted reproductive technology. Although vitrification has high post-thaw survival rates compared to other freezing techniques, its long-term effects on embryo development are still poorly understood. We demonstrate an application of full-field optical coherence tomography (FF-OCT) to visualize the effects of vitrification on live single-cell (2 pronuclear) mouse embryos without harmful labels. Using FF-OCT, we observed that vitrification causes a significant increase in the aggregation of structures within the embryo cytoplasm, consistent with reports in literature based on fluorescence techniques. We quantify the degree of aggregation with an objective metric, the cytoplasmic aggregation (CA) score, and observe a high degree of correlation between the CA scores of FF-OCT images of embryos and of fluorescence images of their mitochondria. Our results indicate that FF-OCT shows promise as a label-free assessment of the effects of vitrification on embryo mitochondria distribution. The CA score provides a quantitative metric to describe the degree to which embryos have been affected by vitrification and could aid clinicians in selecting embryos for transfer.
Cryotop vitrification as compared to conventional slow freezing for human embryos at the cleavage stage: survival and outcomes.

PubMed

Lin, Tseng-Kai; Su, Jin-Tsung; Lee, Fa-Kung; Lin, Yu-Ru; Lo, Hsiao-Ching

2010-09-01

This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of cryotop vitrification of human cleavage-stage embryos to that of conventional slow freezing of these embryos with respect to survival. A second objective was to compare the two cryopreservation techniques with respect to outcomes for a cohort of women. Cleavage-stage embryos from 102 patients were cryopreserved either by vitrification (57 patients) or by traditional slow freezing (45 patients). After thawing, rates of embryo survival, implantation, and clinical pregnancy were determined. Survival of embryos was significantly higher with the vitrification procedure as compared to traditional slow freezing [287/298 (96.3%) vs. 294/446 (65.9%); p < 0.05). Rates of implantation and clinical pregnancy were also significantly higher using vitrification procedure as compared to the slow freezing procedure (24.3% vs. 7.1% and 35.6% vs. 15.6% respectively, p < 0.05). As compared to conventional slow freezing, cryopreservation of human cleavage-stage embryo using vitrification results in higher rates of embryo survival, implantation, and clinical pregnancy. Vitrification therefore represents the superior cryopreservation technique for cleavage-stage embryos. Copyright © 2010 Taiwan Association of Obstetric & Gynecology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
RNA-Seq transcriptome profiling of mouse oocytes after in vitro maturation and/or vitrification.

PubMed

Gao, Lei; Jia, Gongxue; Li, Ai; Ma, Haojia; Huang, Zhengyuan; Zhu, Shien; Hou, Yunpeng; Fu, Xiangwei

2017-10-16

In vitro maturation (IVM) and vitrification have been widely used to prepare oocytes before fertilization; however, potential effects of these procedures, such as expression profile changes, are poorly understood. In this study, mouse oocytes were divided into four groups and subjected to combinations of in vitro maturation and/or vitrification treatments. RNA-seq and in silico pathway analysis were used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that may be involved in oocyte viability after in vitro maturation and/or vitrification. Our results showed that 1) 69 genes were differentially expressed after IVM, 66 of which were up-regulated. Atp5e and Atp5o were enriched in the most significant gene ontology term "mitochondrial membrane part"; thus, these genes may be promising candidate biomarkers for oocyte viability after IVM. 2) The influence of vitrification on the transcriptome of oocytes was negligible, as no DEGs were found between vitrified and fresh oocytes. 3) The MII stage is more suitable for oocyte vitrification with respect to the transcriptome. This study provides a valuable new theoretical basis to further improve the efficiency of in vitro maturation and/or oocyte vitrification.
Final Environmental Impact Statement for Treating Transuranic (TRU)/Alpha Low-level Waste at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge, Tennessee

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

N /A

2000-06-30

The DOE proposes to construct, operate, and decontaminate/decommission a TRU Waste Treatment Facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The four waste types that would be treated at the proposed facility would be remote-handled TRU mixed waste sludge, liquid low-level waste associated with the sludge, contact-handled TRU/alpha low-level waste solids, and remote-handled TRU/alpha low-level waste solids. The mixed waste sludge and some of the solid waste contain metals regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and may be classified as mixed waste. This document analyzes the potential environmental impacts associated with five alternatives--No Action, the Low-Temperature Drying Alternative (Preferred Alternative), themore » Vitrification Alternative, the Cementation Alternative, and the Treatment and Waste Storage at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Alternative.« less
Cryopreservation of in vitro grown shoot tips of Diospyros kaki thunb. using different methods.

PubMed

Niu, Y L; Luo, Z R; Zhang, Y F; Zhang, Q L

2012-01-01

The objective of this study was to compare the potential of different cryopreservation strategies for in vitro shoot tips of Diospyros kaki Thunb. The treatments consisted of three different cryopreservation methods: vitrification, droplet-vitrification and modified droplet-vitrification. The following variables were assessed: cold acclimation, sucrose concentration in the preculture medium and PVS2 treatment time. A higher average survival level was obtained using the modified droplet-vitrification method compared to the other two methods.
Vitrification of zona-free rabbit expanded or hatching blastocysts: a possible model for human blastocysts.

PubMed

Cervera, R P; Garcia-Ximénez, F

2003-10-01

The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of one two-step (A) and two one-step (B1 and B2) vitrification procedures on denuded expanded or hatching rabbit blastocysts held in standard sealed plastic straws as a possible model for human blastocysts. The effect of blastocyst size was also studied on the basis of three size categories (I: diameter <200 micro m; II: diameter 200-299 micro m; III: diameter >/==" BORDER="0">300 micro m). Rabbit expanded or hatching blastocysts were vitrified at day 4 or 5. Before vitrification, the zona pellucida was removed using acidic phosphate buffered saline. For the two-step procedure, prior to vitrification, blastocysts were pre- equilibrated in a solution containing 10% dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and 10% ethylene glycol (EG) for 1 min. Different final vitrification solutions were compared: 20% DMSO and 20% EG with (A and B1) or without (B2) 0.5 mol/l sucrose. Of 198 vitrified blastocysts, 181 (91%) survived, regardless of the vitrification procedure applied. Vitrification procedure A showed significantly higher re-expansion (88%), attachment (86%) and trophectoderm outgrowth (80%) rates than the two one-step vitrification procedures, B1 and B2 (46 and 21%, 20 and 33%, and 18 and 23%, respectively). After warming, blastocysts of greater size (II and III) showed significantly higher attachment (54 and 64%) and trophectoderm outgrowth (44 and 58%) rates than smaller blastocysts (I, attachment: 29%; trophectoderm outgrowth: 25%). These result demonstrate that denuded expanded or hatching rabbit blastocysts of greater size can be satisfactorily vitrified by use of a two-step procedure. The similarity of vitrification solutions used in humans could make it feasible to test such a procedure on human denuded blastocysts of different sizes.
Method for initiating in-situ vitrification using an impregnated cord

DOEpatents

Carter, John G.

1991-01-01

In-situ vitrification of soil is initiated by placing a cord of dielectric material impregnated with conductive material in thermally-conductive contact with the soil, and energizing the cord with an electric current for heating the cord and starting the vitrification process.
Nanoliter droplet vitrification for oocyte cryopreservation.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaohui; Khimji, Imran; Shao, Lei; Safaee, Hooman; Desai, Khanjan; Keles, Hasan Onur; Gurkan, Umut Atakan; Kayaalp, Emre; Nureddin, Aida; Anchan, Raymond M; Maas, Richard L; Demirci, Utkan

2012-04-01

Oocyte cryopreservation remains largely experimental, with live birth rates of only 2-4% per thawed oocyte. In this study, we present a nanoliter droplet technology for oocyte vitrification. An ejector-based droplet vitrification system was designed to continuously cryopreserve oocytes in nanoliter droplets. Oocyte survival rates, morphologies and parthenogenetic development after each vitrification step were assessed in comparison with fresh oocytes. Oocytes were retrieved after cryoprotectant agent loading/unloading, and nanoliter droplet encapsulation showed comparable survival rates to fresh oocytes after 24 h in culture. Also, oocytes recovered after vitrification/thawing showed similar morphologies to those of fresh oocytes. Additionally, the rate of oocyte parthenogenetic activation after nanoliter droplet encapsulation was comparable with that observed for fresh oocytes. This nanoliter droplet technology enables the vitrification of oocytes at higher cooling and warming rates using lower cryoprotectant agent levels (i.e., 1.4 M ethylene glycol, 1.1 M dimethyl sulfoxide and 1 M sucrose), thus making it a potential technology to improve oocyte cryopreservation outcomes.

Nanoliter droplet vitrification for oocyte cryopreservation

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xiaohui; Khimji, Imran; Shao, Lei; Safaee, Hooman; Desai, Khanjan; Keles, Hasan Onur; Gurkan, Umut Atakan; Kayaalp, Emre; Nureddin, Aida; Anchan, Raymond M; Maas, Richard L; Demirci, Utkan

2011-01-01

Aim Oocyte cryopreservation remains largely experimental, with live birth rates of only 2–4% per thawed oocyte. In this study, we present a nanoliter droplet technology for oocyte vitrification. Materials & methods An ejector-based droplet vitrification system was designed to continuously cryopreserve oocytes in nanoliter droplets. Oocyte survival rates, morphologies and parthenogenetic development after each vitrification step were assessed in comparison with fresh oocytes. Results Oocytes were retrieved after cryoprotectant agent loading/unloading, and nanoliter droplet encapsulation showed comparable survival rates to fresh oocytes after 24 h in culture. Also, oocytes recovered after vitrification/thawing showed similar morphologies to those of fresh oocytes. Additionally, the rate of oocyte parthenogenetic activation after nanoliter droplet encapsulation was comparable with that observed for fresh oocytes. This nanoliter droplet technology enables the vitrification of oocytes at higher cooling and warming rates using lower cryoprotectant agent levels (i.e., 1.4 M ethylene glycol, 1.1 M dimethyl sulfoxide and 1 M sucrose), thus making it a potential technology to improve oocyte cryopreservation outcomes. PMID:22188180
Cryopreservation of redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) in vitro buds using vitrification-based techniques.

PubMed

Ozudogru, E A; Kirdok, E; Kaya, E; Capuana, M; Benelli, C; Engelmann, E

2011-01-01

In this study, the efficiency of three vitrification-based cryopreservation techniques, i.e. vitrification, encapsulation-vitrification and droplet-vitrification were compared for cryopreserving Sequoia sempervirens apical and basal buds sampled from in vitro shoot cultures. The effect of cold-hardening of mother-plants and of bud culture medium and sucrose preculture was also investigated. Culture of apical and basal buds sampled from cold-hardened mother-plants on Quoirin and Lepoivre medium with activated charcoal had a positive effect on regrowth. Only droplet-vitrification ensured survival and regrowth after cryopreservation. After cryopreservation, regeneration of apical buds was possible for PVS2 exposure durations between 90 and 180 min but it remained low, with a maximum of 18 percent after 135 min treatment. With basal buds, regeneration after cryopreservation was possible over a larger range of PVS2 treatment durations, between 30 and 180 min. The highest regeneration percentage was slightly higher (22 percent) than that measured with apical buds, and was also achieved after 135 min PVS2 exposure.
Method for initiating in-situ vitrification using an impregnated cord

DOEpatents

Carter, J.G.

1991-04-02

In-situ vitrification of soil is initiated by placing a cord of dielectric material impregnated with conductive material in thermally-conductive contact with the soil, and energizing the cord with an electric current for heating the cord and starting the vitrification process. 1 figure.
Recovery patterns, histological observations and genetic integrity in Malus shoot tips cryopreserved using droplet vitrification and encapsulation-dehydration procedures

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A droplet-vitrification procedure is described for cryopreservation of Malus shoot tips. Survival patterns, recovery types, histological observations, and genetic integrity were compared for Malus shoot tips cryopreserved using this droplet-vitrification procedure and an encapsulation-dehydration pr...
Comparison of survival rate of cleavage stage embryos produced from in vitro maturation cycles after slow freezing and after vitrification.

PubMed

Son, Weon-Young; Chung, Jin-Tae; Gidoni, Yariv; Holzer, Hananel; Levin, Dan; Chian, Ri-Cheng; Tan, Seang Lin

2009-09-01

Significantly more embryos survived the vitrification procedure compared to slow freezing (85.5% vs. 61.8%) in cleavage-stage human embryos produced from in vitro maturation cycles, suggesting that vitrification is more efficient than slow freezing for cryopreservation.
Vitrification of plutonium at Rocky Flats the argument for a pilot plant

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moore, L.

1996-05-01

Current plans for stabilizing and storing the plutonium at Rocky Flats Plant fail to put the material in a form suitable for disposition and resistant to proliferation. Vitrification should be considered as an alternate technology. The vitrification should begin with a small-scale pilot plant.
High-Throughput Non-Contact Vitrification of Cell-Laden Droplets Based on Cell Printing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Meng; Ling, Kai; Yong, Kar Wey; Li, Yuhui; Feng, Shangsheng; Zhang, Xiaohui; Pingguan-Murphy, Belinda; Lu, Tian Jian; Xu, Feng

2015-12-01

Cryopreservation is the most promising way for long-term storage of biological samples e.g., single cells and cellular structures. Among various cryopreservation methods, vitrification is advantageous by employing high cooling rate to avoid the formation of harmful ice crystals in cells. Most existing vitrification methods adopt direct contact of cells with liquid nitrogen to obtain high cooling rates, which however causes the potential contamination and difficult cell collection. To address these limitations, we developed a non-contact vitrification device based on an ultra-thin freezing film to achieve high cooling/warming rate and avoid direct contact between cells and liquid nitrogen. A high-throughput cell printer was employed to rapidly generate uniform cell-laden microdroplets into the device, where the microdroplets were hung on one side of the film and then vitrified by pouring the liquid nitrogen onto the other side via boiling heat transfer. Through theoretical and experimental studies on vitrification processes, we demonstrated that our device offers a high cooling/warming rate for vitrification of the NIH 3T3 cells and human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) with maintained cell viability and differentiation potential. This non-contact vitrification device provides a novel and effective way to cryopreserve cells at high throughput and avoid the contamination and collection problems.
High-Throughput Non-Contact Vitrification of Cell-Laden Droplets Based on Cell Printing

PubMed Central

Shi, Meng; Ling, Kai; Yong, Kar Wey; Li, Yuhui; Feng, Shangsheng; Zhang, Xiaohui; Pingguan-Murphy, Belinda; Lu, Tian Jian; Xu, Feng

2015-01-01

Cryopreservation is the most promising way for long-term storage of biological samples e.g., single cells and cellular structures. Among various cryopreservation methods, vitrification is advantageous by employing high cooling rate to avoid the formation of harmful ice crystals in cells. Most existing vitrification methods adopt direct contact of cells with liquid nitrogen to obtain high cooling rates, which however causes the potential contamination and difficult cell collection. To address these limitations, we developed a non-contact vitrification device based on an ultra-thin freezing film to achieve high cooling/warming rate and avoid direct contact between cells and liquid nitrogen. A high-throughput cell printer was employed to rapidly generate uniform cell-laden microdroplets into the device, where the microdroplets were hung on one side of the film and then vitrified by pouring the liquid nitrogen onto the other side via boiling heat transfer. Through theoretical and experimental studies on vitrification processes, we demonstrated that our device offers a high cooling/warming rate for vitrification of the NIH 3T3 cells and human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) with maintained cell viability and differentiation potential. This non-contact vitrification device provides a novel and effective way to cryopreserve cells at high throughput and avoid the contamination and collection problems. PMID:26655688
Comparison of two closed carriers for vitrification of human blastocysts in a donor program.

PubMed

Guerrero, Jaime; Gallardo, Miguel; Rodríguez-Arnedo, Adoración; Ten, Jorgen; Bernabeu, Rafael

2018-04-01

The survival of human blastocysts to vitrification with two different carriers is compared. Both vitrification carriers used in this study are in the category of closed carriers, as they completely isolate the samples from direct contact with liquid nitrogen or its vapours during cooling and storage, until warming. This characteristic is appealing because it reduces or eliminates the theoretical risk of cross-contamination during that period of time. The two closed vitrification systems used present very different design and features: in the High Security Vitrification device, the carrier straw containing the embryos is encapsulated inside an external straw before plunging in liquid nitrogen, resulting in thermal insulation during cooling. On the other hand, in the SafeSpeed carrier embryos are loaded in a thin-walled, narrow capillary designed to maximize the thermal transference. Both closed carriers achieved comparable outcomes in terms of survival of blastocysts to the vitrification process, with 97.5% vs. 96.1% survival with HSV and SafeSpeed, respectively. In conclusion, the cooling and warming rates at which these carriers operate, in combination with the cytosolic solute concentration in the cells of the cryopreserved blastocysts attained after a cryoprotectant-loading protocol, result in successful vitrification of human blastocysts for human assisted reproduction. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Cryotolerance of Day 2 or Day 6 in vitro produced ovine embryos after vitrification by Cryotop or Spatula methods.

PubMed

Dos Santos Neto, P C; Vilariño, M; Barrera, N; Cuadro, F; Crispo, M; Menchaca, A

2015-02-01

This study was conducted to evaluate the cryotolerance of in vitro produced ovine embryos submitted to vitrification at different developmental stages using two methods of minimum volume and rapid cooling rate. Embryos were vitrified at early stage (2 to 8-cells) on Day 2 or at advanced stage (morulae and blastocysts) on Day 6 after in vitro fertilization. Vitrification procedure consisted of the Cryotop (Day 2, n=165; Day 6, n=174) or the Spatula method (Day 2, n=165; Day 6, n=175). Non vitrified embryos were maintained in in vitro culture as a control group (n=408). Embryo survival was determined at 3h and 24h after warming, development and hatching rates were evaluated on Day 6 and Day 8 after fertilization, and total cell number was determined on expanded blastocysts. Embryo survival at 24h after warming increased as the developmental stage progressed (P<0.05) and was not affected by the vitrification method. The ability for hatching of survived embryos was not affected by the stage of the embryos at vitrification or by the vitrification method. Thus, the proportion of hatching from vitrified embryos was determined by the survival rate and was lower for Day 2 than Day 6 vitrified embryos. The percentage of blastocysts on Day 8 was lower for the embryos vitrified on Day 2 than Day 6 (P<0.05), and was lower for both days of vitrification than for non-vitrified embryos (P<0.05). No interaction of embryo stage by vitrification method was found (P=NS) and no significant difference was found in the blastocyst cell number among vitrified and non-vitrified embryos. In conclusion, both methods using minimum volume and ultra-rapid cooling rate allow acceptable survival and development rates in Day 2 and Day 6 in vitro produced embryos in sheep. Even though early stage embryos showed lower cryotolerance, those embryos that survive the vitrification-warming process show high development and hatching rates, similar to vitrification of morulae or blastocysts. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Magnetic induction heating of superparamagnetic nanoparticles during rewarming augments the recovery of hUCM-MSCs cryopreserved by vitrification.

PubMed

Wang, Jianye; Zhao, Gang; Zhang, Zhengliang; Xu, Xiaoliang; He, Xiaoming

2016-03-01

Cryopreservation by vitrification has been recognized as a promising strategy for long-term banking of living cells. However, the difficulty to generate a fast enough heating rate to minimize devitrification and recrystallization-induced intracellular ice formation during rewarming is one of the major obstacles to successful vitrification. We propose to overcome this hurdle by utilizing magnetic induction heating (MIH) of magnetic nanoparticles to enhance rewarming. In this study, superparamagnetic (SPM) Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by a chemical coprecipitation method. We successfully applied the MIH of Fe3O4 nanoparticles for rewarming human umbilical cord matrix mesenchymal stem cells (hUCM-MSCs) cryopreserved by vitrification. Our results show that extracellular Fe3O4 nanoparticles with MIH may efficiently suppress devitrification and/or recrystallization during rewarming and significantly improve the survival of vitrified cells. We further optimized the concentration of Fe3O4 nanoparticles and the current of an alternating current (AC) magnetic field for generating the MIH to maximize cell viability. Our results indicate that MIH in an AC magnetic field with 0.05% (w/v) Fe3O4 nanoparticles significantly facilitates rewarming and improves the cryopreservation outcome of hUCM-MSCs by vitrification. The application of MIH of SPM nanoparticles to achieve rapid and spatially homogeneous heating is a promising strategy for enhanced cryopreservation of stem cells by vitrification. Here we report the successful synthesis and application of Fe3O4 nanoparticles for magnetic induction heating (MIH) to enhance rewarming of vitrification-cryopreserved human umbilical cord matrix mesenchymal stem cells (hUCM-MSCs). We found that MIH-enhanced rewarming greatly improves the survival of vitrification-cryopreserved hUCM-MSCs. Moreover, the hUCM-MSCs retain their intact stemness and multilineage potential of differentiation post cryopreservation by vitrification with the MIH-enhanced rewarming. Therefore, the novel MIH-enhanced cell vitrification is valuable to facilitate the long-term storage of hUCM-MSCs and possibly many other important cells to meet their ever-increasing demand by the burgeoning cell-based medicine. Copyright © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Successful pregnancies from vitrified embryos in the dromedary camel: Avoidance of a possible toxic effect of sucrose on embryos.

PubMed

Herrid, M; Billah, M; Skidmore, J A

2017-12-01

Successful embryo cryopreservation facilitates the wider application of assisted reproduction technologies and also provides a useful method for gene banking of valuable genetics. Unfortunately attempts to establish an effective cryopreservation protocol for camelid embryos have been unsuccessful. In the current study, a modified vitrification protocol with three steps was investigated, whereby embryos were exposed to solutions containing increasing amounts of glycerol and ethylene glycol for fixed time periods. Embryos were then loaded into an Open Pull Straw (OPS) and plunged directly into liquid nitrogen for storage. Three experiments were designed to investigate the effect of 1) artificial shrinkage (AS) of embryos, 2) the addition of sucrose to the vitrification solutions, and 3) the replacement of sucrose by galactose in the warming solution, on the outcome of vitrification. The results showed that neither AS of hatched embryos prior to vitrification, nor the addition of sucrose into vitrification solutions improves the outcome of vitrification, while replacement of sucrose with galactose in warming solution increases the survival and developmental rates of vitrified embryos in culture. Transfer of vitrified embryos that were warmed in galactose resulted in a pregnancy rate of 42.8% per embryo or 46.1% per recipient. Collectively, these results suggest a possible species-specific toxic effect of sucrose on camel embryos, and that avoiding its use either in vitrification or warming solution is critical for establishing an effective protocol. This study may also be applicable to the vitrification of embryos of other camelid species including alpaca and llamas. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The evaluation of xenotransplantation of feline ovarian tissue vitrified by needle immersed vitrification technique into male immunodeficient mice.

PubMed

Demirel, Mürşide Ayşe; Acar, Duygu Baki; Ekim, Burcu; Çelikkan, Ferda Topal; Alkan, Kübra Karakaş; Salar, Seçkin; Erdemli, Esra Atabenli; Özkavukçu, Sinan; Yar, Seda Sağlam; Kanca, Halit; Baştan, Ayhan

2018-03-01

In this study, the efficiency of the "Needle Immersed Vitrification" technique was tested on cryopreserved feline ovarian tissue. For vitrification, ovarian fragments (0.5-1.5 mm 2 ) from each ovary were collected; the grafts were exposed to 7.5-15% ethylene glycol and 7.5-15% dimethyl sulfoxide at room temperature and stored in liquid nitrogen at least 1 week. Morphologic examinations, expression of genes such as B cell lymphoma 2, B-cell lymphoma-2-associated X protein, Bone morphogenetic protein 15, zone of polarizing activity, zona pellucida C protein and DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 1, ultrastructural analysis and viability tests were carried out from collected grafts. Light microscopy examinations revealed the percentage of morphologically normal primordial follicles in a fresh group which was significantly higher than the treatment groups (p < 0.001). Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling and anti-caspase-3 staining observed in oocytes, follicle cells, interstitial tissue showed higher rates of apoptosis for post-vitrification and -transplantation groups than freshly grafted ovarian tissues. Furthermore, we observed significant downregulation of zone of polarizing activity and zona pellucida C protein gene expression in vitrified ovarian tissue grafts than in the fresh grafts (p < 0.05). In conclusion, we suggest that the needle immersed vitrification method is a convenient, cheap, and feasible vitrification method for cat ovarian tissues. However, further studies need to be performed to determine more optimal vitrification solutions and equilibration times for the needle immersed vitrification method in order to adapt it for cat ovaries.
In Vitro Cryopreservation of Date Palm Caulogenic Meristems.

PubMed

Fki, Lotfi; Chkir, Olfa; Kriaa, Walid; Nasri, Ameni; Baklouti, Emna; Masmoudi, Raja B; Rival, Alain; Drira, Noureddine; Panis, Bart

2017-01-01

Cryopreservation is the technology of choice not only for plant genetic resource preservation but also for virus eradication and for the efficient management of large-scale micropropagation. In this chapter, we describe three cryopreservation protocols (standard vitrification, droplet vitrification, and encapsulation vitrification) for date palm highly proliferating meristems that are initiated from vitro-cultures using plant growth regulator-free MS medium. The positive impact of sucrose preculture and cold hardening treatments on survival rates is significant. Regeneration rates obtained with standard vitrification, encapsulation-vitrification, and droplet-vitrification protocols can reach 30, 40, and 70%, respectively. All regenerated plants from non-cryopreserved or cryopreserved explants don't show morphological variation by maintaining genetic integrity without adverse effect of cryogenic treatment. Cryopreservation of date palm vitro-cultures enables commercial tissue culture laboratories to move to large-scale propagation from cryopreserved cell lines producing true-to-type plants after clonal field-testing trials. When comparing the cost of cryostorage and in-field conservation of date palm cultivars, tissue cryopreservation is the most cost-effective. Moreover, many of the risks linked to field conservation like erosion due to climatic, edaphic, and phytopathologic constraints are circumvented.
Role of sodium ions in the vitrification process: glass matrix modification, slag structure depolymerization, and influence of metal immobilization.

PubMed

Kuo, Yi-Ming

2014-07-01

This study investigates the role of Na ions, a common flux, in the vitrification process. Artificial glass systems composed of Al2O3, CaO, and SiO2 with various Na concentrations were melted at 1450 degrees C. The specimens were cooled by air cooling and water quenching and the metal mobility was evaluated using a sequential extraction procedure. The X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy observations showed that Na ions governed the air-cooled slag's structure. Na ions initially depolymerized CaSiO3-linked chains into CaSiO3 chains, and further cut them into shorter and nonuniform ones, making the slag structure amorphous. With even more Na ions, CaSiO3 chains were divided into single SiO4 tetrahedrons and formed Na-related crystals (Na2Ca3Si2O8 and NaAlSiO4). The phase distributions of Al, Cr, Cu Mn, and Ni showed that Na has a positive effect on the immobilization of heavy metals at suitable concentrations, but a negative effect when in excess amounts. Implications: Vitrification has been widely used to treat hazardous materials. The Na-bearing additives were often used as a flux to improve the melting process. This study described the role of Na played in the vitrification process. The Na ions acted as glass modifier and depolymerize the chain structure of slag. With adequate addition amount of Na ions, the immobilization of heavy metals was improved. The results provided much information about the crystalline phase variation, metal mobility, and surface characteristics while Na serves as a flux.
Numerical investigations of transient heat transfer characteristics and vitrification tendencies in ultra-fast cell cooling processes.

PubMed

Jiao, Anjun; Han, Xu; Critser, John K; Ma, Hongbin

2006-06-01

During freezing, cells are often damaged directly or indirectly by ice formation. Vitrification is an alternative approach to cryopreservation that avoids ice formation. The common method to achieve vitrification is to use relatively high concentrations of cryoprotectant agents (CPA) in combination with a relatively slow cooling rate. However, high concentrations of CPAs have potentially damaging toxic and/or osmotic effects on cells. Therefore, establishing methods to achieve vitrification with lower concentrations of CPAs through ultra-fast cooling rates would be advantageous in these aspects. These ultra-fast cooling rates can be realized by a cooling system with an ultra-high heat transfer coefficient (h) between the sample and coolant. The oscillating motion heat pipe (OHP), a novel cooling device utilizing the pressure change to excite the oscillation motion of the liquid plugs and vapor bubbles, can significantly increase h and may fulfill this aim. The current investigation was designed to numerically study the effects of different values of h on the transient heat transfer characteristics and vitrification tendencies of the cell suspension during the cooling processes in an ultra-thin straw (100 microm in diameter). The transient temperature distribution, the cooling rate and the volume ratio (x) of the ice quantity to the maximum crystallizable ice of the suspension were calculated. From these numerical results, it is concluded that the ultra-high h (>10(4) W/m2 K) obtained by OHPs could facilitate vitrification by efficiently decreasing x as well as the time to pass through the dangerous temperature region where the maximum ice formation happens. For comparison, OHPs can decrease both of the parameters to less than 20% of those from the widely used open pulled straw methods. Therefore, the OHP method will be a promising approach to improving vitrification tendencies of CPA solutions and could also decrease the required concentration of CPAs for vitrification, both of which are of great importance for the successful cryopreservation of cells by vitrification.
Comparison of sucrose and trehalose media modification as an update of oocyte vitrification: A study of apoptotic level

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lestari, Silvia W.; Fitriyah, Nurin N.; Pangestu, Mulyoto; Pratama, Gita; Margiana, Ria

2018-02-01

Number of women who are not being able to have offspring in their reproductive life is increasing which might be influenced by several factors. As a consequence, oocyte cryopreservation could be an ensuring solution for women fertility preservation. A good vitrification could be conducted by combining an appropriate of type and concentration of cryoprotectants. One of the marks of successful vitrification is the vitrified oocytes could avoid apoptosis. This study aimed to evaluate the modification of cryoprotectant media as un update of oocyte vitrification as follow: the combination and the concentration of cryoprotectant media of oocytes vitrification, based on their effects on the apoptosis or DNA damage of oocytes. A total of 84 MII stage oocytes from adult female Deutschland, Denken and Yoken (DDY) mice (7-8 weeks old) were used in this study. Vitrification procedure was performed by using VS1 contained 15% EG, 15% DMSO, 0.5 mol/l sucrose (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) and VS2 contained 15% EG, 15% DMSO, 0.5 mol/l trehalose (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) in HM. Furthermore, warming solution (WS) was divided into four groups. There were: WS1a contained 0.3 mol/l sucrose, WS1b contained 0.15 mol/l sucrose, WS2a contained 0.3 mol/l trehalose, and WS2b contained 0.15 mol/l trehalose. Apoptotic level was performed by staining the oocytes with TUNEL and propidium iodide (PI) based on Brison and Schultz method then examined under confocal microscope. The rate of apoptosis in oocytes after vitrification and warming was higher compared to the fresh control oocytes. Furthermore, the rate of apoptosis in the vitrified oocytes by sucrose media (28%) was higher compared to the vitrified oocytes by trehalose media (16%). The results of this study indicated that vitrification increased apoptosis in the vitrified oocytes related to the oocyte injury after vitrification. Moreover, the vitrification increased apoptosis more in the vitrified oocytes by sucrose media than the vitrified oocytes by trehalose media. The exposure to the 16.5% EG, 16.5% DMSO and 0.5 mol/l trehalose as cryoprotectant media decreased their viability and increased the number of DNA-fragmented nuclei in the oocytes, lesser than sucrose. Trehalose was proved to be the more suitable extracellular cryoprotectant media in oocyte vitrification based on the apoptotic level, compared to that of sucrose. A modification of cryoprotectant media as an update of oocyte vitrification consisted 0.5 mol/l trehalose concentration as extracellular cryoprotectant and combined with 16.5% EG and 16.5% DMSO as intracellular cryoprotectant has produced.
Assessment of imaging parameters correlated with the effects of cryopreservation on embryo development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zarnescu, Livia; Abeyta, Mike; Baer, Thomas M.; Behr, Barry; Ellerbee, Audrey K.

2014-03-01

Embryo cryopreservation is an increasingly common technique that allows patients to undergo multiple cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF) without being subjected to repeated ovarian stimulation and oocyte retrieval. There are two types of cryopreservation commonly used in IVF clinics today: slow freezing and vitrification. Because vitrification has been shown to result in higher rates of embryo survival post-thaw compared to slow freezing, it is rapidly gaining popularity in clinics worldwide. However, several studies have shown that vitrification can still cause damage to embryos in the form of DNA fragmentation, altered mitochondrial distribution and changes in transcriptional activity, all of which are impossible to assess noninvasively. In this paper we demonstrate a new method of quantitatively and noninvasively assessing changes in embryo appearance due to vitrification. Using full-field optical coherence tomography (FF-OCT), we show that vitrification causes striking changes in the appearance of the cytoplasm that are not visible under conventional brightfield microscopy. Using an automated algorithm that extracts parameters to describe these changes, we show that these parameters can also predict viability in embryos that have undergone vitrification. An automated, noninvasive assessment of embryo viability after vitrification and thawing could have significant clinical impact: allowing clinicians to more accurately choose the most viable embryos to transfer back to patients could reduce the average number of IVF cycles that patients must undergo to achieve pregnancy.
Vitrification of neat semen alters sperm parameters and DNA integrity.

PubMed

Khalili, Mohammad Ali; Adib, Maryam; Halvaei, Iman; Nabi, Ali

2014-05-06

Our aim was to evaluate the effect of neat semen vitrification on human sperm vital parameters and DNA integrity in men with normal and abnormal sperm parameters. Semen samples were 17 normozoospermic samples and 17 specimens with abnormal sperm parameters. Semen analysis was performed according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Then, the smear was provided from each sample and fixed for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Vitrification of neat semen was done by plunging cryoloops directly into liquid nitrogen and preserved for 7 days. The samples were warmed and re-evaluated for sperm parameters as well as DNA integrity. Besides, the correlation between sperm parameters and DNA fragmentation was assessed pre- and post vitrification. Cryopreserved spermatozoa showed significant decrease in sperm motility, viability and normal morphology after thawing in both normal and abnormal semen. Also, the rate of sperm DNA fragmentation was significantly higher after vitrification compared to fresh samples in normal (24.76 ± 5.03 and 16.41 ± 4.53, P = .002) and abnormal (34.29 ± 10.02 and 23.5 ± 8.31, P < .0001), respectively. There was negative correlation between sperm motility and sperm DNA integrity in both groups after vitrification. Vitrification of neat ejaculates has negative impact on sperm parameters as well as DNA integrity, particularly among abnormal semen subjects. It is, therefore, recommend to process semen samples and vitrify the sperm pellets.
Vitrification of mouse embryo-derived ICM cells: a tool for preserving embryonic stem cell potential?

PubMed

Desai, Nina; Xu, Jing; Tsulaia, Tamara; Szeptycki-Lawson, Julia; AbdelHafez, Faten; Goldfarb, James; Falcone, Tommaso

2011-02-01

Vitrification technology presents new opportunities for preservation of embryo derived stem cells without first establishing a viable ESC line. This study tests the feasibility of cryopreserving ICM cells using vitrification. ICMs from mouse embryos were isolated and vitrified in HSV straws or on cryoloops. Upon warming, the vitrified ICMs were cultured and observed for attachment and morphology. Colonies were passaged every 3-6 days. ICMs and ICM-derived ESC colonies were tested for expression of stem cell specific markers. ICMs vitrified on both the cryoloop and the HSV straw had high survival rates. ICM derived ESCs remained undifferentiated for several passages and demonstrated expression of typical stem cell markers; SSEA-1, Sox-2, Oct 4 and alkaline phosphatase. This is the first report on successful vitrification of isolated ICMs and the subsequent derivation of ESC colonies. Vitrification of isolated ICMs is a novel approach for preservation of the "stem cell source" material.

Aseptic minimum volume vitrification technique for porcine parthenogenetically activated blastocyst.

PubMed

Lin, Lin; Yu, Yutao; Zhang, Xiuqing; Yang, Huanming; Bolund, Lars; Callesen, Henrik; Vajta, Gábor

2011-01-01

Minimum volume vitrification may provide extremely high cooling and warming rates if the sample and the surrounding medium contacts directly with the respective liquid nitrogen and warming medium. However, this direct contact may result in microbial contamination. In this work, an earlier aseptic technique was applied for minimum volume vitrification. After equilibration, samples were loaded on a plastic film, immersed rapidly into factory derived, filter-sterilized liquid nitrogen, and sealed into sterile, pre-cooled straws. At warming, the straw was cut, the filmstrip was immersed into a 39 degree C warming medium, and the sample was stepwise rehydrated. Cryosurvival rates of porcine blastocysts produced by parthenogenetical activation did not differ from control, vitrified blastocysts with Cryotop. This approach can be used for minimum volume vitrification methods and may be suitable to overcome the biological dangers and legal restrictions that hamper the application of open vitrification techniques.
Novel incineration technology integrated with drying, pyrolysis, gasification, and combustion of MSW and ashes vitrification.

PubMed

Liu, Yangsheng; Liu, Yushan

2005-05-15

The conventional mass burn systems for municipal solid waste (MSW) emit large amount of acidic gases and dioxins as well as heavy metals due to the large excess air ratio. Additionally, the final process residues, bottom ash with potential leachability of heavy metals and fly ash with high level of heavy metals and dioxins, also constitute a major environmental problem. To deal with these issues more effectively, a novel MSW incineration technology was developed in this study. MSW drying, pyrolysis, gasification, incineration, and ash vitrification were achieved as a spectrum of combustion by the same equipment (primary chamber) in one step. In practice, the primary chamber of this technology actually acted as both gasifier for organic matter and vitrifying reactor for ashes, and the combustion process was mainly completed in the secondary chamber. Experiments were carried outto examine its characteristics in an industrial MSW incineration plant, located in Taiyuan, with a capability of 100 tons per day (TPD). Results showed that (1) the pyrolysis, gasification, and vitrification processes in the primary chamber presented good behaviors resulting in effluent gases with high contents of combustibles (e.g., CO and CH4) and bottom ash with a low loss-on-ignition (L.o.l), low leachability of heavy metals, and low toxicity of cyanide and fluoride. The vitrified bottom ash was benign to its environment and required no further processing for its potential applications. (2) Low stack emissions of dioxins (0.076 ng of TEQ m(-3)), heavy metals (ranging from 0.013 to 0.033 mg m(-3)), and other air pollutants were achieved. This new technology could effectively dispose Chinese MSW with a low calorific value and high water content; additionally, it also had a low capital and operating costs compared with the imported systems.
Effect of open pulled straw (OPS) vitrification on the fertilisation rate and developmental competence of porcine oocytes.

PubMed

Varga, Erika; Gardón, J C; Papp, Agnes Bali

2006-03-01

Freezing technologies are very important to preserve gametes and embryos of animals with a good pedigree or those having high genetic value. The aim of this work was to compare immature and in vitro matured porcine oocytes regarding their morphology and ability to be fertilised after vitrification by the open pulled straw (OPS) method. In four experiments 830 oocytes were examined. To investigate the effect of cumulus cells on oocyte survival after OPS vitrification, both denuded and cumulus-enclosed oocytes were vitrified at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage, then after vitrification they were matured in vitro. Besides, in vitro matured oocytes surrounded with a cumulus and those without a cumulus were also vitrified. The survival of oocytes was evaluated by their morphology. After in vitro fertilisation the rates of oocytes penetrated by spermatozoa were compared. Our results suggest that the vitrification/warming procedure is the most effective in cumulus-enclosed oocytes (22.35 +/- 1.75%). There was no difference between the order of maturation and vitrification in cumulus-enclosed oocytes, which suggests the importance of cumulus cells in protecting the viability of oocytes during cryopreservation.
Cryopreservation of human embryos by vitrification or slow freezing: which one is better?

PubMed

Kolibianakis, Efstratios M; Venetis, Christos A; Tarlatzis, Basil C

2009-06-01

To summarize the available evidence from randomized controlled trials comparing vitrification versus slow freezing for cryopreservation of human embryos. Vitrification, as compared with slow freezing, appears to be better in terms of postthawing survival rates both for cleavage-stage embryos [odds ratio (OR): 6.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14-35.26, random effects model] and for blastocysts (OR: 4.09, 95% CI: 2.45-6.84, random effects model). Furthermore, postthawing blastocyst development of embryos cryopreserved in the cleavage stage is significantly higher with vitrification as compared with slow freezing (OR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.07-2.27, fixed effects model). No significant difference in clinical pregnancy rates per transfer could be detected between the two cryopreservation methods (OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 0.98-2.79). Currently, vitrification does not appear to be associated with an increased probability of pregnancy. However, a significant advantage of vitrification over slow freezing in terms of postthawing survival rates is present for embryos cryopreserved both at the cleavage and at the blastocyst stages. The above conclusions are based on limited data, and thus further properly designed randomized controlled trials are needed.
Thermal and clinical performance of a closed device designed for human oocyte vitrification based on the optimization of the warming rate.

PubMed

Gallardo, Miguel; Hebles, María; Migueles, Beatriz; Dorado, Mónica; Aguilera, Laura; González, Mercedes; Piqueras, Paloma; Montero, Lorena; Sánchez-Martín, Pascual; Sánchez-Martín, Fernando; Risco, Ramón

2016-08-01

Although it was qualitatively pointed out by Fahy et al. (1984), the key role of the warming rates in non-equillibrium vitrification has only recently been quantitatively established for murine oocytes by Mazur and Seki (2011). In this work we study the performance of a closed vitrification device designed under the new paradigm, for the vitrification of human oocytes. The vitrification carrier consists of a main straw in which a specifically designed capillary is mounted and where the oocytes are loaded by aspiration. It can be hermetically sealed before immersion in liquid nitrogen for vitrification, and it is warmed in a sterile water bath at 37 °C. Measured warming rates achieved with this design were of 600.000 ºC/min for a standard DMEM solution and 200.000 ºC/min with the vitrification solution for human oocytes. A cohort of 143 donor MII sibling human oocytes was split into two groups: control (fresh) and vitrified with SafeSpeed device. Similar results were found in both groups: survival (97.1%), fertilization after ICSI (74.7% in control vs. 77.3% in vitrified) and good quality embryos at day three (54.3% in control vs. 58.1% in vitrified) were settled as performance indicators. The pregnancy rate was 3/6 (50%) for the control, 2/3 (66%) for vitrified and 4/5 (80%) for mixed transfers. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.
World first in high level waste vitrification - A review of French vitrification industrial achievements

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brueziere, J.; Chauvin, E.; Piroux, J.C.

2013-07-01

AREVA has more than 30 years experience in operating industrial HLW (High Level radioactive Waste) vitrification facilities (AVM - Marcoule Vitrification Facility, R7 and T7 facilities). This vitrification technology was based on borosilicate glasses and induction-heating. AVM was the world's first industrial HLW vitrification facility to operate in-line with a reprocessing plant. The glass formulation was adapted to commercial Light Water Reactor fission products solutions, including alkaline liquid waste concentrates as well as platinoid-rich clarification fines. The R7 and T7 facilities were designed on the basis of the industrial experience acquired in the AVM facility. The AVM vitrification process wasmore » implemented at a larger scale in order to operate the R7 and T7 facilities in-line with the UP2 and UP3 reprocessing plants. After more than 30 years of operation, outstanding record of operation has been established by the R7 and T7 facilities. The industrial startup of the CCIM (Cold Crucible Induction Melter) technology with enhanced glass formulation was possible thanks to the close cooperation between CEA and AREVA. CCIM is a water-cooled induction melter in which the glass frit and the waste are melted by direct high frequency induction. This technology allows the handling of highly corrosive solutions and high operating temperatures which permits new glass compositions and a higher glass production capacity. The CCIM technology has been implemented successfully at La Hague plant.« less
Communication: Slow relaxation, spatial mobility gradients, and vitrification in confined films.

PubMed

Mirigian, Stephen; Schweizer, Kenneth S

2014-10-28

Two decades of experimental research indicate that spatial confinement of glass-forming molecular and polymeric liquids results in major changes of their slow dynamics beginning at large confinement distances. A fundamental understanding remains elusive given the generic complexity of activated relaxation in supercooled liquids and the major complications of geometric confinement, interfacial effects, and spatial inhomogeneity. We construct a predictive, quantitative, force-level theory of relaxation in free-standing films for the central question of the nature of the spatial mobility gradient. The key new idea is that vapor interfaces speed up barrier hopping in two distinct, but coupled, ways by reducing near surface local caging constraints and spatially long range collective elastic distortion. Effective vitrification temperatures, dynamic length scales, and mobile layer thicknesses naturally follow. Our results provide a unified basis for central observations of dynamic and pseudo-thermodynamic measurements.
Communication: slow relaxation, spatial mobility gradients, and vitrification in confined films

DOE PAGES

Mirigian, Stephen; Schweizer, Kenneth S.

2014-10-31

Two decades of experimental research indicate that spatial confinement of glass-forming molecular and polymeric liquids results in major changes of their slow dynamics beginning at large confinement distances. A fundamental understanding remains elusive given the generic complexity of activated relaxation in supercooled liquids and the major complications of geometric confinement, interfacial effects, and spatial inhomogeneity. For this research, we construct a predictive, quantitative, force-level theory of relaxation in free-standing films for the central question of the nature of the spatial mobility gradient. The key new idea is that vapor interfaces speed up barrier hopping in two distinct, but coupled, waysmore » by reducing near surface local caging constraints and spatially long range collective elastic distortion. Effective vitrification temperatures, dynamic length scales, and mobile layer thicknesses naturally follow. In conclusion, our results provide a unified basis for central observations of dynamic and pseudo-thermodynamic measurements.« less
Review of FY 2001 Development Work for Vitrification of Sodium Bearing Waste

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Taylor, Dean Dalton; Barnes, Charles Marshall

2002-09-01

Treatment of sodium-bearing waste (SBW) at the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC) within the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory is mandated by the Settlement Agreement between the Department of Energy and the State of Idaho. This report discusses significant findings from vitrification technology development during 2001 and their impacts on the design basis for SBW vitrification.
Plasma vitrification of waste materials

DOEpatents

McLaughlin, David F.; Dighe, Shyam V.; Gass, William R.

1997-01-01

This invention provides a process wherein hazardous or radioactive wastes in the form of liquids, slurries, or finely divided solids are mixed with finely divided glassformers (silica, alumina, soda, etc.) and injected directly into the plume of a non-transferred arc plasma torch. The extremely high temperatures and heat transfer rates makes it possible to convert the waste-glassformer mixture into a fully vitrified molten glass product in a matter of milliseconds. The molten product may then be collected in a crucible for casting into final wasteform geometry, quenching in water, or further holding time to improve homogeneity and eliminate bubbles.
Plasma vitrification of waste materials

DOEpatents

McLaughlin, D.F.; Dighe, S.V.; Gass, W.R.

1997-06-10

This invention provides a process wherein hazardous or radioactive wastes in the form of liquids, slurries, or finely divided solids are mixed with finely divided glassformers (silica, alumina, soda, etc.) and injected directly into the plume of a non-transferred arc plasma torch. The extremely high temperatures and heat transfer rates makes it possible to convert the waste-glassformer mixture into a fully vitrified molten glass product in a matter of milliseconds. The molten product may then be collected in a crucible for casting into final wasteform geometry, quenching in water, or further holding time to improve homogeneity and eliminate bubbles. 4 figs.
Cryopreservation of day 2-3 embryos by vitrification yields better outcome than slow freezing.

PubMed

Levron, Jacob; Leibovitz, Oshrit; Brengauz, Masha; Gitman, Hila; Yerushalmi, Gil M; Katorza, Eldad; Gat, Itai; Elizur, Shai E

2014-03-01

To compare the outcome of vitrification versus slow freezing cryopreservation for cleavage stage day 2-3 embryos. A retrospective observational study. All thawed embryos assisted reproduction cycles between January 2010 and December 2012 at a single IVF laboratory of a Tertiary Medical Center. Five hundred and thirty-nine cycles of day 2-3 thawed embryos. In 327 of the thawed cycles, the embryos were vitrified and in 212 of the cycles the embryos were derived from slow freezing embryos. Embryo survival rate, blastomere surviving rate and pregnancy rate. Embryo survival rate was significantly higher after vitrification compared with slow freezing (81.6%, 647/793 versus 70.0%, 393/562 embryos, p < 0.0001). The clinical pregnancy rate per ET was significantly higher following vitrification compared to slow freezing, 20.0%, 63/314 versus 11.9%, 23/193, respectively (p = 0.02). Vitrification of day 2-3 cleavage stage embryos yields better cycle outcome in all the parameters compared to slow freezing.
Glass Property Models, Constraints, and Formulation Approaches for Vitrification of High-Level Nuclear Wastes at the US Hanford Site

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Dong-Sang

2015-03-02

The legacy nuclear wastes stored in underground tanks at the US Department of Energy’s Hanford site is planned to be separated into high-level waste and low-activity waste fractions and vitrified separately. Formulating optimized glass compositions that maximize the waste loading in glass is critical for successful and economical treatment and immobilization of nuclear wastes. Glass property-composition models have been developed and applied to formulate glass compositions for various objectives for the past several decades. The property models with associated uncertainties and combined with composition and property constraints have been used to develop preliminary glass formulation algorithms designed for vitrification processmore » control and waste form qualification at the planned waste vitrification plant. This paper provides an overview of current status of glass property-composition models, constraints applicable to Hanford waste vitrification, and glass formulation approaches that have been developed for vitrification of hazardous and highly radioactive wastes stored at the Hanford site.« less
Generation of live offspring from vitrified embryos with synthetic polymers SuperCool X-1000 and SuperCool Z-1000.

PubMed

Marco-Jimenez, F; Jimenez-Trigos, E; Lavara, R; Vicente, J S

2014-01-01

Ice growth and recrystallisation are considered important factors in determining vitrification outcomes. Synthetic polymers inhibit ice formation during cooling or warming of the vitrification process. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of adding commercially available synthetic polymers SuperCool X-1000 and SuperCool Z-1000 to vitrification media on in vivo development competence of rabbit embryos. Four hundred and thirty morphologically normal embryos recovered at 72 h of gestation were used. The vitrification media contained 20% dimethyl sulphoxide and 20% ethylene glycol, either alone or in combination with 1% of SuperCool X-1000 and 1% SuperCool. Our results show that embryos can be successfully vitrified using SuperCool X-1000 and SuperCool Z-1000 and when embryos are transferred, live offspring can be successfully produced. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that we succeeded for the first time in obtaining live offspring after vitrification of embryos using SuperCool X-1000 and SuperCool Z-1000 polymers.
Alginate Hydrogel Microencapsulation Inhibits Devitrification and Enables Large-Volume Low-CPA Cell Vitrification

PubMed Central

Huang, Haishui; Choi, Jung Kyu; Rao, Wei; Zhao, Shuting; Agarwal, Pranay; Zhao, Gang

2015-01-01

Cryopreservation of stem cells is important to meet their ever-increasing demand by the burgeoning cell-based medicine. The conventional slow freezing for stem cell cryopreservation suffers from inevitable cell injury associated with ice formation and the vitrification (i.e., no visible ice formation) approach is emerging as a new strategy for cell cryopreservation. A major challenge to cell vitrification is intracellular ice formation (IIF, a lethal event to cells) induced by devitrification (i.e., formation of visible ice in previously vitrified solution) during warming the vitrified cells at cryogenic temperature back to super-zero temperatures. Consequently, high and toxic concentrations of penetrating cryoprotectants (i.e., high CPAs, up to ~8 M) and/or limited sample volumes (up to ~2.5 μl) have been used to minimize IIF during vitrification. We reveal that alginate hydrogel microencapsulation can effectively inhibit devitrification during warming. Our data show that if ice formation were minimized during cooling, IIF is negligible in alginate hydrogel-microencapsulated cells during the entire cooling and warming procedure of vitrification. This enables vitrification of pluripotent and multipotent stem cells with up to ~4 times lower concentration of penetrating CPAs (up to 2 M, low CPA) in up to ~100 times larger sample volume (up to ~250 μl, large volume). PMID:26640426
Alginate Hydrogel Microencapsulation Inhibits Devitrification and Enables Large-Volume Low-CPA Cell Vitrification.

PubMed

Huang, Haishui; Choi, Jung Kyu; Rao, Wei; Zhao, Shuting; Agarwal, Pranay; Zhao, Gang; He, Xiaoming

2015-11-25

Cryopreservation of stem cells is important to meet their ever-increasing demand by the burgeoning cell-based medicine. The conventional slow freezing for stem cell cryopreservation suffers from inevitable cell injury associated with ice formation and the vitrification ( i.e. , no visible ice formation) approach is emerging as a new strategy for cell cryopreservation. A major challenge to cell vitrification is intracellular ice formation (IIF, a lethal event to cells) induced by devitrification ( i.e. , formation of visible ice in previously vitrified solution) during warming the vitrified cells at cryogenic temperature back to super-zero temperatures. Consequently, high and toxic concentrations of penetrating cryoprotectants ( i.e. , high CPAs, up to ~8 M) and/or limited sample volumes (up to ~2.5 μl) have been used to minimize IIF during vitrification. We reveal that alginate hydrogel microencapsulation can effectively inhibit devitrification during warming. Our data show that if ice formation were minimized during cooling, IIF is negligible in alginate hydrogel-microencapsulated cells during the entire cooling and warming procedure of vitrification. This enables vitrification of pluripotent and multipotent stem cells with up to ~4 times lower concentration of penetrating CPAs (up to 2 M, low CPA) in up to ~100 times larger sample volume (up to ~250 μl, large volume).
Structural and microstructural aspects of asbestos-cement waste vitrification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iwaszko, Józef; Zawada, Anna; Przerada, Iwona; Lubas, Małgorzata

2018-04-01

The main goal of the work was to evaluate the vitrification process of asbestos-cement waste (ACW). A mixture of 50 wt% ACW and 50 wt% glass cullet was melted in an electric furnace at 1400 °C for 90 min and then cast into a steel mold. The vitrified product was subjected to annealing. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to evaluate the effects of the vitrification. The chemical constitution of the material before and after the vitrification process was also analyzed. It was found that the vitrified product has an amorphous structure in which the components of asbestos-cement waste are incorporated. MIR spectroscopy showed that the absorption bands of chrysotile completely disappeared after the vitrification process. The results of the spectroscopic studies were confirmed by X-ray studies - no diffraction reflections from the chrysotile crystallographic planes were observed. As a result of the treatment, the fibrous asbestos construction, the main cause of its pathogenic properties, completely disappeared. The vitrified material was characterized by higher resistance to ion leaching in an aquatic environment than ACW and a smaller volume of nearly 72% in relation to the apparent volume of the substrates. The research has confirmed the high effectiveness of vitrification in neutralizing hazardous waste containing asbestos and the FT-IR spectroscopy was found to be useful to identify asbestos varieties and visualizing changes caused by the vitrification process. The work also presents the current situation regarding the utilization of asbestos-containing products.
System for enhanced destruction of hazardous wastes by in situ vitrification of soil

DOEpatents

Timmerman, Craig L.

1991-01-01

The present invention comprises a system for promoting the destruction of volatile and/or hazardous contaminants present in waste materials during in situ vitrification processes. In accordance with the present invention, a cold cap (46) comprising a cohesive layer of resolidified material is formed over the mass of liquefied soil and waste (40) present between and adjacent to the electrodes (10, 12, 14, 16) during the vitrification process. This layer acts as a barrier to the upward migration of any volatile type materials thereby increasing their residence time in proximity to the heated material. The degree of destruction of volatile and/or hazardous contaminants by pyrolysis is thereby improved during the course of the vitrification procedure.
Vitrification as an alternative to landfilling of tannery sewage sludge

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Celary, Piotr, E-mail: pcelary@is.pcz.czest.pl; Sobik-Szołtysek, Jolanta, E-mail: jszoltysek@is.pcz.czest.pl

Highlights: • The possibility of vitrification of tannery sewage sludge was investigated. • Glass cullet was substituted with different wastes of mineral character. • Component ratio in the processed mixtures was optimized. • Environmental safety of the acquired vitrificates was verified. • An alternative management approach of usually landfilled waste was presented. - Abstract: Due to high content of heavy metals such as chromium, tannery sewage sludge is a material which is difficult to be biologically treated as it is in the case of organic waste. Consequently, a common practice in managing tannery sewage sludge is landfilling. This poses amore » potential threat to both soil and water environments and it additionally generates costs of construction of landfills that meet specific environment protection requirements. Vitrification of this kind of sewage sludge with the addition of mineral wastes can represent an alternative to landfilling. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of obtaining an environmentally safe product by means of vitrification of tannery sewage sludge from a flotation wastewater treatment process and chemical precipitation in order to address the upcoming issue of dealing with sewage sludge from the tannery industry which will be prohibited to be landfilled in Poland after 2016. The focus was set on determining mixtures of tannery sewage sludge with additives which would result in the lowest possible heavy metal leaching levels and highest hardness rating of the products obtained from their vitrification. The plasma vitrification process was carried out for mixtures with various amounts of additives depending on the type of sewage sludge used. Only the materials of waste character were used as additives. One finding of the study was an optimum content of mineral additives in vitrified mixture of 30% v/v waste molding sands with 20% v/v carbonate flotation waste from the zinc and lead industry for the formulations with flotation sewage sludge, and 45% v/v and 5% v/v, respectively, for precipitation sewage sludge. These combinations allowed for obtaining products with negligible heavy metal leaching levels and hardness similar to commercial glass, which suggests they could be potentially used as construction aggregate substitutes. Incineration of sewage sludge before the vitrification process lead to increased hardness of the vitrificates and reduced leaching of some heavy metals.« less
Safeguarding Fertility With Whole Ovary Cryopreservation and Microvascular Transplantation: Higher Follicular Survival With Vitrification Than With Slow Freezing in a Ewe Model.

PubMed

Torre, Antoine; Vertu-Ciolino, Delphine; Mazoyer, Claire; Selva, Jacqueline; Lornage, Jacqueline; Salle, Bruno

2016-09-01

In young women, ovarian cortex cryopreservation before gonadotoxic chemotherapy and its avascular grafting after cancer healing permitted fertility restoration. However, ischemia reduced the grafts' lifespan. Microvascular transplantation of cryopreserved whole ovary may allow immediate revascularization, ensuring better fertility preservation, but the best cryopreservation method is unknown. We aimed to compare slow freezing and vitrification of whole ovary for fertility preservation purposes, in an ewe model. Twelve ewes were allocated at random to slow freezing (n = 6) or vitrification group (n = 6). Ewes' left ovary was removed and cryopreserved. Dimethyl sulfoxide 2 M was used as cryoprotector for slow freezing. Vitrification was obtained using increasing concentrations of a vitrification solution of the latest generation (VM3) and gradual temperature lowering to minimize toxicity. After a month, the right ovary was removed, the left ovary was thawed/warmed, and its vessels were anastomosed to the right pedicle. Fertility and ovarian function were assessed for 3 years. Ovarian follicles in native and transplanted ovaries were counted and compared at study completion. Hormonal secretion resumed in all ewes of both groups. One ewe of the slow-freezing group delivered healthy twins 1 year 9 months and 12 days after transplantation. Estimated whole follicle survival was very low in both groups but significantly higher after vitrification than after slow freezing (0.3% ± 0.5% vs 0.017% ± 0.019%, respectively; p < 0.05). Further progress is needed before whole-ovary cryopreservation can be considered an option for safeguarding fertility. Whole ovary vitrification provides better follicular survival compared to slow freezing and may be a valuable cryopreservation option.

Competition between crystallization and vitrification of the rigid amorphous fraction in poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Di Lorenzo, Maria Laura; Righetti, Maria Cristina; Gazzano, Massimo

2012-07-01

Semicrystalline polymers have a metastable nanophase structure, where the various nanophases can be crystal, liquid, glass, or mesophase. This multi-level structure is determined by a competition among self-organization, crystallization, and vitrification of the amorphous segments and is established during material processing. The kinetics of such competition is here determined for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), as vitrification/devitrification of the rigid amorphous fraction strongly affects crystallization kinetics of PHB.
Vitrification versus slow freezing gives excellent survival, post warming embryo morphology and pregnancy outcomes for human cleaved embryos.

PubMed

Rezazadeh Valojerdi, Mojtaba; Eftekhari-Yazdi, Poopak; Karimian, Leila; Hassani, Fatemeh; Movaghar, Bahar

2009-06-01

The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of vitrification and slow freezing for the cryopreservation of human cleavage stage embryos in terms of post-warming survival rate, post-warming embryo morphology and clinical outcomes. The embryos of 305 patients at cleavage stages were cryopreserved either with vitrification (153 patients) or slow-freezing (152 patients) methods. After warming; the survival rate, post-warmed embryo morphology, clinical pregnancy and implantation rates were evaluated and compared between the two groups. In the vitrification group versus slow freezing group, the survival rate (96.9% vs. 82.8%) and the post-warmed excellent morphology with all blastomeres intact (91.8% vs. 56.2%) were higher with an odds ratio of 6.607 (95% confidence interval; 4.184-10.434) and 8.769 (95% confidence interval; 6.460-11.904), respectively. In this group, the clinical pregnancy rate (40.5% vs. 21.4%) and the implantation rate (16.6% vs. 6.8%) were also higher with an odds ratio of 2.427 (95%confidence interval; 1.461-4.033) and 2.726 (95% confidence interval; 1.837-4.046), respectively. Vitrification in contrast to slow freezing is an efficient method for cryopreservation of human cleavage stage embryos. Vitrification provides a higher survival rate, minimal deleterious effects on post-warming embryo morphology and it can improve clinical outcomes.
Prospective randomized comparison of human oocyte cryopreservation with slow-rate freezing or vitrification.

PubMed

Smith, Gary D; Serafini, Paulo C; Fioravanti, Joyce; Yadid, Isaac; Coslovsky, Marcio; Hassun, Pericles; Alegretti, José Roberto; Motta, Eduardo L

2010-11-01

To compare cryopreservation of mature human oocytes with slow-rate freezing and vitrification and determine which is most efficient at establishing a pregnancy. Prospective randomized. Academically affiliated, private fertility center. Consenting patients with concerns about embryo cryopreservation and more than nine mature oocytes at retrieval were randomized to slow-rate freezing or vitrification of supernumerary (more than nine) oocytes. Oocytes were frozen or vitrified, and upon request oocytes were thawed or warmed, respectively. Oocyte survival, fertilization, embryo development, and clinical pregnancy. Patient use has resulted in 30 thaws and 48 warmings. Women's age at time of cryopreservation was similar. Oocyte survival was significantly higher following vitrification/warming (81%) compared with freezing/thawing (67%). Fertilization was more successful in oocytes vitrified/warmed compared with frozen/thawed. Fertilized oocytes from vitrification/warming had significantly better cleavage rates (84%) compared with freezing/thawing (71%) and resulted in embryos with significantly better morphology. Although similar numbers of embryos were transferred, embryos resulting from vitrified oocytes had significantly enhanced clinical (38%) pregnancy rates compared with embryos resulting from frozen oocyte (13%). Miscarriage and/or spontaneous abortion rates were similar. Our results suggest that vitrification/warming is currently the most efficient means of oocyte cryopreservation in relation to subsequent success in establishing pregnancy. Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
The Increased Expression of Connexin and VEGF in Mouse Ovarian Tissue Vitrification by Follicle Stimulating Hormone

PubMed Central

Yang, Yanzhou; Chen, Jie; Wu, Hao; Pei, Xiuying; Chang, Qing; Ma, Wenzhi; Ma, Huiming; Hei, Changchun; Zheng, Xiaomin; Cai, Yufang; Zhao, Chengjun; Yu, Jia; Wang, Yanrong

2015-01-01

Ovarian follicular damages were caused by cryoinjury during the process of ovarian vitrification and ischemia/reperfusion during the process of ovarian transplantation. And appropriate FSH plays an important role in antiapoptosis during ovarian follicle development. Therefore, in this study, 0.3 IU/mL FSH was administered into medium during mouse ovarian cryopreservation by vitrification to ascertain the function of FSH on ovarian vitrification and avascular transplantation. The results suggested that the expressions of Cx37, Cx43, apoptotic molecular caspase-3, and angiogenesis molecular VEGF were confirmed using immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and real-time PCR, and the results suggested that the treatment with FSH remarkably increased the number of morphologically normal follicles in vitrified/warmed ovaries by upregulating the expression of Cx37, Cx43, VEGF, and VEGF receptor 2, but downregulating the expression of caspase-3. In addition, the vitrified/warmed ovaries were transplanted, and the related fertility was analyzed, and the results suggested that the fertility, neoangiogenesis, and follicle reserve were remarkably increased in the FSH administrated group. Taken together, administration of 0.3 IU/mL FSH during ovarian cryopreservation by vitrification can maintain ovarian survival during ovarian vitrification and increases the blood supply with avascular transplantation via upregulation of Cx43, Cx37, and VEGF/VEGFR2, as well as through its antiapoptotic effects. PMID:26539488
Super cool X-1000 and Super cool Z-1000, two ice blockers, and their effect on vitrification/warming of mouse embryos.

PubMed

Badrzadeh, H; Najmabadi, S; Paymani, R; Macaso, T; Azadbadi, Z; Ahmady, A

2010-07-01

To evaluate the survival and blastocyst formation rates of mouse embryos after vitrification/thaw process with different ice blocker media. We used X-1000 and Z-1000 separately and mixed using V-Kim, a closed vitrification system. Mouse embryos were vitrified using ethylene glycol based medium supplemented with Super cool X-1000 and/or Super cool Z-1000. Survival rates for the control, Super cool X-1000, Super cool Z-1000, and Super cool X-1000/Z-1000 groups were 74%, 72%, 68%, and 85% respectively, with no significant difference among experimental and control groups; however, a significantly higher survival rate was noticed in the Super cool X-1000/Z-1000 group when compared with the Super cool Z-1000 group. Blastocyst formation rates for the control, Super cool X-1000, Super cool Z-1000, and Super cool X-1000/Z-1000 groups were 71%, 66%, 65%, and 72% respectively. There was no significant difference in this rate among control and experimental groups. In a closed vitrification system, addition of ice blocker Super cool X-1000 to the vitrification solution containing Super cool Z-1000 may improve the embryo survival rate. We recommend combined ice blocker usage to optimize the vitrification outcome. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Hydroxypropyl cellulose as an option for supplementation of cryoprotectant solutions for embryo vitrification in human assisted reproductive technologies.

PubMed

Mori, Chiemi; Yabuuchi, Akiko; Ezoe, Kenji; Murata, Nana; Takayama, Yuko; Okimura, Tadashi; Uchiyama, Kazuo; Takakura, Kei; Abe, Hiroyuki; Wada, Keiko; Okuno, Takashi; Kobayashi, Tamotsu; Kato, Keiichi

2015-06-01

Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) was investigated as a replacement for serum substitute supplement (SSS) for use in cryoprotectant solutions for embryo vitrification. Mouse blastocysts from inbred (n = 1056), hybrid (n = 128) strains, and 121 vitrified blastocysts donated by infertile patients (n = 102) were used. Mouse and human blastocysts, with or without zona pellucida, were vitrified and warmed in either 1% or 5% HPC or in 5% or 20% SSS-supplemented media using the Cryotop (Kitazato BioPharma Co. Ltd, Fuji, Japan) method, and the survival and oxygen consumption rates were assessed. Viscosity of each vitrification solution was compared. Survival rates of mouse hybrid blastocysts and human zona pellucida-intact blastocysts were comparable among the groups. Mouse and human zona pellucida-free blastocysts, which normally exhibit poor cryoresistance, showed significantly higher survival rates in 5% HPC than 5% SSS (P < 0.05). The 5% HPC-supplemented vitrification solution showed a significantly higher viscosity (P < 0.05). The blastocysts were easily detached from the Cryotop strip during warming when HPC-supplemented vitrification solution was used. The oxygen consumption rates were similar between non-vitrified and 5% HPC groups. The results suggest possible use of HPC for supplementation of cryoprotectant solutions and provide useful information to improve vitrification protocols. Copyright © 2015 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT OF BULK VITRIFICATION PROCESS & PRODUCT FOR TANK WASTE TREATMENT AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY HANFORD SITE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

SCHAUS, P.S.

At the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hanford Site, the Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) is being constructed to immobilize both high-level waste (IUW) for disposal in a national repository and low-activity waste (LAW) for onsite, near-surface disposal. The schedule-controlling step for the WTP Project is vitrification of the large volume of LAW, current capacity of the WTP (as planned) would require 50 years to treat the Hanford tank waste, if the entire LAW volume were to be processed through the WTP. To reduce the time and cost for treatment of Hanford Tank Waste, and as required by the Tank Wastemore » Remediation System Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision and the Hanford Federal Facility Consent Agreement (Tn-Party Agreement), DOE plans to supplement the LAW treatment capacity of the WTP. Since 2002, DOE, in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency and State of Washington Department of Ecology has been evaluating technologies that could provide safe and effective supplemental treatment of LAW. Current efforts at Hanford are intended to provide additional information to aid a joint agency decision on which technology will be used to supplement the WTP. A Research, Development and Demonstration permit has been issued by the State of Washington to build and (for a limited time) operate a Demonstration Bulk Vitrification System (DBVS) facility to provide information for the decision on a supplemental treatment technology for up to 50% of the LAW. In the Bulk Vitrification (BV) process, LAW, soil, and glass-forming chemicals are mixed, dried, and placed in a refractory-lined box, Electric current, supplied through two graphite electrodes in the box, melts the waste feed, producing a durable glass waste-form. Although recent modifications to the process have resulted in significant improvements, there are continuing technical concerns.« less
Leaching characteristics of copper flotation waste before and after vitrification.

PubMed

Coruh, Semra; Ergun, Osman Nuri

2006-12-01

Copper flotation waste from copper production using a pyrometallurgical process contains toxic metals such as Cu, Zn, Co and Pb. Because of the presence of trace amounts of these highly toxic metals, copper flotation waste contributes to environmental pollution. In this study, the leaching characteristics of copper flotation waste from the Black Sea Copper Works in Samsun, Turkey have been investigated before and after vitrification. Samples obtained from the factory were subjected to toxicity tests such as the extraction procedure toxicity test (EP Tox), the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) and the "method A" extraction procedure of the American Society of Testing and Materials. The leaching tests showed that the content of some elements in the waste before vitrification exceed the regulatory limits and cannot be disposed of in the present form. Therefore, a stabilization or inertization treatment is necessary prior to disposal. Vitrification was found to stabilize heavy metals in the copper flotation waste successfully and leaching of these metals was largely reduced. Therefore, vitrification can be an acceptable method for disposal of copper flotation waste.
Measurement of Thermal Conductivities of Two Cryoprotective Agent Solutions for Vitreous Cryopreservation of Organs at the Temperature Range of 77 K-300 K Using a Thermal Sensor Made of Microscale Enamel Copper Wire.

PubMed

Li, Yufang; Zhao, Gang; Hossain, S M Chapal; Panhwar, Fazil; Sun, Wenyu; Kong, Fei; Zang, Chuanbao; Jiang, Zhendong

2017-06-01

Biobanking of organs by cryopreservation is an enabling technology for organ transplantation. Compared with the conventional slow freezing method, vitreous cryopreservation has been regarded to be a more promising approach for long-term storage of organs. The major challenges to vitrification are devitrification and recrystallization during the warming process, and high concentrations of cryoprotective agents (CPAs) induced metabolic and osmotic injuries. For a theoretical model based optimization of vitrification, thermal properties of CPA solutions are indispensable. In this study, the thermal conductivities of M22 and vitrification solution containing ethylene glycol and dimethyl sulfoxide (two commonly used vitrification solutions) were measured using a self-made microscaled hot probe with enameled copper wire at the temperature range of 77 K-300 K. The data obtained by this study will further enrich knowledge of the thermal properties for CPA solutions at low temperatures, as is of primary importance for optimization of vitrification.
Immobilization of Cr6+ in an urban and industrial soil from Mexico

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jordán, Manuel Miguel; Ballesteros, Sergio; María Rincón, Jesus; Rincón-Mora, Beatriz; Pardo, Francisco; Bech, Jaume

2017-04-01

In Mexico, some areas are highly contaminated by heavy metals. Currently, there are more than 75,000 tons of untreated residues in the form of slags and sludges containing high concentrations of hexavalent chromium, Cr6+, in densely populated zones very near Mexico City. Capillary migration of Cr6+ and its concentration towards the surface at landfill or confinement sites is variable due to the presence of slowly soluble chromium salts and changes in meteorological conditions. Due to these phenomena, concentrations a few centimeters from the ground surface can vary from just a few parts per million to percentage levels that are many times greater than the concentration at the very confinement site. At these sites, chromate enrichment is evident at the subsoil surface or confinement areas as outcrops in the form of greenish-yellow stains extending along constructed walls and confinement installations or processing areas. This research describes the characteristics, formation mechanisms, and leaching of Cr6+ wastes that are contaminating a Mexican urban soil (Ballesteros et al, 2016). By means of a vitrification process, a method has been proposed that transforms Cr6+ to Cr3+ and achieves effective immobilization of this highly toxic industrial waste affecting an urban area. By various physicochemical techniques, such as XRD, DTA, and SEM/EDS, carrying out complete characterization of these new materials was possible. The final vitrified or glassy products of silicate composition lead to a glass ceramic material that is environmentally very stable, showing high chemical and mechanical stability where all Cr6+ was reduced to Cr3+ in the residual glass network, as well as other chromium oxidation states confined in the crystalline phases formed in the final glass-ceramic. The leaching tests on samples stabilized by vitrification have shown that the release of ions from the structure of these new materials was negligible, yielding values less than 0.5 mg/l with respect to current international and domestic environmental regulations. References Ballesteros; S, Rincón, J.Ma; Rincón-Mora, B.; Jordán, M.M. (2016). Vitrification of Urban Soil Contamination by Hexavalent Chromium. Journal of Geochemical Exploration. In press.
Stability of the cytoskeleton of matured buffalo oocytes pretreated with cytochalasin B prior to vitrification.

PubMed

Wang, C L; Xu, H Y; Xie, L; Lu, Y Q; Yang, X G; Lu, S S; Lu, K H

2016-06-01

Stabilizing the cytoskeleton system during vitrification can improve the post-thaw survival and development of vitrified oocytes. The cytoskeleton stabilizer cytochalasin B (CB) has been used in cryopreservation to improve the developmental competence of vitrified oocytes. To assess the effect of pretreating matured buffalo oocytes with CB before vitrification, we applied 0, 4, 8, or 12 μg/mL CB for 30 min. The optimum concentration of CB treatment (8 μg/mL for 30 min) was then used to evaluate the distribution of microtubules and microfilaments, the expression of the cytoskeleton proteins actin and tubulin, and the developmental potential of matured oocytes that were vitrified-warmed by the Cryotop method. Western blotting demonstrated that vitrification significantly decreased tubulin expression, but that the decrease was attenuated for oocytes pretreated with 8 μg/mL CB before vitrification. After warming and intracytoplasmic sperm injection, oocytes that were pretreated with 8 μg/mL CB before vitrification yielded significantly higher 8-cell and blastocyst rates than those that were vitrified without CB pretreatment. The values for the vitrified groups in all experiments were significantly lower (P < 0.01) than those of the control groups. In conclusion, pretreatment with 8 μg/mL CB for 30 min significantly improves the cytoskeletal structure, expression of tubulin, and development capacity of vitrified matured buffalo oocytes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
[Testicular tissue vitrification: evolution or revolution?].

PubMed

Wyns, C; Abu-Ghannam, G; Poels, J

2013-09-01

Preservation of reproductive health is a major concern for patient long-term quality of life. While sperm freezing has proven to be effective to preserve fertility after puberty, cryopreservation of immature testicular tissue (ITT) is emerging as a promising approach for fertility preservation in young boys. Slow-freezing (SF) is the conventional method used to preserve ITT and has resulted in the birth of mice offspring. In humans, methods to preserve ITT are still at the research stage. Controlled SF using dimethyl sulfoxide showed preservation of proliferative spermatogonia after thawing in a xenotransplantation model used to evaluate the efficiency of freezing and thawing procedures. However, spermatogonial recovery was low and normal differentiation could not be achieved. Both freezing/thawing and the environment of the xenotransplantation model may be implicated. Indeed, with SF, ice crystal formation could damage tissue and cells. For this reason, vitrification, leading to solidification of a liquid without crystallization, may be a promising alternative. ITT vitrification has been investigated in different species and shown spermatogonial survival and differentiation to the round or elongated spermatids stage. Offspring were also recently obtained after vitrification and allotransplantation in avians, confirming the potential of vitrification for fertility preservation. In humans, vitrification appears to be as efficient as SF in terms of spermatogonial survival and initiation of differentiation after xenotransplantation. However, before validation of such fertility preservation methods, completion of normal spermatogenesis and the fertilization capacity of sperm retrieved from cryopreserved and transplanted tissue should be fully investigated. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
Vitrification in human and domestic animal embryology: work in progress.

PubMed

Vajta, Gábor

2013-01-01

According to the analysis of papers published in major international journals, rapidly increasing application of vitrification is one of the greatest achievements in domestic animal and especially human embryology during the first decade of our century. This review highlights factors supporting or hampering this progress, summarises results achieved with vitrification and outlines future tasks to fully exploit the benefits of this amazing approach that has changed or will change many aspects of laboratory (and also clinical) embryology. Supporting factors include the simplicity, cost efficiency and convincing success of vitrification compared with other approaches in all species and developmental stages in mammalian embryology, while causes that slow down the progress are mostly of human origin: inadequate tools and solutions, superficial teaching, improper application and unjustified concerns resulting in legal restrictions. Elimination of these hindrances seems to be a slower process and more demanding task than meeting the biological challenge. A key element of future progress will be to pass the pioneer age, establish a consensus regarding biosafety requirements, outline the indispensable features of a standard approach and design fully-automated vitrification machines executing all phases of the procedure, including equilibration, cooling, warming and dilution steps.
Selecting a plutonium vitrification process

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jouan, A.

1996-05-01

Vitrification of plutonium is one means of mitigating its potential danger. This option is technically feasible, even if it is not the solution advocated in France. Two situations are possible, depending on whether or not the glass matrix also contains fission products; concentrations of up to 15% should be achievable for plutonium alone, whereas the upper limit is 3% in the presence of fission products. The French continuous vitrification process appears to be particularly suitable for plutonium vitrification: its capacity is compatible with the required throughout, and the compact dimensions of the process equipment prevent a criticality hazard. Preprocessing ofmore » plutonium metal, to convert it to PuO{sub 2} or to a nitric acid solution, may prove advantageous or even necessary depending on whether a dry or wet process is adopted. The process may involve a single step (vitrification of Pu or PuO{sub 2} mixed with glass frit) or may include a prior calcination step - notably if the plutonium is to be incorporated into a fission product glass. It is important to weigh the advantages and drawbacks of all the possible options in terms of feasibility, safety and cost-effectiveness.« less
Oocyte, embryo and blastocyst cryopreservation in ART: systematic review and meta-analysis comparing slow-freezing versus vitrification to produce evidence for the development of global guidance.

PubMed

Rienzi, Laura; Gracia, Clarisa; Maggiulli, Roberta; LaBarbera, Andrew R; Kaser, Daniel J; Ubaldi, Filippo M; Vanderpoel, Sheryl; Racowsky, Catherine

2017-03-01

Successful cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos is essential not only to maximize the safety and efficacy of ovarian stimulation cycles in an IVF treatment, but also to enable fertility preservation. Two cryopreservation methods are routinely used: slow-freezing or vitrification. Slow-freezing allows for freezing to occur at a sufficiently slow rate to permit adequate cellular dehydration while minimizing intracellular ice formation. Vitrification allows the solidification of the cell(s) and of the extracellular milieu into a glass-like state without the formation of ice. The objective of our study was to provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical outcomes following slow-freezing/thawing versus vitrification/warming of oocytes and embryos and to inform the development of World Health Organization guidance on the most effective cryopreservation method. A Medline search was performed from 1966 to 1 August 2016 using the following search terms: (Oocyte(s) [tiab] OR (Pronuclear[tiab] OR Embryo[tiab] OR Blastocyst[tiab]) AND (vitrification[tiab] OR freezing[tiab] OR freeze[tiab]) AND (pregnancy[tiab] OR birth[tiab] OR clinical[tiab]). Queries were limited to those involving humans. RCTs and cohort studies that were published in full-length were considered eligible. Each reference was reviewed for relevance and only primary evidence and relevant articles from the bibliographies of included articles were considered. References were included if they reported cryosurvival rate, clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), live-birth rate (LBR) or delivery rate for slow-frozen or vitrified human oocytes or embryos. A meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model to calculate relative risk ratios (RR) and 95% CI. One RCT study comparing slow-freezing versus vitrification of oocytes was included. Vitrification was associated with increased ongoing CPR per cycle (RR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.05-7.51; P = 0.039; 48 and 30 cycles, respectively, per transfer (RR = 1.81, 95% CI 0.71-4.67; P = 0.214; 47 and 19 transfers) and per warmed/thawed oocyte (RR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.02-1.28; P = 0.018; 260 and 238 oocytes). One RCT comparing vitrification versus fresh oocytes was analysed. In vitrification and fresh cycles, respectively, no evidence for a difference in ongoing CPR per randomized woman (RR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.87-1.21; P = 0.744, 300 women in each group), per cycle (RR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.86-1.18; P = 0.934; 267 versus 259 cycles) and per oocyte utilized (RR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.82-1.26; P = 0.873; 3286 versus 3185 oocytes) was reported. Findings were consistent with relevant cohort studies. Of the seven RCTs on embryo cryopreservation identified, three met the inclusion criteria (638 warming/thawing cycles at cleavage and blastocyst stage), none of which involved pronuclear-stage embryos. A higher CPR per cycle was noted with embryo vitrification compared with slow-freezing, though this was of borderline statistical significance (RR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.00-3.59; P = 0.051; three RCTs; I2 = 71.9%). LBR per cycle was reported by one RCT performed with cleavage-stage embryos and was higher for vitrification (RR = 2.28; 95% CI: 1.17-4.44; P = 0.016; 216 cycles; one RCT). A secondary analysis was performed focusing on embryo cryosurvival rate. Pooled data from seven RCTs (3615 embryos) revealed a significant improvement in embryo cryosurvival following vitrification as compared with slow-freezing (RR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.30-1.93; P < 0.001; I2 = 93%). Data from available RCTs suggest that vitrification/warming is superior to slow-freezing/thawing with regard to clinical outcomes (low quality of the evidence) and cryosurvival rates (moderate quality of the evidence) for oocytes, cleavage-stage embryos and blastocysts. The results were confirmed by cohort studies. The improvements obtained with the introduction of vitrification have several important clinical implications in ART. Based on this evidence, in particular regarding cryosurvival rates, laboratories that continue to use slow-freezing should consider transitioning to the use of vitrification for cryopreservation. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.m
Oocyte, embryo and blastocyst cryopreservation in ART: systematic review and meta-analysis comparing slow-freezing versus vitrification to produce evidence for the development of global guidance

PubMed Central

Rienzi, Laura; Gracia, Clarisa; Maggiulli, Roberta; LaBarbera, Andrew R.; Kaser, Daniel J.; Ubaldi, Filippo M.; Vanderpoel, Sheryl; Racowsky, Catherine

2017-01-01

Abstract BACKGROUND Successful cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos is essential not only to maximize the safety and efficacy of ovarian stimulation cycles in an IVF treatment, but also to enable fertility preservation. Two cryopreservation methods are routinely used: slow-freezing or vitrification. Slow-freezing allows for freezing to occur at a sufficiently slow rate to permit adequate cellular dehydration while minimizing intracellular ice formation. Vitrification allows the solidification of the cell(s) and of the extracellular milieu into a glass-like state without the formation of ice. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE The objective of our study was to provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical outcomes following slow-freezing/thawing versus vitrification/warming of oocytes and embryos and to inform the development of World Health Organization guidance on the most effective cryopreservation method. SEARCH METHODS A Medline search was performed from 1966 to 1 August 2016 using the following search terms: (Oocyte(s) [tiab] OR (Pronuclear[tiab] OR Embryo[tiab] OR Blastocyst[tiab]) AND (vitrification[tiab] OR freezing[tiab] OR freeze[tiab]) AND (pregnancy[tiab] OR birth[tiab] OR clinical[tiab]). Queries were limited to those involving humans. RCTs and cohort studies that were published in full-length were considered eligible. Each reference was reviewed for relevance and only primary evidence and relevant articles from the bibliographies of included articles were considered. References were included if they reported cryosurvival rate, clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), live-birth rate (LBR) or delivery rate for slow-frozen or vitrified human oocytes or embryos. A meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model to calculate relative risk ratios (RR) and 95% CI. OUTCOMES One RCT study comparing slow-freezing versus vitrification of oocytes was included. Vitrification was associated with increased ongoing CPR per cycle (RR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.05–7.51; P = 0.039; 48 and 30 cycles, respectively, per transfer (RR = 1.81, 95% CI 0.71–4.67; P = 0.214; 47 and 19 transfers) and per warmed/thawed oocyte (RR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.02–1.28; P = 0.018; 260 and 238 oocytes). One RCT comparing vitrification versus fresh oocytes was analysed. In vitrification and fresh cycles, respectively, no evidence for a difference in ongoing CPR per randomized woman (RR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.87–1.21; P = 0.744, 300 women in each group), per cycle (RR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.86–1.18; P = 0.934; 267 versus 259 cycles) and per oocyte utilized (RR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.82–1.26; P = 0.873; 3286 versus 3185 oocytes) was reported. Findings were consistent with relevant cohort studies. Of the seven RCTs on embryo cryopreservation identified, three met the inclusion criteria (638 warming/thawing cycles at cleavage and blastocyst stage), none of which involved pronuclear-stage embryos. A higher CPR per cycle was noted with embryo vitrification compared with slow-freezing, though this was of borderline statistical significance (RR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.00–3.59; P = 0.051; three RCTs; I2 = 71.9%). LBR per cycle was reported by one RCT performed with cleavage-stage embryos and was higher for vitrification (RR = 2.28; 95% CI: 1.17–4.44; P = 0.016; 216 cycles; one RCT). A secondary analysis was performed focusing on embryo cryosurvival rate. Pooled data from seven RCTs (3615 embryos) revealed a significant improvement in embryo cryosurvival following vitrification as compared with slow-freezing (RR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.30–1.93; P < 0.001; I2 = 93%). WIDER IMPLICATIONS Data from available RCTs suggest that vitrification/warming is superior to slow-freezing/thawing with regard to clinical outcomes (low quality of the evidence) and cryosurvival rates (moderate quality of the evidence) for oocytes, cleavage-stage embryos and blastocysts. The results were confirmed by cohort studies. The improvements obtained with the introduction of vitrification have several important clinical implications in ART. Based on this evidence, in particular regarding cryosurvival rates, laboratories that continue to use slow-freezing should consider transitioning to the use of vitrification for cryopreservation. PMID:27827818
Cure Kinetics of Epoxy Nanocomposites Affected by MWCNTs Functionalization: A Review

PubMed Central

Saeb, Mohammad Reza; Bakhshandeh, Ehsan; Khonakdar, Hossein Ali; Mäder, Edith; Scheffler, Christina; Heinrich, Gert

2013-01-01

The current paper provides an overview to emphasize the role of functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in manipulating cure kinetics of epoxy nanocomposites, which itself determines ultimate properties of the resulting compound. In this regard, the most commonly used functionalization schemes, that is, carboxylation and amidation, are thoroughly surveyed to highlight the role of functionalized nanotubes in controlling the rate of autocatalytic and vitrification kinetics. The current literature elucidates that the mechanism of curing in epoxy/MWCNTs nanocomposites remains almost unaffected by the functionalization of carbon nanotubes. On the other hand, early stage facilitation of autocatalytic reactions in the presence of MWCNTs bearing amine groups has been addressed by several researchers. When carboxylated nanotubes were used to modify MWCNTs, the rate of such reactions diminished as a consequence of heterogeneous dispersion within the epoxy matrix. At later stages of curing, however, the prolonged vitrification was seen to be dominant. Thus, the type of functional groups covalently located on the surface of MWCNTs directly affects the degree of polymer-nanotube interaction followed by enhancement of curing reaction. Our survey demonstrated that most widespread efforts ever made to represent multifarious surface-treated MWCNTs have not been directed towards preparation of epoxy nanocomposites, but they could result in property synergism. PMID:24348181
Roles of bond orientational ordering in glass transition and crystallization.

PubMed

Tanaka, Hajime

2011-07-20

It is widely believed that crystallization in three dimensions is primarily controlled by positional ordering, and not by bond orientational ordering. In other words, bond orientational ordering is usually considered to be merely a consequence of positional ordering and thus has often been ignored. This one-order-parameter (density) description may be reasonable when we consider an equilibrium liquid-solid transition, but may not be enough to describe a metastable state and the kinetics of the transition. Here we propose that bond orientational ordering can play a key role in (i) crystallization, (ii) the ordering to quasi-crystal and (iii) vitrification, which occurs under rather weak frustration against crystallization. In a metastable supercooled state before crystallization, a system generally tends to have bond orientational order at least locally as a result of a constraint of dense packing. For a system interacting with hard-core repulsions, the constraint is intrinsically of geometrical origin and thus the basic physics is the same as nematic ordering of rod-like particles upon densification. Furthermore, positional ordering is easily destroyed even by weak frustration such as polydispersity and anisotropic interactions which favour a symmetry not consistent with that of the equilibrium crystal. Thus we may say that vitrification can be achieved by disturbing and prohibiting long-range positional ordering. Even in such a situation, bond orientational ordering still survives, accompanying its critical-like fluctuations, which are the origin of dynamic heterogeneity for this case. This scenario naturally explains both the absence of positional order and the development of bond orientational order upon cooling in a supercooled state. Although our argument is speculative in nature, we emphasize that this physical picture can coherently explain crystallization, vitrification, quasi-crystallization and their relationship in a natural manner. For a strongly frustrated system, even bond orientational order can be destroyed. Even in such a case there may still appear a structural signature of dense packing, which is linked to slow dynamics.
Improved cryotolerance and developmental potential of in vitro and in vivo matured mouse oocytes by supplementing with a glutathione donor prior to vitrification.

PubMed

Trapphoff, Tom; Heiligentag, Martyna; Simon, Jenny; Staubach, Nora; Seidel, Thorsten; Otte, Kathrin; Fröhlich, Thomas; Arnold, Georg J; Eichenlaub-Ritter, Ursula

2016-12-01

Can supplementation of media with a glutathione (GSH) donor, glutathione ethyl ester (GEE), prior to vitrification protect the mouse oocyte from oxidative damage and critical changes in redox homeostasis, and thereby improve cryotolerance? GEE supplementation supported redox regulation, rapid recovery of spindle and chromosome alignment after vitrification/warming and improved preimplantation development of mouse metaphase II (MII) oocytes. Cryopreservation may affect mitochondrial functionality, induce oxidative stress, and thereby affect spindle integrity, chromosome segregation and the quality of mammalian oocytes. GEE is a membrane permeable GSH donor that promoted fertilization and early embryonic development of macaque and bovine oocytes after IVM. Two experimental groups consisted of (i) denuded mouse germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes that were matured in vitro in the presence or absence of 1 mM GEE (IVM group 1) and (ii) in vivo ovulated (IVO) MII oocytes that were isolated from the ampullae and exposed to 1 mM GEE for 1 h prior to vitrification (IVO group 2). Recovery of oocytes from both groups was followed after CryoTop vitrification/warming for up to 2 h and parthenogenetic activation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), spindle morphology and chromosome alignment were analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and polarization microscopy in control and GEE-supplemented MII oocytes. The relative overall intra-oocyte GSH content was assessed by analysis of monochlorobimane (MBC)-GSH adduct fluorescence in IVM MII oocytes. The GSH-dependent intra-mitochondrial redox potential (E m GSH ) of IVM MII oocytes was determined after microinjection with specific mRNA at the GV stage to express a redox-sensitive probe within mitochondria (mito-Grx1-roGFP2). The absolute negative redox capacity (in millivolts) was determined by analysis of fluorescence of the oxidized versus the reduced form of sensor by CLSM and quantification according to Nernst equation. Proteome analysis was performed by quantitative 2D saturation gel electrophoresis (2D DIGE). Since microinjection and expression of redox sensor mRNA required removal of cumulus cells, and IVM of denuded mouse oocytes in group 1 induces zona hardening, the development to blastocysts was not assessed after IVF but instead after parthenogenetic activation of vitrified/warmed MII oocytes from both experimental groups. IVM of denuded mouse oocytes in the presence of 1 mM GEE significantly increased intra-oocyte GSH content. ROS was not increased by CryoTop vitrification but was significantly lower in the IVM GEE group compared to IVM without GEE before vitrification and after recovery from vitrification/warming (P < 0.001). Vitrification alone significantly increased the GSH-dependent intra-mitochondrial redox capacity after warming (E m GSH , P < 0.001) in IVM oocytes, presumably by diffusion/uptake of cytoplasmic GSH into mitochondria. The presence of 1 mM GEE during IVM increased the redox capacity before vitrification and there was no further increase after vitrification/warming. None of the reproducibly detected 1492 spots of 2D DIGE separated proteins were significantly altered by vitrification or GEE supplementation. However, IVM of denuded oocytes significantly affected spindle integrity and chromosome alignment right after warming from vitrification (0 h) in group 1 and spindle integrity in group 2 (P < 0.05). GEE improved recovery in IVM group as numbers of oocytes with unaligned chromosomes and aberrant spindles was not significantly increased compared to unvitrified controls. The supplementation with GEE for 1 h before vitrification also supported more rapid recovery of spindle birefringence. GEE improved significantly development to the 2-cell stage for MII oocytes that were activated directly after vitrification/warming in both experimental groups, and also the blastocyst rate in the IVO GEE-supplemented group compared to the controls (P < 0.05). None LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The studies were carried out in a mouse model, in IVM denuded rather than cumulus-enclosed oocytes, and in activated rather than IVF MII oocytes. Whether the increased GSH-dependent intra-mitochondrial redox capacity also improves male pronuclear formation needs to be studied further experimentally. The influence of GEE supplementation requires also further examination and optimization in human oocytes before it can be considered for clinical ART. Although GEE supplementation did not alter the proteome at MII, the GSH donor may support cellular homeostasis and redox regulation and, thus, increase developmental competence. While human MII oocyte vitrification is an established procedure, GEE might be particularly beneficial for oocytes that suffer from oxidative stress and reduced redox capacity (e.g. aged oocytes) or possess low GSH due to a reduced supply of GSH from cumulus. It might also be of relevance for immature human oocytes that develop without cumulus to MII in vitro (e.g. in ICSI cycles) for ART. The study has been supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG FOR 1041; EI 199/3-2). There are no conflict of interests. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Successful vitrification and autografting of baboon (Papio anubis) ovarian tissue.

PubMed

Amorim, Christiani A; Jacobs, Sophie; Devireddy, Ram V; Van Langendonckt, Anne; Vanacker, Julie; Jaeger, Jonathan; Luyckx, Valérie; Donnez, Jacques; Dolmans, Marie-Madeleine

2013-08-01

Can a vitrification protocol using an ethylene glycol/dimethyl sulphoxide-based solution and a cryopin successfully cryopreserve baboon ovarian tissue? Our results show that baboon ovarian tissue can be successfully cryopreserved with our vitrification protocol. Non-human primates have already been used as an animal model to test vitrification protocols for human ovarian tissue cryopreservation. Ovarian biopsies from five adult baboons were vitrified, warmed and autografted for 5 months. After grafting, follicle survival, growth and function and also the quality of stromal tissue were assessed histologically and by immunohistochemistry. The influence of the vitrification procedure on the cooling rate was evaluated by a computer model. After vitrification, warming and long-term grafting, follicles were able to grow and maintain their function, as illustrated by Ki67, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) immunostaining. Corpora lutea were also observed, evidencing successful ovulation in all the animals. Stromal tissue quality did not appear to be negatively affected by our cryopreservation procedure, as demonstrated by vascularization and proportions of fibrotic areas, which were similar to those found in fresh ungrafted ovarian tissue. Despite our promising findings, before applying this technique in a clinical setting, we need to validate it by achieving pregnancies. In addition to encouraging results obtained with our vitrification procedure for non-human ovarian tissue, this study also showed, for the first time, expression of AMH and GDF-9 in ovarian follicles. This study was supported by grants from the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique de Belgique (grant Télévie No. 7.4507.10, grant 3.4.590.08 awarded to Marie-Madeleine Dolmans), Fonds Spéciaux de Recherche, Fondation St Luc, Foundation Against Cancer, and Department of Mechanical Engineering at Louisiana State University (support to Ram Devireddy), and donations from Mr Pietro Ferrero, Baron Frère and Viscount Philippe de Spoelberch. None of the authors has any competing interests to declare.

Vitrification as an alternative to landfilling of tannery sewage sludge.

PubMed

Celary, Piotr; Sobik-Szołtysek, Jolanta

2014-12-01

Due to high content of heavy metals such as chromium, tannery sewage sludge is a material which is difficult to be biologically treated as it is in the case of organic waste. Consequently, a common practice in managing tannery sewage sludge is landfilling. This poses a potential threat to both soil and water environments and it additionally generates costs of construction of landfills that meet specific environment protection requirements. Vitrification of this kind of sewage sludge with the addition of mineral wastes can represent an alternative to landfilling. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of obtaining an environmentally safe product by means of vitrification of tannery sewage sludge from a flotation wastewater treatment process and chemical precipitation in order to address the upcoming issue of dealing with sewage sludge from the tannery industry which will be prohibited to be landfilled in Poland after 2016. The focus was set on determining mixtures of tannery sewage sludge with additives which would result in the lowest possible heavy metal leaching levels and highest hardness rating of the products obtained from their vitrification. The plasma vitrification process was carried out for mixtures with various amounts of additives depending on the type of sewage sludge used. Only the materials of waste character were used as additives. One finding of the study was an optimum content of mineral additives in vitrified mixture of 30% v/v waste molding sands with 20% v/v carbonate flotation waste from the zinc and lead industry for the formulations with flotation sewage sludge, and 45% v/v and 5% v/v, respectively, for precipitation sewage sludge. These combinations allowed for obtaining products with negligible heavy metal leaching levels and hardness similar to commercial glass, which suggests they could be potentially used as construction aggregate substitutes. Incineration of sewage sludge before the vitrification process lead to increased hardness of the vitrificates and reduced leaching of some heavy metals. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Equine ovarian tissue viability after cryopreservation and in vitro culture

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The efficiency of several cryoprotective agents were compared using both slow-freezing and vitrification methods. Results indicate that the viability of ovarian tissue cells increases when DMSO (slow-freezing) and ethylene glycol (vitrification) are used....
Cryopreservation of in vitro grown nodal segments of Rauvolfia serpentina by PVS2 vitrification.

PubMed

Ray, Avik; Bhattacharya, Sabita

2008-01-01

This paper describes the cryopreservation by PVS2 vitrification of Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth ex kurz, an important tropical medicinal plant. The effects of type and size of explants, sucrose preculture (duration and concentration) and vitrification treatment were tested. Preliminary experiments with PVS1, 2 and 3 produced shoot growth only for PVS2. When optimizing the PVS2 vitrification of nodal segments, those of 0.31 - 0.39 cm in size were better than other nodal sizes and or apices. Sucrose preculture had a positive role in survival and subsequent regrowth of the cryopreserved explants. Seven days on 0.5 M sucrose solution significantly improved the viability of nodal segments. PVS2 incubation for 45 minutes combined with a 7-day preculture gave the optimum result of 66 percent. Plantlets derived after cryopreservation resumed growth and regenerated normally.
Glass transition behavior of the vitrification solutions containing propanediol, dimethyl sulfoxide and polyvinyl alcohol.

PubMed

Wang, Hai-Yan; Lu, Shu-Shen; Lun, Zhao-Rong

2009-02-01

Knowledge of the glass transition behavior of vitrification solutions is important for research and planning of the cryopreservation of biological materials by vitrification. This brief communication shows the analysis for the glass transition and glass stability of the multi-component vitrification solutions containing propanediol (PE), dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) during the cooling and subsequent warming between 25 and -150 degrees C. The glass formation of the solutions was enhanced by introduction of PVA. Partial glass formed during cooling and the fractions of free water in the partial glass matrix increased with the increasing of PVA concentration, which caused slight decline of glass transition temperature, T(g). Exothermic peaks of devitrification were delayed and broadened, which may result from the inhibition of ice nucleation or recrystallization of PVA.
Thermal Analyses of a Human Kidney and a Rabbit Kidney During Cryopreservation by Vitrification.

PubMed

Ehrlich, Lili E; Fahy, Gregory M; Wowk, Brian G; Malen, Jonathan A; Rabin, Yoed

2018-01-01

This study focuses on thermal analysis of the problem of scaling up from the vitrification of rabbit kidneys to the vitrification of human kidneys, where vitrification is the preservation of biological material in the glassy state. The basis for this study is a successful cryopreservation protocol for a rabbit kidney model, based on using a proprietary vitrification solution known as M22. Using the finite element analysis (FEA) commercial code ANSYS, heat transfer simulations suggest that indeed the rabbit kidney unquestionably cools rapidly enough to be vitrified based on known intrarenal concentrations of M22. Scaling up 21-fold, computer simulations suggest less favorable conditions for human kidney vitrification. In this case, cooling rates below -100 °C are sometimes slower than 1 °C/min, a rate that provides a clear-cut margin of safety at all temperatures based on the stability of rabbit kidneys in past studies. Nevertheless, it is concluded in this study that vitrifying human kidneys is possible without significant ice damage, assuming that human kidneys can be perfused with M22 as effectively as rabbit kidneys. The thermal analysis suggests that cooling rates can be further increased by a careful design of the cryogenic protocol and by tailoring the container to the shape of the kidney, in contrast to the present cylindrical container. This study demonstrates the critical need for the thermal analysis of experimental cryopreservation and highlights the unmet need for measuring the thermophysical properties of cryoprotective solutions under conditions relevant to realistic thermal histories.
Efficient vitrification of mouse embryos using the Kitasato Vitrification System as a novel vitrification device.

PubMed

Momozawa, Kenji; Matsuzawa, Atsushi; Tokunaga, Yukio; Abe, Shiori; Koyanagi, Yumi; Kurita, Miho; Nakano, Marina; Miyake, Takao

2017-04-24

Currently, the cryopreservation of embryos and oocytes is essential for assisted reproductive technology (ART) laboratories worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the Kitasato Vitrification System (KVS) as a vitrification device for the cryopreservation of mouse embryos to determine whether this novel device can be adapted to the field of ART. In Experiment 1, blastocysts were vitrified using the KVS. Vitrified blastocysts were warmed and subsequently cultured for 72 h. In Experiment 2, 2-cell-stage embryos were vitrified using the KVS, and vitrified embryos were warmed and subsequently cultured for 96 h. In Experiment 3, we evaluated the in vivo developmental potential of vitrified 2-cell-stage embryos using the KVS, and in Experiment 4, we evaluated the cooling and warming rates for these devices using a numerical simulation. In Experiment 1, there were no significant differences between the survival rates of the KVS and a control device. However, re-expanded (100%) and hatching (91.8%) rates were significantly higher for blastocysts vitrified using the KVS. In Experiment 2, there were no significant differences between the survival rates, or rates of development to the blastocyst stage, of vitrified and fresh embryos. In Experiment 3, after embryo transfer, 41% of the embryos developed into live offspring. In Experiment 4, the cooling and warming rates of the KVS were 683,000 and 612,000 °C/min, respectively, exceeding those of the control device. Our study clearly demonstrates that the KVS is a novel vitrification device for the cryopreservation of mouse embryos at the blastocyst and 2-cell stage.
GEOSAFE CORPORATION IN SITU VITRIFICATION: INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION REPORT

EPA Science Inventory

This report summarizes the findings associated with a Demonstration of the Geosafe Corporation (Geosafe) In Situ Vitrification (ISV) Process. The Geosafe ISV Technology was evaluated under the EPA Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program in conjuction with remedi...
ENGINEERING BULLETIN: IN SITU VITRIFICATION TREATMENT

EPA Science Inventory

In situ vitrification (ISV) uses electrical power to heat and melt soil, sludge, mine tailings, buried wastes, and sediments contaminated with organic, inorganic, and metal-bearing hazardous wastes. The molten material cools to form a hard, monolithic, chemically inert, stable...
Goethite Bench-scale and Large-scale Preparation Tests

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Josephson, Gary B.; Westsik, Joseph H.

2011-10-23

The Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) is the keystone for cleanup of high-level radioactive waste from our nation's nuclear defense program. The WTP will process high-level waste from the Hanford tanks and produce immobilized high-level waste glass for disposal at a national repository, low activity waste (LAW) glass, and liquid effluent from the vitrification off-gas scrubbers. The liquid effluent will be stabilized into a secondary waste form (e.g. grout-like material) and disposed on the Hanford site in the Integrated Disposal Facility (IDF) along with the low-activity waste glass. The major long-term environmental impact at Hanford results from technetiummore » that volatilizes from the WTP melters and finally resides in the secondary waste. Laboratory studies have indicated that pertechnetate ({sup 99}TcO{sub 4}{sup -}) can be reduced and captured into a solid solution of {alpha}-FeOOH, goethite (Um 2010). Goethite is a stable mineral and can significantly retard the release of technetium to the environment from the IDF. The laboratory studies were conducted using reaction times of many days, which is typical of environmental subsurface reactions that were the genesis of this new process. This study was the first step in considering adaptation of the slow laboratory steps to a larger-scale and faster process that could be conducted either within the WTP or within the effluent treatment facility (ETF). Two levels of scale-up tests were conducted (25x and 400x). The largest scale-up produced slurries of Fe-rich precipitates that contained rhenium as a nonradioactive surrogate for {sup 99}Tc. The slurries were used in melter tests at Vitreous State Laboratory (VSL) to determine whether captured rhenium was less volatile in the vitrification process than rhenium in an unmodified feed. A critical step in the technetium immobilization process is to chemically reduce Tc(VII) in the pertechnetate (TcO{sub 4}{sup -}) to Tc(Iv)by reaction with the ferrous ion, Fe{sup 2+}-Fe{sup 2+} is oxidized to Fe{sup 3+} - in the presence of goethite seed particles. Rhenium does not mimic that process; it is not a strong enough reducing agent to duplicate the TcO{sub 4}{sup -}/Fe{sup 2+} redox reactions. Laboratory tests conducted in parallel with these scaled tests identified modifications to the liquid chemistry necessary to reduce ReO{sub 4}{sup -} and capture rhenium in the solids at levels similar to those achieved by Um (2010) for inclusion of Tc into goethite. By implementing these changes, Re was incorporated into Fe-rich solids for testing at VSL. The changes also changed the phase of iron that was in the slurry product: rather than forming goethite ({alpha}-FeOOH), the process produced magnetite (Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}). Magnetite was considered by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and VSL to probably be a better product to improve Re retention in the melter because it decomposes at a higher temperature than goethite (1538 C vs. 136 C). The feasibility tests at VSL were conducted using Re-rich magnetite. The tests did not indicate an improved retention of Re in the glass during vitrification, but they did indicate an improved melting rate (+60%), which could have significant impact on HLW processing. It is still to be shown whether the Re is a solid solution in the magnetite as {sup 99}Tc was determined to be in goethite.« less
DEMONSTRATION BULLETIN: IN SITU VITRIFICATION - GEOSAFE CORPORATION

EPA Science Inventory

in Situ Vitrification (ISV) is designed to treat soils, sludges, sediments, and mine tailings contaminated with organic and inorganic compounds. The process uses electrical current to heat (mett) and vitrify the soil in place. Organic contaminants are decomposed by the extreme h...
GEOTECH, INC., COLD TOP EX-SITU VITRIFICATION SYSTEM; INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION REPORT

EPA Science Inventory

A Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) technology demonstration was conducted in February and March 1997 to evaluate the Geotech Development Corporation (Geotech) Cold Top ex-situ vitrification technology in chromium-contaminated soils. The demonstration was conduct...
SITE TECHNOLOGY CAPSULE: GEOSAFE CORPORATION IN SITU VITRIFICATION TECHNOLOGY

EPA Science Inventory

The Geosafe In Situ Vitrification (ISV) Technology is designed to treat soils, sludges, sediments, and mine tallings contaminated with organic, inorganic, and radioactive compounds. The organic compounds are pyrolyzed and reduced to simple gases which are collected under a treatm...
Vitrification and devitrification of micro-droplets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ryoun Youn, Jae; Song, Young Seok

2012-11-01

Vitrification can be achieved by flash freezing and thawing (i.e. quenching) when ice crystal formation is inhibited in a cryogenic environment. Such ultra-rapid cooling and rewarming occurs due to the large temperature difference between the liquid and its surrounding medium. Here, we analyze the crystallization behavior of a droplet (i.e. vitrification and devitrification) by using a numerical model. The numerical results were found to explain the experimental observations successfully. The findings showed that for successful cryopreservation not only sufficiently fast cooling, but also rewarming processes should be designed and controlled to avoid devitrification of a droplet.
Vitrification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

A. Takahashi, Tsuneo

Vitrification is an alternative to customary approaches to cryopreserve cell, tissue and organ. In this method, ice formation can be prevented by a combination of high solute concentration and rapid cooling, a solution become glassy without ice crystalline formation at temperatures below-115°C. The cell and tissue damage associated with ice formation is avoided, but thawing should be rapid enough to prevent ice growth during warming and they should be equilibrated with the vitrification medium without injury. This approach has been extensively studied in the past few years, and has the potential to be an alternative approach to the cryopreservation of a wide range of biological systems.
In-situ vitrification of waste materials

DOEpatents

Powell, J.R.; Reich, M.; Barletta, R.

1997-10-14

A method for the in-situ vitrification of waste materials in a disposable can that includes an inner container and an outer container is disclosed. The method includes the steps of adding frit and waste materials to the inner container, removing any excess water, heating the inner container such that the frit and waste materials melt and vitrify after cooling, while maintaining the outer container at a significantly lower temperature than the inner container. The disposable can is then cooled to ambient temperatures and stored. A device for the in-situ vitrification of waste material in a disposable can is also disclosed. 7 figs.
In-situ vitrification of waste materials

DOEpatents

Powell, James R.; Reich, Morris; Barletta, Robert

1997-11-14

A method for the in-situ vitrification of waste materials in a disposable can that includes an inner container and an outer container is disclosed. The method includes the steps of adding frit and waste materials to the inner container, removing any excess water, heating the inner container such that the frit and waste materials melt and vitrify after cooling, while maintaining the outer container at a significantly lower temperature than the inner container. The disposable can is then cooled to ambient temperatures and stored. A device for the in-situ vitrification of waste material in a disposable can is also disclosed.
Unraveling protein stabilization mechanisms: vitrification and water replacement in a glass transition temperature controlled system.

PubMed

Grasmeijer, N; Stankovic, M; de Waard, H; Frijlink, H W; Hinrichs, W L J

2013-04-01

The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of the two main mechanisms used to explain the stabilization of proteins by sugar glasses during drying and subsequent storage: the vitrification and the water replacement theory. Although in literature protein stability is often attributed to either vitrification or water replacement, both mechanisms could play a role and they should be considered simultaneously. A model protein, alkaline phosphatase, was incorporated in either inulin or trehalose by spray drying. To study the storage stability at different glass transition temperatures, a buffer which acts as a plasticizer, ammediol, was incorporated in the sugar glasses. At low glass transition temperatures (<50°C), the enzymatic activity of the protein strongly decreased during storage at 60°C. Protein stability increased when the glass transition temperature was raised considerably above the storage temperature. This increased stability could be attributed to vitrification. A further increase of the glass transition temperature did not further improve stability. In conclusion, vitrification plays a dominant role in stabilization at glass transition temperatures up to 10 to 20°C above storage temperature, depending on whether trehalose or inulin is used. On the other hand, the water replacement mechanism predominantly determines stability at higher glass transition temperatures. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
DEMONSTRATION BULLETIN: COLD TOP EX-SITU VITRIFICATION PROCESS - GEOTECH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

EPA Science Inventory

The Cold Top Vitrification process, developed by Geotech Development Corporation, is an ex-situ, submerged-electrode, resistance-melting technology. The technology is designed to transform heavy metal contaminated soil into a glassy, amorphous, non-leachable mass composed of inte...
Impact of prolonged oocyte incubation time before vitrification on oocyte survival, embryo formation, and embryo quality in mice.

PubMed

Karami, Azade; Bakhtiari, Mitra; Azadbakht, Mehri; Ghorbani, Rostam; Khazaei, Mozafar; Rezaei, Mansour

2017-06-01

Oocyte incubation time before freezing is one of the factors affecting oocyte vitrification. In the assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinics, it is sometimes decided to perform oocyte vitrification after a long period of incubation time due to various conditions, such as inability to collect semen samples, unsuccessful urological interventions (PESA, TESE, etc.), or unexpected conditions. A time factor of up to 6 h has been studied in the available reports. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate oocyte incubation time before freezing at 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h after retrieval. Metaphase II (MII) oocytes were obtained from NMRI female mice after being randomly divided into the five groups of 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h of freezing via hormonal stimulation following retrieval and entered into the vitrification-warming process. The thawed oocytes were evaluated according to the survival criteria and then inseminated with the sperms of male mice for in vitro fertilization. The next day, the embryo formation rate and embryo quality were assessed. Our results demonstrated that even after 24 h of incubation, the survival rate of oocytes was 51.35% with the embryo formation rate of 73.21%. However, the survival and embryo formation rates significantly decreased within 12, 18, and 24 h after retrieval compared to the groups vitrified at 0 h. The embryo quality was significantly reduced by vitrification at 0 to 24 h after retrieval. According to our data, although a prolonged incubation time before freezing reduced the survival rate, there was still a chance for oocytes to stay alive with acceptable embryo formation and quality rates after vitrification warming of oocytes.
Effect of MEM vitamins and forskolin on embryo development and vitrification tolerance of in vitro-produced pig embryos.

PubMed

Cuello, C; Gomis, J; Almiñana, C; Maside, C; Sanchez-Osorio, J; Gil, M A; Sánchez, A; Parrilla, I; Vazquez, J M; Roca, J; Martinez, E A

2013-01-30

The aims of this study were (1) to determine the effect of in vitro maturation (IVM) medium supplementation with MEM vitamins on in vitro embryo development and sensitivity to vitrification of Day 6 blastocysts and (2) to evaluate whether the addition of forskolin to in vitro culture (IVC) medium enhances blastocyst survival following Super Open Pulled Straw (SOPS) vitrification. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs; n=4000) were matured with 0.0% or 0.05% (v/v) MEM vitamins. After 44h of IVM, the oocytes were in vitro fertilized, and presumptive zygotes were cultured. At Day 5 of IVC, embryos from both experimental groups were cultured for 24h with 0 or 10μM forskolin, achieving a 2×2 factorial design. The blastocyst formation rate was assessed on Day 6, and subsets of samples from the four experimental groups were vitrified (n=469) or kept fresh (n=546). Fresh and vitrified-warmed blastocysts were cultured for 24h prior to embryo survival and total blastocyst cell number assessment. The MEM vitamins increased (P<0.001) the blastocyst formation rate at Day 6, but they did not affect embryo survival after vitrification. In contrast, the addition of forskolin to the culture medium enhanced (P<0.05) the blastocyst vitrification tolerance. The total blastocyst cell number was similar among the groups. In conclusion, supplementation with 0.05% MEM vitamins improved the blastocyst formation rate, and the addition of 10μM forskolin to the culture medium increased survival in Day 6 in vitro-produced blastocysts after SOPS vitrification. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Equine ovarian tissue viability after cryopreservation and in vitro culture.

PubMed

Gastal, G D A; Aguiar, F L N; Alves, B G; Alves, K A; de Tarso, S G S; Ishak, G M; Cavinder, C A; Feugang, J M; Gastal, E L

2017-07-15

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation allows the preservation of the female fertility potential for an undetermined period. The objectives of this study were to compare the efficiency of cryoprotective agents (CPAs; dimethyl sulfoxide, DMSO; ethylene glycol, EG; and propylene glycol, PROH) using slow-freezing and vitrification methods, and evaluate the viability of cryopreserved equine ovarian tissue after 7 days of culture. Fresh and cryopreserved ovarian fragments were evaluated for preantral follicle morphology, stromal cell density, EGFR, Ki-67, Bax, and Bcl-2 protein expression, and DNA fragmentation. Vitrification with EG had the highest rate of morphologically normal preantral follicles, while DMSO had the lowest (76.1 ± 6.1% and 40.9 ± 14.8%, respectively; P < 0.05). In slow-freezing, despite that DMSO had the highest percentage of morphologically normal follicles (77.7 ± 5.8%), no difference among the CPAs was observed. Fluorescence intensity of EGFR and Ki-67 was greater when vitrification with EG was used. Regardless of the cryopreservation treatment, DMSO had the highest (P < 0.05) Bax/Bcl-2 ratio; however, DNA fragmentation was similar (P > 0.05) among treatments after thawing. After in vitro culture, the percentage of normal follicles was similar (P > 0.05) between slow-freezing and vitrification methods; however, vitrification had greater (P < 0.05) stromal cell density than slow-freezing. In summary, equine ovarian tissue was successfully cryopreserved, increasing the viability of the cells in the ovarian tissue after thawing when using DMSO and EG for slow-freezing and vitrification methods, respectively. Therefore, these results are relevant for fertility preservation programs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Alternation of apoptotic and implanting genes expression of mouse embryos after re-vitrification

PubMed Central

Majidi Gharenaz, Nasrin; Movahedin, Mansoureh; Mazaheri, Zohreh; Pour beiranvand, Shahram

2016-01-01

Background: Nowadays, oocytes and embryos vitrification has become a routine technique. Based on clinical judgment, re-vitrification maybe required. But little is known about re-vitrification impact on genes expression. Objective: The impact of re-vitrification on apoptotic and implanting genes, Bax, Bcl-2 and ErbB4, at compaction stage embryos were evaluated in this study. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 8 cell embryos (n=240) were collected from female mature mice, 60-62 hr post HCG injection. The embryos were divided randomly to 3 groups included: fresh (n=80), vitrified at 8 cell stage (n=80), vitrified at 8 cell stage thawed and re-vitrified at compaction stage (n=80). Embryos were vitrified by using cryolock, (open system) described by Kuwayama. Q-PCR was used to examine the expression of Bax, Bcl2 ErbB4 genes in derived blastocysts. Results: Our result showed that expanded blastocyst rate was similar between vitrified and re-vitrified groups, while re-vitrified embryos showed significant decrease in expanded blastocyst rate comparing with fresh embryos (p=0.03). In addition, significant difference was observed on apoptotic gene expression when comparing re-vitrified and fresh embryos (p=0.004), however expression of Bax and Bcl-2 (apoptotic) genes didn't demonstrate a significant difference between re-vitrified and vitrified groups. The expression rate of ErbB4, an implantation gene was decreased in re-vitrified embryos comparing with fresh embryos (p=0.003), but it was similar between re-vitrified and vitrified embryos. Conclusion: Re-vitrification can alter the expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and ErbB4 genes and developmental rate of mouse embryos in compaction stage. PMID:27679826
Determination of Intracellular Vitrification Temperatures for Unicellular Micro Organisms under Conditions Relevant for Cryopreservation.

PubMed

Fonseca, Fernanda; Meneghel, Julie; Cenard, Stéphanie; Passot, Stéphanie; Morris, G John

2016-01-01

During cryopreservation ice nucleation and crystal growth may occur within cells or the intracellular compartment may vitrify. Whilst previous literature describes intracellular vitrification in a qualitative manner, here we measure the intracellular vitrification temperature of bacteria and yeasts under conditions relevant to cryopreservation, including the addition of high levels of permeating and nonpermeating additives and the application of rapid rates of cooling. The effects of growth conditions that are known to modify cellular freezing resistance on the intracellular vitrification temperature are also examined. For bacteria a plot of the activity on thawing against intracellular glass transition of the maximally freeze-concentrated matrix (Tg') shows that cells with the lowest value of intracellular Tg' survive the freezing process better than cells with a higher intracellular Tg'. This paper demonstrates the role of the physical state of the intracellular environment in determining the response of microbial cells to preservation and could be a powerful tool to be manipulated to allow the optimization of methods for the preservation of microorganisms.
Advances in the cryopreservation of mammalian oocytes and embryos: Development of ultrarapid vitrification

PubMed Central

2002-01-01

The cryopreservation of embryos has become a powerful tool in assisted reproduction in several mammalian species. Embryos are cryopreserved by slow freezing or by vitrification. However, consistently high survival has not been obtained in most oocytes and in some embryos. The main reasons for the low survival would be sensitivity to low temperatures, which leads to chilling injury, and low permeability of the cell membrane, which leads to the formation of intracellular ice. As a strategy aiming to overcome these injuries, modified vitrification methods have been devised in which the cooling and warming rate is markedly increased by minimizing the volume of the solution and the container. The modified methods use electron microscope grids, open‐pulled straws, cryoloops, or container‐less microdrops. In this article, recent developments in the ultrarapid vitrification of mammalian oocytes and embryos are reviewed based on the understanding of the mechanisms of cell injury in cryopreservation. (Reprod Med Biol 2002; 1: 1–9) PMID:29699066
Cryopreservation of animal oocytes and embryos: Current progress and future prospects.

PubMed

Mandawala, A A; Harvey, S C; Roy, T K; Fowler, K E

2016-10-15

Cryopreservation describes techniques that permit freezing and subsequent warming of biological samples without loss of viability. The application of cryopreservation in assisted reproductive technology encompasses the freezing of gametes, embryos, and primordial germ cells. Whilst some protocols still rely on slow-freezing techniques, most now use vitrification, or ultra-rapid freezing, for both oocytes and embryos due to an associated decreased risk of damage caused by the lack of ice crystal formation, unlike in slow-freezing techniques. Vitrification has demonstrated its use in many applications, not only following IVF procedures in human embryology clinics but also following in vitro production of embryos in agriculturally important, or endangered animal species, before embryo transfer. Here, we review the various cryopreservation and vitrification technologies that are used in both humans and other animals and discuss the most recent innovations in vitrification with a particular emphasis on their applicability to animal embryology. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Current status of human oocyte and embryo cryopreservation.

PubMed

Herrero, Leyre; Martínez, Mónica; Garcia-Velasco, Juan A

2011-08-01

To summarize recent advances in oocyte and embryo cryopreservation techniques and outcomes. Vitrification is gradually replacing slow freezing due to a better survival rate after thawing. Most units use vitrification for both oocyte and blastocyst cryopreservation, as these two biological structures did not perform very well with slow freezing technique. Basic experiments show that cellular damage seems lower after vitrification. Taken all together, this is helping vitirification to be expanding rapidly, and new clinical indications are being incorporated as well (i.e., fertility preservation). Cryopreservation has been used as a complement to IVF, and recent publications indicate that pregnancy rates achieved with frozen oocytes and embryos are comparable with those achieved in fresh cycles. Multiple publications studying oocyte and embryo physiology during cryopreservation have been published recently; however, larger studies are needed to verify the efficacy of new cryopreservation techniques. Vitrification is a simple and robust technique that is being incorporated into the majority of IVF units, mainly for oocyte and blastocyst cryopreservation.
Chapter 17 Sterile Plate-Based Vitrification of Adherent Human Pluripotent Stem Cells and Their Derivatives Using the TWIST Method.

PubMed

Neubauer, Julia C; Stracke, Frank; Zimmermann, Heiko

2017-01-01

Due to their high biological complexity, e.g., their close cell-to-cell contacts, cryopreservation of human pluripotent stem cells with standard slow-rate protocols often is inefficient and can hardly be standardized. Vitrification that means ultrafast freezing already showed very good viability and recovery rates for this sensitive cell system, but is only applicable for low cell numbers, bears a high risk of contamination, and can hardly be implemented under GxP regulations. In this chapter, a sterile plate-based vitrification method for adherent pluripotent stem cells and their derivatives is presented based on a procedure and device for human embryonic stem cells developed by Beier et al. (Cryobiology 66:8-16, 2013). This protocol overcomes the limitations of conventional vitrification procedures resulting in the highly efficient preservation of ready-to-use adherent pluripotent stem cells with the possibility of vitrifying cells in multi-well formats for direct application in high-throughput screenings.
Evolution of human oocyte cryopreservation: slow freezing versus vitrification.

PubMed

Levi-Setti, Paolo Emanuele; Patrizio, Pasquale; Scaravelli, Giulia

2016-12-01

The purpose is to determine the efficiency and efficacy of oocyte cryopreservation by slow freezing versus vitrification, recent data collected from the Italian National Assisted Reproductive Technology Register during the period 2009-2014 will be presented and reviewed. The data on oocyte cryopreservation were also compared with the results obtained with embryo cryopreservation and relative IVF with fresh oocytes. During the period 2009-2014 preservation of oocytes by vitrification had a significantly higher survival rate, implantation, and pregnancy rate than slow freezing; however, there are still large variations in success rates among centers in relation to the number of procedures performed. Vitrification has now become the method of choice for oocyte cryopreservation because of better results than slow freezing, but still requires a more standardized utilization. The transfer of fresh or cryopreserved embryo still shows a statistically significant better performance than transfers with embryos obtained with cryopreserved oocytes. Only in a few centers with much experience in cryopreservation are the results between transfers of frozen embryos or embryos obtained from oocyte cryopreservation comparable.
Vitrification solution containing DMSO and EG can induce parthenogenetic activation of in vitro matured ovine oocytes and decrease sperm penetration.

PubMed

Tian, Shu-Jun; Yan, Chang-Liang; Yang, Hui-Xin; Zhou, Guang-Bin; Yang, Zhong-Qiang; Zhu, Shi-En

2007-10-01

This study was designed to examine the reduced incidence of normal fertilization in vitrified ovine oocytes. After in vitro maturation for 24 h, the oocytes were randomly allocated into three groups: (1) untreated (control), (2) exposed to vitrification solution (VS) without being plunged into liquid nitrogen (toxicity), or (3) vitrified by open-pulled straw method (vitrification). In experiment 1, the treated and control oocytes were matured for another 2 h, and the oocytes were then in vitro fertilized for 12 h to examine sperm penetration. The percentage of monospermy in toxicity group (29.3%) and vitrification group (28.2%) dramatically decreased compared to the control group (45.0%) (P<0.05). To find the mechanism that the VS decreased the monospermy, some treated and control oocytes were used to test the distribution of CG and the resistance of zona pellucida (ZP) to 0.1% pronase E immediately (IVM 24 h), after another 2 h of maturation (IVM 26 h), and after 12 h of in vitro fertilization (IVF 12 h) respectively. Others were used to examine female pronucleus formation after 12 h of culture in fertilization medium with the absence of sperm. The results showed that the percentage of CG completely release in the oocytes (IVM 24 and 26 h) of toxicity group (41.2% and 39.9%) and vitrification group (41.7% and 51.7%) was significantly higher than that of control group (7.1% and 18.4%) (P<0.05). The ZP digestion duration in the oocytes (IVM 26 h) of the toxicity group (435.6 s) and vitrification group (422.3 s) was longer than that of control group (381.6 s) (P<0.05). The percentage of female pronucleus formation in toxicity group (58.7%) and vitrification group (63.9%) was higher than that (8.2%) of control group (P<0.05). The data above demonstrated that the VS containing DMSO and EG could parthenogenetically activate in vitro matured ovine oocytes, resulting in ZP hardening and decreased sperm penetration.
Production of blastocysts following in vitro maturation and fertilization of dromedary camel oocytes vitrified at the germinal vesicle stage.

PubMed

Fathi, Mohamed; Moawad, Adel R; Badr, Magdy R

2018-01-01

Cryopreservation of oocytes would serve as an alternative to overcome the limited availability of dromedary camel oocytes and facilitate improvements in IVP techniques in this species. Our goal was to develop a protocol for the vitrification of camel oocytes at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage using different cryoprotectant combinations: 20% EG and 20% DMSO (VS1), 25% EG plus 25% DMSO (VS2) or 25% EG and 25% glycerol (VS3) and various cryo-carriers; straws or open pulled-straw (OPS) or solid surface vitrification (SSV); and Cryotop. Viable oocytes were cultured in vitro for 30 h. Matured oocytes were fertilized with epididymal spermatozoa and then cultured in vitro in modified KSOMaa medium for 7 days. Survival and nuclear maturation rates were significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05) in oocytes exposed to VS3 (44.8% and 34.0%, respectively) than those exposed to VS1 (68.2% and 48.0%, respectively) and VS2 (79.3% and 56.9%, respectively). Although recovery rates were significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05) in SSV and Cryotop vitrified oocytes (66.9% to 71.1%) than those vitrified by straws with VS1 or VS2 solutions (86.3% to 91.0%), survival rates were higher in the SSV and Cryotop groups (90.7% to 94.8%) than in the straw and OPS groups (68.2% to 86.5%). Among vitrified groups, maturation and fertilization rates were the highest in the Cryotop-VS2 group (51.8% and 39.2%, respectively). These values were comparable to those seen in the controls (59.2% and 44.6%, respectively). Cleavage (22.5% to 27.9%), morula (13.2% to 14.5%), and blastocyst (6.4% to 8.5%) rates were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) in SSV and Cryotop groups than in straws. No significant differences were observed in these parameters between the Cryotop and control groups. We report for the first time that dromedary oocytes vitrified at the GV-stage have the ability to be matured, fertilized and subsequently develop in vitro to produce blastocysts at frequencies comparable to those obtained using fresh oocytes.
Prediction of the glass transition in aqueous solutions of simple amides by molecular dynamics simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kreck, Cara A.; Mandumpal, Jestin B.; Mancera, Ricardo L.

2011-01-01

Some simple amides in aqueous solution are used in the cryopreservation of biological tissues as they are believed to promote the vitrification of water, inhibiting its crystallisation and the ensuing damage from ice formation. Molecular dynamics annealing simulations reveal a broadening in the glass transition of aqueous acetamide and N-methylacetamide solutions, suggesting a thermodynamic stabilisation of the glassy state, which may be responsible for their increased tendency of vitrification and their cryoprotective ability. By contrast, aqueous formamide solutions do not exhibit broadening of the glass transition; instead, it is shifted to lower temperatures, which explains their lack of vitrification properties.
TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION SUMMARY. BABCOCK AND WILCOX CYCLONE FURNACE VITRIFICATION TECHNOLOGY (EPA/540/SR-92/017)

EPA Science Inventory

A Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Demonstration of the Babcock & Wilcox Cyclone Furnace Vitrification Technology was conducted in November 1991. This Demonstration occurred at the Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) Alliance Research Center (ARC) in Alliance, OH. The B&W cyc...
A simple vitrification method for cryobanking avian testicular tissue

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Cryopreservation of testicular tissue is a promising method of preserving male reproductive potential for avian species. This study was conducted to assess whether a vitrification method can be used to preserve avian testicular tissue, using the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) as a model. A sim...
SITE TECHNOLOGY CAPSULE: GEOTECH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION COLD TOP EX-SITU VITRIFICATION TECHNOLOGY

EPA Science Inventory

A SITE technology demonstration was conducted in 1997 to evaluate the potential applicability and effectiveness of the Geotech Cold Top ex-situ vitrification technology on chromium-contaminated soils. The primary objective was to develop test data to evaluate whether the waste a...
Cleanup Verification Package for the 300 VTS Waste Site

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

S. W. Clark and T. H. Mitchell

2006-03-13

This cleanup verification package documents completion of remedial action for the 300 Area Vitrification Test Site, also known as the 300 VTS site. The site was used by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory as a field demonstration site for in situ vitrification of soils containing simulated waste.
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY SUMMARY: VITRIFICATION OF SOILS CONTAMINATED BY HAZARDOUS AND/OR RADIOACTIVE WASTES

EPA Science Inventory

A performance summary of an advanced multifuel-capable combustion and melting system (CMS) for the vitrification of hazardous wastes is presented. Vortex Corporation has evaluated its patented CMS for use in the remediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals and radionuclid...
Successful vitrification of bovine immature oocyte using liquid helium instead of liquid nitrogen as cryogenic liquid.

PubMed

Yu, Xue-Li; Xu, Ya-Kun; Wu, Hua; Guo, Xian-Fei; Li, Xiao-Xia; Han, Wen-Xia; Li, Ying-Hua

2016-04-01

The objectives of this study were to compare the effectiveness of liquid helium (LHe) and liquid nitrogen (LN2) as cryogenic liquid for vitrification of bovine immature oocytes with open-pulled straw (OPS) system and determine the optimal cryoprotectant concentration of LHe vitrification. Cumulus oocyte complexes were divided into three groups, namely, untreated group (control), LN2 vitrified with OPS group, and LHe vitrified with OPS group. Oocyte survival was assessed by morphology, nuclear maturation, and developmental capability. Results indicated that the rates of normal morphology, maturation, cleavage, and blastocyst (89.3%, 52.8%, 42.7%, and 10.1%, respectively) in the LHe-vitrified group were all higher than those (79.3%, 43.4%, 34.1%, and 4.7%) in the LN2-vitrified group (P < 0.05) although the corresponding rates in both treated groups decreased compared with the control group (100%, 75.0%, 64.9%, and 40.8%; P < 0.05). Normal calves were obtained after the transfer of blastocysts derived from LHe- and LN2-vitrified oocytes. The effects of the different vitrification solutions (EDS30, EDS35, EDS40, EDS45, and EDS50) in LHe vitrification for bovine immature oocytes vitrification were examined. No difference was found in the rates of morphologically normal oocytes among the EDS30 (87.9%), EDS35 (90.1%), EDS40 (89.4%), and EDS45 (87.2%) groups (P > 0.05). The maturation rate of the EDS35 group (65.0%) was higher than those of the EDS30 (51.3%), EDS40 (50.1%), EDS45 (52.1%), and EDS50 groups (36.9%; P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the cleavage and blastocyst rates between the EDS35 (49.0% and 12.1%) and EDS40 (41.7% and 10.2%) groups. However, the cleavage and blastocyst rates in the EDS35 group were higher (P < 0.05) than those of the EDS30 (36.2% and 6.8%), EDS45 (35.9% and 5.8%), and EDS50 (16.6% and 2.2%) groups. In conclusion, LHe can be used as a cryogenic liquid for vitrification of bovine immature oocytes, and it is more efficient than LN2-vitrified oocytes in terms of blastocyst production. EDS35 was the optimal cryoprotectant agent combination for LHe vitrification in this study. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Ovarian tissue cryopreservation by stepped vitrification and monitored by X-ray computed tomography.

PubMed

Corral, Ariadna; Clavero, Macarena; Gallardo, Miguel; Balcerzyk, Marcin; Amorim, Christiani A; Parrado-Gallego, Ángel; Dolmans, Marie-Madeleine; Paulini, Fernanda; Morris, John; Risco, Ramón

2018-04-01

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is, in most cases, the only fertility preservation option available for female patients soon to undergo gonadotoxic treatment. To date, cryopreservation of ovarian tissue has been carried out by both traditional slow freezing method and vitrification, but even with the best techniques, there is still a considerable loss of follicle viability. In this report, we investigated a stepped cryopreservation procedure which combines features of slow cooling and vitrification (hereafter called stepped vitrification). Bovine ovarian tissue was used as a tissue model. Stepwise increments of the Me 2 SO concentration coupled with stepwise drops-in temperature in a device specifically designed for this purpose and X-ray computed tomography were combined to investigate loading times at each step, by monitoring the attenuation of the radiation proportional to Me 2 SO permeation. Viability analysis was performed in warmed tissues by immunohistochemistry. Although further viability tests should be conducted after transplantation, preliminary results are very promising. Four protocols were explored. Two of them showed a poor permeation of the vitrification solution (P1 and P2). The other two (P3 and P4), with higher permeation, were studied in deeper detail. Out of these two protocols, P4, with a longer permeation time at -40 °C, showed the same histological integrity after warming as fresh controls. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
LONG-TERM CONSERVATION OF PROTOCORMS OF Brassavola nodosa (L) LIND. (ORCHIDACEAE): EFFECT OF ABA AND A RANGE OF CRYOCONSERVATION TECHNIQUES.

PubMed

Mata-Rosas, M; Lastre-Puertos, E

2015-01-01

Populations of Brassavola nodosa have been severely affected by habitat destruction and illegal collecting, and as with the majority of orchid species, it is critical to take action to guarantee their continued survival. The present study aimed to establish protocols for the long-term conservation of protocorms of species. Four different cryogenic techniques were compared: encapsulation-dehydration (ED), encapsulation-vitrification (EV), encapsulation-dehydration-vitrification (EDV) and vitrification. Preculture of protocorms with ABA was a critical factor in obtaining high percentages of regrowth. With vitrification, 100% regrowth was achieved in five treatments, mainly when protocorms were dehydrated with PVS2 for 120 min. 100% regrowth was also obtained with EDV, where the protocorms were precultured with ABA 5 mg/l for 3 days and incubated with PVS2 for 60 min. With the ED, regrowth of 72% was achieved with the preculture of protocorms with ABA 5 mg/l for the three times of incubation used (3, 6 and 9 days). In the case of EV, 92% regrowth, was recorded when protocorms were precultured for 9 days with ABA 3 mg/l and incubated with PVS2 for 90 min. Although regrowth of protocorms was obtained with all the techniques used, the vitrification technique is preferred since it requires less labour and is less costly.
Shoot regeneration and embryogenesis in lily shoot tips cryopreserved by droplet vitrification

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Shoot regeneration and embryogenesis were, for the first time, achieved directly in shoot tips of Lilium Oriental hybrid ‘Siberia’ following cryopreservation by droplet-vitrification. Shoot tips (2 mm in length) including 2-3 leaf primordia were excised from 4-week-old adventitious shoots directly r...

Conversion of nuclear waste to molten glass: Formation of porous amorphous alumina in a high-Al melter feed

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xu, Kai; Hrma, Pavel; Washton, Nancy

The transition of Al phases in a simulated high-Al high-level nuclear waste melter feed heated at 5 K min-1 to 700°C was investigated with transmission electron microscopy, 27Al nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method, and X-ray diffraction. At temperatures between 300 and 500°C, porous amorphous alumina formed from the dehydration of gibbsite, resulting in increased specific surface area of the feed (~8 m2 g-1). The high-surface-area amorphous alumina formed in this manner could potentially stop salt migration in the cold cap during nuclear waste vitrification.
Different routes to the glass transition: A comparison between chemical and physical vitrification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caponi, Silvia; Corezzi, Silvia

2012-07-01

Despite the differences in the molecular processes involved in chemical and physical vitrification, surprising similarities are observed in the dynamics and in the thermodynamical properties of the resulting glasses. We report on a systematic study of reactive glass-formers undergoing a process of progressive polymerization of the constituent molecules via the formation of irreversible chemical bonds. The formation of most of the materials used in engineering plastics and the hardening of natural and synthetic resins, including epoxy resins, are based on chemical vitrification. The clear analogies characterizing the dynamic evolution of physical and chemical glass-formers, on the time scale of the structural and the low-frequency vibrational dynamics, are briefly reviewed.
Pre-clinical validation of a closed surface system (Cryotop SC) for the vitrification of oocytes and embryos in the mouse model.

PubMed

Castelló, Damià; Cobo, Ana; Mestres, Enric; Garcia, Maria; Vanrell, Ivette; Alejandro Remohí, José; Calderón, Gloria; Costa-Borges, Nuno

2018-04-01

Vitrification is currently a well-established technique for the cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos. It can be achieved either by direct (open systems) or indirect (closed systems) contact with liquid nitrogen. While there is not a direct evidence of disease transmission by transferred cryopreserved embryos, it was experimentally demonstrated that cross-contamination between liquid nitrogen and embryos may occur, and thus, the use of closed devices has been recommended to avoid the risk of contamination. Unfortunately, closed systems may result in lower cooling rates compared to open systems, due to the thermal insulation of the samples, which may cause ice crystal formation resulting in impaired results. In our study, we aimed to validate a newly developed vitrification device (Cryotop SC) that has been specifically designed for being used as a closed system. The cooling and warming rates calculated for the closed system were 5.254 °C/min and 43.522 °C/min, respectively. Results obtained with the closed system were equivalent to those with the classic Cryotop (open system), with survival rates in oocytes close to 100%. Similarly, the potential of the survived oocytes to develop up to good quality blastocysts after parthenogenetic activation between both groups was statistically equivalent. Assessment of the meiotic spindle and chromosome distribution by fluorescence microscopy in vitrified oocytes showed alike morphologies between the open and closed system. No differences were found either between the both systems in terms of survival rates of one-cell stage embryos or blastocysts, as well as, in the potential of the vitrified/warmed blastocysts to develop to full-term after transferred to surrogate females. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Identification of a highly successful cryopreservation method (droplet-vitrification) for petunia

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Petunia (Petunia × hybrida Vilm.) is a very important crop conserved in the National Genebank of China. Petunia cultivar “Niu 2” was used to develop a droplet-vitrification protocol to cryopreserve shoot tips. Six variables (age of the in vitro plants, concentration of sucrose in the preculture solu...
Cryopreservation of in vitro-grown apical meristems of wasabi (Wasabia japonica) by vitrification and subsequent high plant regeneration.

PubMed

Matsumoto, T; Sakai, A; Yamada, K

1994-05-01

In vitro-grown apical meristems of wasabi (Wasabia japonica Matsumura) were successfully cryopreserved by vitrification. Excised apical meristems precultured on solidified M S medium containing 0.3M sucrose at 20°C for 1 day were loaded with a mixture of 2M glycerol and 0.4M sucrose for 20 min at 25°C. Cryoprotected meristems were then sufficiently dehydrated with a highly concentrated vitrification solution (designated PVS2) for 10 min at 25°C prior to a plunge into liquid nitrogen. After rapid warming, the meristems were expelled into 2 ml of 1.2M sucrose for 20 min and then plated on solidified culture medium. Successfully vitrified and warmed meristems remained green after plating, resumed growth within 3 days, and directly developed shoots within two weeks. The average rate of normal shoot formation amounted to about 80 to 90% in the cryopreserved meristems. This method was successfully applied to three other cultivars of wasabi. This vitrification procedure promises to become a routine method for cryopreserving meristems of wasabi.
Gibbs free energy difference between the undercooled liquid and the beta phase of a Ti-Cr alloy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ohsaka, K.; Trinh, E. H.; Holzer, J. C.; Johnson, W. L.

1992-01-01

The heat of fusion and the specific heats of the solid and liquid have been experimentally determined for a Ti60Cr40 alloy. The data are used to evaluate the Gibbs free energy difference, delta-G, between the liquid and the beta phase as a function of temperature to verify a reported spontaneous vitrification (SV) of the beta phase in Ti-Cr alloys. The results show that SV of an undistorted beta phase in the Ti60Cr40 alloy at 873 K is not feasible because delta-G is positive at the temperature. However, delta-G may become negative with additional excess free energy to the beta phase in the form of defects.
DETOX{sup SM} catalyzed wet oxidation as a highly suitable pretreatment for vitrification

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rogers, T.W.; Dhooge, P.M.; Goldblatt, S.D.

1995-11-01

A catalyzed wet oxidation process has been developed which uses ferric iron in an acidic water solution to oxidize organic compounds in the presence of platinum ion and/or ruthenium ion catalysts. The process is capable of oxidizing a wide range of organic compounds to carbon dioxide and water with great efficiency. The process has been tested in the bench-scale with many different types of organics. Conceptual engineering for application of the process to treatment of liquid and solid organic waste materials has been followed by engineering design for a demonstration unit. Fabrication of the unit and demonstration on hazardous andmore » mixed wastes at two Department of Energy sites is planned in 1995 through 1997.« less
YIELD STRESS REDUCTION OF DWPF MELTER FEED SLURRIES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stone, M; Michael02 Smith, M

2006-12-28

The Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) at the Savannah River Site vitrifies High Level Waste for repository internment. The process consists of three major steps: waste pretreatment, vitrification, and canister decontamination/sealing. The HLW consists of insoluble metal hydroxides (primarily iron, aluminum, magnesium, manganese, and uranium) and soluble sodium salts (carbonate, hydroxide, nitrite, nitrate, sulfate). The pretreatment process acidifies the sludge with nitric and formic acids, adds the glass formers as glass frit, then concentrates the resulting slurry to approximately 50 weight percent (wt%) total solids. This slurry is fed to the joule-heated melter where the remaining water is evaporated followedmore » by calcination of the solids and conversion to glass. The Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is currently assisting DWPF efforts to increase throughput of the melter. As part of this effort, SRNL has investigated methods to increase the solids content of the melter feed to reduce the heat load required to complete the evaporation of water and allow more of the energy available to calcine and vitrify the waste. The process equipment in the facility is fixed and cannot process materials with high yield stresses, therefore increasing the solids content will require that the yield stress of the melter feed slurries be reduced. Changing the glass former added during pretreatment from an irregularly shaped glass frit to nearly spherical beads was evaluated. The evaluation required a systems approach which included evaluations of the effectiveness of beads in reducing the melter feed yield stress as well as evaluations of the processing impacts of changing the frit morphology. Processing impacts of beads include changing the settling rate of the glass former (which effects mixing and sampling of the melter feed slurry and the frit addition equipment) as well as impacts on the melt behavior due to decreased surface area of the beads versus frit. Beads were produced from the DWPF process frit by fire polishing. The frit was allowed to free fall through a flame, then quenched with a water spray. Approximately 90% of the frit was converted to beads by this process, as shown in Figure 1. Borosilicate beads of various diameters were also procured for initial testing.« less
Slow Freezing, but Not Vitrification Supports Complete Spermatogenesis in Cryopreserved, Neonatal Sheep Testicular Xenografts

PubMed Central

Pukazhenthi, Budhan S.; Nagashima, Jennifer; Travis, Alexander J.; Costa, Guilherme M.; Escobar, Enrique N.; França, Luiz R.; Wildt, David E.

2015-01-01

The ability to spur growth of early stage gametic cells recovered from neonates could lead to significant advances in rescuing the genomes of rare genotypes or endangered species that die unexpectedly. The purpose of this study was to determine, for the first time, the ability of two substantially different cryopreservation approaches, slow freezing versus vitrification, to preserve testicular tissue of the neonatal sheep and subsequently allow initiation of spermatogenesis post-xenografting. Testis tissue from four lambs (3-5 wk old) was processed and then untreated or subjected to slow freezing or vitrification. Tissue pieces (fresh, n = 214; slow freezing, then thawing, n = 196; vitrification, then warming, n = 139) were placed subcutaneously under the dorsal skin of SCID mice and then grafts recovered and evaluated 17 wk later. Grafts from fresh and slow frozen tissue contained the most advanced stages of spermatogenesis, including normal tubule architecture with elongating spermatids in ~1% (fresh) and ~10% (slow frozen) of tubules. Fewer than 2% of seminiferous tubules advanced to the primary spermatocyte stage in xenografts derived from vitrified tissue. Results demonstrate that slow freezing of neonatal lamb testes was far superior to vitrification in preserving cellular integrity and function after xenografting, including allowing ~10% of tubules to retain the capacity to resume spermatogenesis and yield mature spermatozoa. Although a first for any ruminant species, findings also illustrate the importance of preemptive studies that examine cryo-sensitivity of testicular tissue before attempting this type of male fertility preservation on a large scale. PMID:25923660
Roles of intracellular ice formation, vitrification of cell water, and recrystallisation of intracellular ice on the survival of mouse embryos and oocytes.

PubMed

Mazur, Peter; Paredes, Estefania

2016-03-01

Mazur and collaborators began examining the validity of initial views regarding mouse oocyte and embryo vitrification and found that most are partially or fully wrong. First, the relative effects of warming and cooling rates on the survival of mouse oocytes subjected to a vitrification procedure were determined. The high sensitivity to warming rate strongly suggests that the lethality of slow warming is a consequence of either the crystallisation of intracellular glassy water during warming or the recrystallisation during slow warming of small intracellular crystals that had formed during cooling. Warming rates of 107°C min-1 were achieved in 0.1-µL drops of ethylene glycol-acetamide-Ficoll-sucrose (EAFS) solution plus a small amount of India ink on Cryotops warmed using an infrared laser pulse. Under these conditions, survival rates of 90% were obtained even when mouse oocytes were suspended in 0.3× EAFS, a concentration that falls in the range that many cells can tolerate. A second important finding was that the survival of oocytes is more dependent on the osmotic withdrawal of much of the intracellular water before vitrification than it is on the penetration of cryoprotective solutes into the cells. Herein we review the roles of internal ice formation, vitrification and recrystallisation. It remains to be seen how widely these findings will be applicable to other types of cells and tissues from other species.
Simple, efficient and successful vitrification of bovine blastocysts using electron microscope grids.

PubMed

Park, S P; Kim, E Y; Kim, D I; Park, N H; Won, Y S; Yoon, S H; Chung, K S; Lim, J H

1999-11-01

This study demonstrates that higher survival of vitrified-thawed bovine blastocysts can be obtained using electron microscope (EM) grids as embryo containers at freezing, rather than plastic straws. In-vitro produced day 7 bovine blastocysts after in-vitro fertilization (IVF) were vitrified on grids or in straws with EFS40 freezing solution and their survival after thawing was compared. Embryo survival was assessed as re-expanded and hatched rates at 24 and 48 h after thawing respectively. When the effects of exposure to vitrification solution and chilling injury from the freezing procedure were examined, embryo survival in the exposure group (24 h: 100, 48 h: 73.3%) was not different compared with that in the control group (100, 84.4%). After vitrification, the hatched rate of the EM grid group 48 h after thawing (67.8%) was significantly higher than that of the straw group (53.3%) (P < 0.05). Fast developing embryos (expanded blastocyst and early hatching blastocyst stage) showed better resistance to freezing than delayed ones (early blastocyst stage), irrespective of embryo containers (early: 24 h, 57.1 and 48 h, 24.4%; expanded: 84.7 and 60.6%; early hatching: 91.7 and 80.0%) (P < 0.001). When using expanded and early hatching blastocysts, embryo survival rates in the vitrification-EM grid group (67.8, 95.0% respectively) were significantly higher than that of the vitrification-straw group (53.0, 65.0%) at 48 h.
A Low Temperature Limit for Life on Earth

PubMed Central

Clarke, Andrew; Morris, G. John; Fonseca, Fernanda; Murray, Benjamin J.; Price, Hannah C.

2013-01-01

There is no generally accepted value for the lower temperature limit for life on Earth. We present empirical evidence that free-living microbial cells cooling in the presence of external ice will undergo freeze-induced desiccation and a glass transition (vitrification) at a temperature between −10°C and −26°C. In contrast to intracellular freezing, vitrification does not result in death and cells may survive very low temperatures once vitrified. The high internal viscosity following vitrification means that diffusion of oxygen and metabolites is slowed to such an extent that cellular metabolism ceases. The temperature range for intracellular vitrification makes this a process of fundamental ecological significance for free-living microbes. It is only where extracellular ice is not present that cells can continue to metabolise below these temperatures, and water droplets in clouds provide an important example of such a habitat. In multicellular organisms the cells are isolated from ice in the environment, and the major factor dictating how they respond to low temperature is the physical state of the extracellular fluid. Where this fluid freezes, then the cells will dehydrate and vitrify in a manner analogous to free-living microbes. Where the extracellular fluid undercools then cells can continue to metabolise, albeit slowly, to temperatures below the vitrification temperature of free-living microbes. Evidence suggests that these cells do also eventually vitrify, but at lower temperatures that may be below −50°C. Since cells must return to a fluid state to resume metabolism and complete their life cycle, and ice is almost universally present in environments at sub-zero temperatures, we propose that the vitrification temperature represents a general lower thermal limit to life on Earth, though its precise value differs between unicellular (typically above −20°C) and multicellular organisms (typically below −20°C). Few multicellular organisms can, however, complete their life cycle at temperatures below ∼−2°C. PMID:23840425
Impact of delipidated estrous sheep serum supplementation on in vitro maturation, cryotolerance and endoplasmic reticulum stress gene expression of sheep oocytes

PubMed Central

dos Santos Neto, Pedro C.; Cuadro, Federico; Bosolasco, Diego; Mulet, Ana P.; Crispo, Martina

2018-01-01

High lipid content of oocytes and embryos in domestic animals is one of the well-known factors associated with poor cryosurvival. Herein, we wanted to determine whether the use of delipidated estrous sheep serum during in vitro maturation (IVM) of ovine oocytes reduces the cytoplasmic lipid droplets content and improves embryo development and cryotolerance after vitrification. Cumulus oocytes complexes (COCs) were matured in vitro for 24 h in medium supplemented with whole or delipidated estrous sheep serum prior to vitrification. Neutral lipid present in lipid droplets of COCs, cleavage rate, embryo development rate on Day 6 and Day 8, and hatching rate on Day 8, were compared among experimental groups. Endoplasmic reticulum stress genes were evaluated in in vitro matured COCs under different lipid conditions prior to vitrification. The lipid droplets’ content (mean fluorescence intensity) of oocytes cultured with IVM media supplemented with delipidated serum was lower than COCs matured with whole serum (7.6 ± 1.7 vs. 22.8 ± 5.0 arbitrary units, respectively; P< 0.05). Despite IVM treatment, oocytes subjected to vitrification showed impaired competence compared with the non-vitrified groups (P<0.05). No significant differences in embryo production were observed in non-vitrified COCs after maturation in delipidated or whole serum (33.4±4.9 vs 31.9 ±4.2). COCs matured in delipidated serum and subjected to vitrification showed increased expression of ATF4, ATF6, GRP78, and CHOP10 genes (ER stress markers). Collectively, our results demonstrate that although supplementation of IVM medium with delipidated estrous sheep serum reduces the presence of cytoplasmic lipid droplets in oocytes after maturation, oocyte cryotolerance is not improved. Notably, the expression of genes associated with the unfolded protein response (UPR) was increased in COCs, with fewer lipid droplets subjected to vitrification, suggesting that oocyte cryopreservation is associated with ER stress and activation of adaptive responses. PMID:29912910
A Low Temperature Limit for Life on Earth.

PubMed

Clarke, Andrew; Morris, G John; Fonseca, Fernanda; Murray, Benjamin J; Acton, Elizabeth; Price, Hannah C

2013-01-01

There is no generally accepted value for the lower temperature limit for life on Earth. We present empirical evidence that free-living microbial cells cooling in the presence of external ice will undergo freeze-induced desiccation and a glass transition (vitrification) at a temperature between -10°C and -26°C. In contrast to intracellular freezing, vitrification does not result in death and cells may survive very low temperatures once vitrified. The high internal viscosity following vitrification means that diffusion of oxygen and metabolites is slowed to such an extent that cellular metabolism ceases. The temperature range for intracellular vitrification makes this a process of fundamental ecological significance for free-living microbes. It is only where extracellular ice is not present that cells can continue to metabolise below these temperatures, and water droplets in clouds provide an important example of such a habitat. In multicellular organisms the cells are isolated from ice in the environment, and the major factor dictating how they respond to low temperature is the physical state of the extracellular fluid. Where this fluid freezes, then the cells will dehydrate and vitrify in a manner analogous to free-living microbes. Where the extracellular fluid undercools then cells can continue to metabolise, albeit slowly, to temperatures below the vitrification temperature of free-living microbes. Evidence suggests that these cells do also eventually vitrify, but at lower temperatures that may be below -50°C. Since cells must return to a fluid state to resume metabolism and complete their life cycle, and ice is almost universally present in environments at sub-zero temperatures, we propose that the vitrification temperature represents a general lower thermal limit to life on Earth, though its precise value differs between unicellular (typically above -20°C) and multicellular organisms (typically below -20°C). Few multicellular organisms can, however, complete their life cycle at temperatures below ∼-2°C.
Timing of The First Zygotic Cleavage Affects Post-Vitrification Viability of Murine Embryos Produced In Vivo

PubMed Central

Jusof, Wan-Hafizah Wan; Khan, Nor-Ashikin Mohamed Noor; Rajikin, Mohd Hamim; Satar, Nuraliza Abdul; Mustafa, Mohd-Fazirul; Jusoh, Norhazlin; Dasiman, Razif

2015-01-01

Background Timing of the first zygotic cleavage is an accurate predictor of embryo quality. Embryos that cleaved early (EC) have been shown to exhibit higher develop- mental viability compared to those that cleaved at a later period (LC). However, the vi- ability of EC embryos in comparison to LC embryos after vitrification is unknown. The present study aims to investigate the post-vitrification developmental viability of murine EC versus LC embryos. Materials and Methods In this experimental study, female ICR mice (6-8 weeks old) were superovulated and cohabited with fertile males for 24 hours. Afterwards, their ovi- ducts were excised and embryos harvested. Embryos at the 2-cell stage were catego- rized as EC embryos, while zygotes with two pronuclei were categorized as LC embryos. Embryos were cultured in M16 medium supplemented with 3% bovine serum albumin (BSA) in a humidified 5% CO2atmosphere. Control embryos were cultured until the blastocyst stage without vitrification. Experimental embryos at the 2-cell stage were vitri- fied for one hour using 40% v/v ethylene glycol, 18% w/v Ficoll-70 and 0.5 M sucrose as the cryoprotectant. We recorded the numbers of surviving embryos from the control and experimental groups and their development until the blastocyst stage. Results were analyzed using the chi-square test. Results A significantly higher proportion of EC embryos (96.7%) from the control group developed to the blastocyst stage compared with LC embryos (57.5%, P<0.0001). Similarly, in the experimental group, a significantly higher percentage of vitrified EC embryos (69.4%) reached the blastocyst stage compared to vitrified LC embryos (27.1%, P<0.0001). Conclusion Vitrified EC embryos are more vitrification tolerant than LC embryos. Prese- lection of EC embryos may be used as a tool for selection of embryos that exhibit higher developmental competence after vitrification. PMID:26246881
A COMPREHENSIVE TECHNICAL REVIEW OF THE DEMONSTRATION BULK VITRIFICATION SYSTEM

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

SCHAUS, P.S.

2006-09-29

In May 2006, CH2M Hill Hanford Group, Inc. chartered an Expert Review Panel (ERP) to review the current status of the Demonstration Bulk Vitrification System (DBVS). It is the consensus of the ERP that bulk vitrification is a technology that requires further development and evaluation to determine its potential for meeting the Hanford waste stabilization mission. No fatal flaws (issues that would jeopardize the overall DBVS mission that cannot be mitigated) were found, given the current state of the project. However, a number of technical issues were found that could significantly affect the project's ability to meet its overall missionmore » as stated in the project ''Justification of Mission Need'' document, if not satisfactorily resolved. The ERP recognizes that the project has changed from an accelerated schedule demonstration project to a formally chartered project that must be in full compliance with DOE 413.3 requirements. The perspective of the ERP presented herein, is measured against the formally chartered project as stated in the approved Justification of Mission Need document. A justification of Mission Need document was approved in July 2006 which defined the objectives for the DBVS Project. In this document, DOE concluded that bulk vitrification is a viable technology that requires additional development to determine its potential applicability to treatment of a portion of the Hanford low activity waste. The DBVS mission need statement now includes the following primary objectives: (1) process approximately 190,000 gallons of Tank S-109 waste into fifty 100 metric ton boxes of vitrified product; (2) store and dispose of these boxes at Hanford's Integrated Disposal Facility (IDF); (3) evaluate the waste form characteristics; (4) gather pilot plant operability data, and (5) develop the overall life cycle system performance of bulk vitrification and produce a comparison of the bulk vitrification process to building a second LAW Immobilization facility or other supplemental treatment alternatives as provided in M-62-08.« less
[Successful pregnancies after oocyte and embryo vitrification].

PubMed

Salazar, Francisco Hernández; Loza, Erik Omar Okhuysen; Lucas, Maria Teresa Huerta J; Gutiérrez, Gustavo Romero

2008-02-01

Cryopreservation of human oocytes represents a solution for ethic conflict about frozen embryo storage for patients with risk to develop ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome; also is an available technique to preserve fertility in women with cancer under treatment, in poor response patients, in case of premature ovarian failure or aging and for other medical or social conditions that require to delay pregnancies, as well as to make easier oocyte donation programs. This paper reports two cases of successful pregnancies after embryo and oocyte vitrification, as well as their results. The technique of vitrification with the cryotop method is an excellent alternative, efficient, fast and cheap for oocyte and embryo cryopreservation with high ranges of fertilization, cleavage and pregnancies with a normal evolution.
Cryopreservation of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) zygotic embryos by vitrification.

PubMed

Sajini, K K; Karun, A; Amamath, C H; Engelmann, F

2011-01-01

The present study investigates the effect of preculture conditions, vitrification and unloading solutions on survival and regeneration of coconut zygotic embryos after cryopreservation. Among the seven plant vitrification solutions tested, PVS3 was found to be the most effective for regeneration of cryopreserved embryos. The optimal protocol involved preculture of embryos for 3 days on medium with 0.6 M sucrose, PVS3 treatment for 16 h, rapid cooling and rewarming and unloading in 1.2 M sucrose liquid medium for 1.5 h. Under these conditions, 70-80 survival (corresponding to size enlargement and weight gain) was observed with cryopreserved embryos and 20-25 percent of the plants regenerated (showing normal shoot and root growth) from cryopreserved embryos were established in pots.
Kinetics of Cold-Cap Reactions for Vitrification of Nuclear Waste Glass Based on Simultaneous Differential Scanning Calorimetry - Thermogravimetry (DSC-TGA) and Evolved Gas Analysis (EGA)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rodriguez, Carmen P.; Pierce, David A.; Schweiger, Michael J.

2013-12-03

For vitrifying nuclear waste glass, the feed, a mixture of waste with glass-forming and modifying additives, is charged onto the cold cap that covers 90-100% of the melt surface. The cold cap consists of a layer of reacting molten glass floating on the surface of the melt in an all-electric, continuous glass melter. As the feed moves through the cold cap, it undergoes chemical reactions and phase transitions through which it is converted to molten glass that moves from the cold cap into the melt pool. The process involves a series of reactions that generate multiple gases and subsequent massmore » loss and foaming significantly influence the mass and heat transfers. The rate of glass melting, which is greatly influenced by mass and heat transfers, affects the vitrification process and the efficiency of the immobilization of nuclear waste. We studied the cold-cap reactions of a representative waste glass feed using both the simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry thermogravimetry (DSC-TGA) and the thermogravimetry coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (TGA-GC-MS) as complementary tools to perform evolved gas analysis (EGA). Analyses from DSC-TGA and EGA on the cold-cap reactions provide a key element for the development of an advanced cold-cap model. It also helps to formulate melter feeds for higher production rate.« less
Improvement of vitrification of in vitro produced buffalo embryos with special reference to sex ratio following vitrification

PubMed Central

Mahmoud, K. Gh. M; Scholkamy, T. H; Darwish, S. F

2015-01-01

Cryopreservation and sexing of embryos are integrated into commercial embryo transfer technologies. To improve the effectiveness of vitrification of in vitro produced buffalo embryos, two experiments were conducted. The first evaluated the effect of exposure time (2 and 3 min) and developmental stage (morula and blastocysts) on the viability and development of vitrified buffalo embryos. Morphologically normal embryos and survival rates (re-expansion) significantly increased when vitrified morulae were exposed for 2 min compared to 3 min (P<0.001). On the other hand, morphologically normal and survival rates of blastocysts significantly increased when exposed for 3 min compared to 2 min (P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences between the two developmental stages (morulae and blastocystes) in the percentages of morphologically normal embryos and re-expansion rates after a 24 h culture. The second experiment aimed to evaluate the effect of viability on the sex ratio of buffalo embryos after vitrification and whether male and female embryos survived vitrification differently. A total number of 61 blastocysts were vitrified for 3 min with the same cryoprotectant as experiment 1. Higher percentages of males were recorded for live as compared to dead embryos; however, this difference was not significant. In conclusion, the post-thaw survival and development of in vitro produced morulae and blastocysts were found to be affected by exposure time rather than developmental stage. Survivability had no significant effect on the sex ratio of vitrified blastocysts; nevertheless, the number of surviving males was higher than dead male embryos. PMID:27175197

Thermal Flammable Gas Production from Bulk Vitrification Feed

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Scheele, Randall D.; McNamara, Bruce K.; Bagaasen, Larry M.

2008-05-21

The baseline bulk-vitrification (BV) process (also known as in-container vitrification ICV™) includes a mixer/dryer to convert liquid low-activity waste (LAW) into a dried, blended feed for vitrification. Feed preparation includes blending LAW with glass-forming minerals (GFMs) and cellulose and drying the mixture to a suitable dryness, consistency, and particle size for transport to the ICVTM container. The cellulose is to be added to the BV feed at a rate sufficient to destroy 75% of the nitrogen present as nitrate or nitrite. Concern exists that flammable gases may be produced during drying operations at levels that could pose a risk. Themore » drying process is conducted under vacuum in the temperature range of 60 to 80°C. These flammable gases could be produced either through thermal decomposition of cellulose or waste organics or as a by-product of the reaction of cellulose and/or waste organics with nitrate or the postulated small amount of nitrite present in the waste. To help address the concern about flammable gas production during drying, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) performed studies to identify the gases produced at dryer temperatures and at possible process upset conditions. Studies used a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) up to 525°C and isothermal testing up to 120°C to determine flammable gas production resulting from the cellulose and organic constituents in bulk vitrification feed. This report provides the results of those studies to determine the effects of cellulose and waste organics on flammable gas evolution« less
Toxicity Minimized Cryoprotectant Addition and Removal Procedures for Adherent Endothelial Cells

PubMed Central

Davidson, Allyson Fry; Glasscock, Cameron; McClanahan, Danielle R.; Benson, James D.; Higgins, Adam Z.

2015-01-01

Ice-free cryopreservation, known as vitrification, is an appealing approach for banking of adherent cells and tissues because it prevents dissociation and morphological damage that may result from ice crystal formation. However, current vitrification methods are often limited by the cytotoxicity of the concentrated cryoprotective agent (CPA) solutions that are required to suppress ice formation. Recently, we described a mathematical strategy for identifying minimally toxic CPA equilibration procedures based on the minimization of a toxicity cost function. Here we provide direct experimental support for the feasibility of these methods when applied to adherent endothelial cells. We first developed a concentration- and temperature-dependent toxicity cost function by exposing the cells to a range of glycerol concentrations at 21°C and 37°C, and fitting the resulting viability data to a first order cell death model. This cost function was then numerically minimized in our state constrained optimization routine to determine addition and removal procedures for 17 molal (mol/kg water) glycerol solutions. Using these predicted optimal procedures, we obtained 81% recovery after exposure to vitrification solutions, as well as successful vitrification with the relatively slow cooling and warming rates of 50°C/min and 130°C/min. In comparison, conventional multistep CPA equilibration procedures resulted in much lower cell yields of about 10%. Our results demonstrate the potential for rational design of minimally toxic vitrification procedures and pave the way for extension of our optimization approach to other adherent cell types as well as more complex systems such as tissues and organs. PMID:26605546
Vitreous Cryopreservation of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells with Low Concentration of Cryoprotective Agents for Vascular Tissue Engineering

PubMed Central

Zheng, Yuanyuan; Panhwar, Fazil

2016-01-01

Cryopreservation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) is important to tissue engineering applications and the study of the role of endothelial cells in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The traditional methods for cryopreservation by vitrification (cooling samples to a cryogenic temperature without apparent freezing) using high concentration of cryoprotective agents (CPAs) and slow freezing are suboptimal due to the severe toxicity of high concentration of CPAs and ice formation-induced cryoinjuries, respectively. In this study, we developed a method to cryopreserve HUVECs by vitrification with low concentration of CPAs. This is achieved by optimizing the CPAs and using highly thermally conductive quartz capillary (QC) to contain samples for vitrification. The latter minimizes the thermal mass to create ultra-fast cooling/warming rates. Our data demonstrate that HUVECs can be vitrified in the QC using 1.4 mol/L ethylene glycol and 1.1 mol/L dimethyl sulfoxide with more than 90% viability. Moreover, this method significantly improves the attachment efficiency of the cryopreserved HUVECs. The attached cells post-cryopreservation proliferate similarly to fresh cells. Therefore, this study may provide an effective vitrification technique to bank HUVECs for vascular tissue engineering and other applications. PMID:27673413
Local geology controlled the feasibility of vitrifying Iron Age buildings.

PubMed

Wadsworth, Fabian B; Heap, Michael J; Damby, David E; Hess, Kai-Uwe; Najorka, Jens; Vasseur, Jérémie; Fahrner, Dominik; Dingwell, Donald B

2017-01-12

During European prehistory, hilltop enclosures made from polydisperse particle-and-block stone walling were exposed to temperatures sufficient to partially melt the constituent stonework, leading to the preservation of glassy walls called 'vitrified forts'. During vitrification, the granular wall rocks partially melt, sinter viscously and densify, reducing inter-particle porosity. This process is strongly dependent on the solidus temperature, the particle sizes, the temperature-dependence of the viscosity of the evolving liquid phase, as well as the distribution and longevity of heat. Examination of the sintering behaviour of 45 European examples reveals that it is the raw building material that governs the vitrification efficiency. As Iron Age forts were commonly constructed from local stone, we conclude that local geology directly influenced the degree to which buildings were vitrified in the Iron Age. Additionally, we find that vitrification is accompanied by a bulk material strengthening of the aggregates of small sizes, and a partial weakening of larger blocks. We discuss these findings in the context of the debate surrounding the motive of the wall-builders. We conclude that if wall stability by bulk strengthening was the desired effect, then vitrification represents an Iron Age technology that failed to be effective in regions of refractory local geology.
Successful ongoing pregnancies after vitrification of oocytes.

PubMed

Lucena, Elkin; Bernal, Diana Patricia; Lucena, Carolina; Rojas, Alejandro; Moran, Abby; Lucena, Andrés

2006-01-01

To demonstrate the efficiency of vitrifying mature human oocytes for different clinical indications. Descriptive case series. Cryobiology laboratory, Centro Colombiano de Fertilidad y Esterilidad-CECOLFES LTDA. (Bogotá, Colombia). Oocyte vitrification was offered as an alternative management for patients undergoing infertility treatment because of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, premature ovarian failure, natural ovarian failure, male factor, poor response, or oocyte donation. Mature oocytes were obtained from 33 donor women and 40 patients undergoing infertility treatment. Oocytes were retrieved by ultrasound-guided transvaginal aspiration and vitrified with the Cryotops method, with 30% ethylene glycol, 30% dimethyl sulfoxide, and 0.5 mol/L sucrose. Viability was assessed 3 hours after thawing. The surviving oocytes were inseminated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Fertilization was evaluated after 24 hours. The zygotes were further cultured in vitro for up to 72 hours until time of embryo transfer. Recovery, viability, fertilization, and pregnancy rates. Oocyte vitrification with the Cryotop method resulted in high rates of recovery, viability, fertilization, cleavage, and ongoing pregnancy. Vitrification with the Cryotop method is an efficient, fast, and economical method for oocyte cryopreservation that offers high rates of survival, fertilization, embryo development, and ongoing normal pregnancies, providing a new alternative for the management of female infertility.
Dismantling of Highly Contaminated Process Installations of the German Reprocessing Facility (WAK) - Status of New Remote Handling Technology - 13287

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dux, Joachim; Friedrich, Daniel; Lutz, Werner

2013-07-01

Decommissioning and dismantling of the former German Pilot Reprocessing Plant Karlsruhe (WAK) including the Vitrification Facility (VEK) is being executed in different Project steps related to the reprocessing, HLLW storage and vitrification complexes /1/. While inside the reprocessing building the total inventory of process equipment has already been dismantled and disposed of, the HLLW storage and vitrification complex has been placed out of operation since vitrification and tank rinsing procedures where finalized in year 2010. This paper describes the progress made in dismantling of the shielded boxes of the highly contaminated laboratory as a precondition to get access to themore » hot cells of the HLLW storage. The major challenges of the dismantling of this laboratory were the high dose rates up to 700 mSv/h and the locking technology for the removal of the hot cell installations. In parallel extensive prototype testing of different carrier systems and power manipulators to be applied to dismantle the HLLW-tanks and other hot cell equipment is ongoing. First experiences with the new manipulator carrier system and a new master slave manipulator with force reflection will be reported. (authors)« less
In vitro conservation of Dendrobium germplasm.

PubMed

Teixeira da Silva, Jaime A; Zeng, Songjun; Galdiano, Renato Fernandes; Dobránszki, Judit; Cardoso, Jean Carlos; Vendrame, Wagner A

2014-09-01

Dendrobium is a large genus in the family Orchidaceae that exhibits vast diversity in floral characteristics, which is of considerable importance to orchid breeders, biotechnologists and collectors. Native species have high value as a result of their medicinal properties, while their hybrids are important as ornamental commodities, either as cut flowers or potted plants and are thus veritable industrial crops. Thus, preservation of Dendrobium germplasm is valuable for species conservation, breeding programs and the floriculture industry. Cryopreservation represents the only safe, efficient and cost-effective long-term storage option to facilitate the conservation of genetic resources of plant species. This review highlights 16 years of literature related to the preservation of Dendrobium germplasm and comprises the most comprehensive assessment of thorough studies performed to date, which shows reliable and reproducible results. Air-drying, encapsulation-dehydration, encapsulation-vitrification, vitrification and droplet-vitrification are the current cryopreservation methodologies that have been used to cryopreserve Dendrobium germplasm. Mature seeds, pollen, protoplasts, shoot primordia, protocorms and somatic embryos or protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) have been cryopreserved with different levels of success. Encapsulation-vitrification and encapsulation-dehydration are the most used protocol, while PLBs represent the main explant explored.
Influence of Meiotic Stages on Developmental Competence of Goat’ Oocyte After Vitrification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wahyuningsih, S.; Ihsan, M. N.

2018-02-01

This objective of this research was to investigate effect of goat oocyte meiotic stages on developmental competence after cryopreservation. Ovaries were collected from slaugterhouse and oocytes was aspirated from2-6 mm of follicles. Oocyte with compacted cumulus cells and evenly granulated ooplasm were selected for this experiment. The lenght of in vitro maturation before vitrification was 8 or 22 h in IVM media TCM 199 + FCS 10 % + PMSG 10 IU + hCG 10 IU at 38.5 °C in a humidified atmosphere of 5 % CO2 in air and were vitrified. After vitrification process, GVBD and MII oocyte were matured for 18 or 4 h to fullfill 26 h maturation requirement and then oocytes were subjected to IVF and culture. Cleavage and blastocyst formation rate were to asses their developmental competence. Cleavage rates were obtained for both GVBD ( 56.78 %) and MII (69.64 % ) oocytes (P<0.05). Proportion of cleaved embryos from vitrified MII oocytes develop into blastocysts higher (P<0.05) than those from vitrified GVBD oocytes (10.25% vs 3.54%) repectively. Goat oocytes in different maturation stages response to vitrification differently and MII stages have better developmental competence than GVBD.
Cryopreservation on a cryo-plate of Arundina graminifolia protocorms, dehydrated with silica gel and drying beads.

PubMed

Cordova, L B; Thammasiri, K

2016-01-01

There are various methods for the cryopreservation of plant material, with each biological specimen potentially requiring protocol optimization to maximize success. The aim of this study is to compare droplet-vitrification, encapsulation-dehydration, and the cryo-plate method for cryopreservation of protocorms of the orchid Arundina graminifolia, using silica gel and drying beads as the desiccation materials. The cryo-plate method included preculture of protocorms, developed from seeds, placed on aluminium cryo-plates and embedded in alginate gel. Cryo-plates were surface dried using sterile filter paper, placed in Petri dishes containing 50 g silica gel or 30 g drying beads in a laminar air-flow cabinet. Specimens on cryo-plates were dehydrated to 25 % moisture content, placed into 2 mL cryotubes and plunged directly into liquid nitrogen for 1 d. For cryopreservation, the cryo-plate method, involving dehydration with 30 g drying beads gave the highest regrowth (77 %), followed by the encapsulation-dehydration method with 30 g drying beads (64 % regrowth) and the droplet-vitrification method, following exposure to PVS2 solution for 20 min (33 % regrowth). Regrowth of cryopreserved protocorms using the cryo-plate method was rapid with the highest survival and regrowth.
Commercial Ion Exchange Resin Vitrification in Borosilicate Glass

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cicero-Herman, C.A.; Workman, P.; Poole, K.

1998-05-01

Bench-scale studies were performed to determine the feasibility of vitrification treatment of six resins representative of those used in the commercial nuclear industry. Each resin was successfully immobilized using the same proprietary borosilicate glass formulation. Waste loadings varied from 38 to 70 g of resin/100 g of glass produced depending on the particular resin, with volume reductions of 28 percent to 68 percent. The bench-scale results were used to perform a melter demonstration with one of the resins at the Clemson Environmental Technologies Laboratory (CETL). The resin used was a weakly acidic meth acrylic cation exchange resin. The vitrification processmore » utilized represented a approximately 64 percent volume reduction. Glass characterization, radionuclide retention, offgas analyses, and system compatibility results will be discussed in this paper.« less
Melter Technologies Assessment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Perez, J.M. Jr.; Schumacher, R.F.; Forsberg, C.W.

1996-05-01

The problem of controlling and disposing of surplus fissile material, in particular plutonium, is being addressed by the US Department of Energy (DOE). Immobilization of plutonium by vitrification has been identified as a promising solution. The Melter Evaluation Activity of DOE`s Plutonium Immobilization Task is responsible for evaluating and selecting the preferred melter technologies for vitrification for each of three immobilization options: Greenfield Facility, Adjunct Melter Facility, and Can-In-Canister. A significant number of melter technologies are available for evaluation as a result of vitrification research and development throughout the international communities for over 20 years. This paper describes an evaluationmore » process which will establish the specific requirements of performance against which candidate melter technologies can be carefully evaluated. Melter technologies that have been identified are also described.« less
Two-dimensional phase separated structures of block copolymers on solids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sen, Mani; Jiang, Naisheng; Endoh, Maya; Koga, Tadanori; Ribbe, Alexander

The fundamental, yet unsolved question in block copolymer (BCP) thin films is the self-organization process of BCPs at the solid-polymer melt interface. We here focus on the self-organization processes of cylinder-forming polystyrene-block-poly (4-vinylpyridine) diblock copolymer and lamellar-forming poly (styrene-block-butadiene-block-styrene) triblock copolymer on Si substrates as model systems. In order to reveal the buried interfacial structures, the following experimental protocols were utilized: the BCP monolayer films were annealed under vacuum at T>Tg of the blocks (to equilibrate the melts); vitrification of the annealed BCP films via rapid quench to room temperature; subsequent intensive solvent leaching (to remove unadsorbed chains) with chloroform, a non-selective good solvent for the blocks. The strongly bound BCP layers were then characterized by using atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering, and X-ray reflectivity. The results showed that both blocks lie flat on the substrate, forming the two-dimensional, randomly phase-separated structure irrespective of their microdomain structures and interfacial energetics. Acknowledgement of financial support from NSF Grant (CMMI -1332499).
Thermal behaviour of ESP ash from municipal solid waste incinerators.

PubMed

Yang, Y; Xiao, Y; Wilson, N; Voncken, J H L

2009-07-15

Stricter environmental regulations demand safer treatment and disposal of incinerator fly ashes. So far no sound technology or a process is available for a sustainable and ecological treatment of the waste incineration ashes, and only partial treatment is practised for temporary and short-term solutions. New processes and technology need to be developed for comprehensive utilization and detoxification of the municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerator residues. To explore the efficiency of thermal stabilisation and controlled vitrification, the thermal behaviour of electrostatic precipitator (ESP) ash was investigated under controlled conditions. The reaction stages are identified with the initial moisture removal, volatilization, melting and slag formation. At the temperature higher than 1100 degrees C, the ESP ashes have a quicker weight loss, and the total weight loss reaches up to 52%, higher than the boiler ash. At 1400 degrees C a salt layer and a homogeneous glassy slag were formed. The effect of thermal treatment on the leaching characteristics of various elements in the ESP ash was evaluated with the availability-leaching test. The leaching values of the vitrified slag are significantly lowered than that of the original ash.
Mechanism of amorphisation of micro-particles of griseofulvin during powder flow in a mixer.

PubMed

Pazesh, Samaneh; Höckerfelt, Mina Heidarian; Berggren, Jonas; Bramer, Tobias; Alderborn, Göran

2013-11-01

The purpose of the research was to investigate the degree of solid-state amorphisation during powder flow and to propose a mechanism for this transformation. Micro-particles of griseofulvin (about 2 μm in diameter) were mixed in a shear mixer under different conditions to influence the inter-particulate collisions during flow, and the degree of amorphisation was determined by micro-calorimeter. The amorphisation of griseofulvin particles (GPs) during repeated compaction was also determined. The GPs generally became disordered during mixing in a range from about 6% to about 86%. The degree of amorphisation increased with increased mixing time and increased batch size of the mixer, whereas the addition of a lubricant to the blend reduced the degree of amorphisation. Repeated compaction using the press with ejection mode gave limited amorphisation, whereas repeated compaction without an ejection process gave minute amorphisation. It is concluded that during powder flow, the most important inter-particulate contact process that cause the transformation of a crystalline solid into an amorphous state is sliding. On the molecular scale, this amorphisation is proposed to be caused by vitrification, that is the melting of a solid because of the generation of heat during sliding followed by solidification into an amorphous phase. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.
Crystallization in high-level waste glass: A review of glass theory and noteworthy literature

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Christian, J. H.

2015-08-01

There is a fundamental need to continue research aimed at understanding nepheline and spinel crystal formation in high-level waste (HLW) glass. Specifically, the formation of nepheline solids (K/NaAlSiO₄) during slow cooling of HLW glass can reduce the chemical durability of the glass, which can cause a decrease in the overall durability of the glass waste form. The accumulation of spinel solids ((Fe, Ni, Mn, Zn)(Fe,Cr)₂O₄), while not detrimental to glass durability, can cause an array of processing problems inside of HLW glass melters. In this review, the fundamental differences between glass and solid-crystals are explained using kinetic, thermodynamic, and viscositymore » arguments, and several highlights of glass-crystallization research, as it pertains to high-level waste vitrification, are described. In terms of mitigating spinel in the melter and both spinel and nepheline formation in the canister, the complexity of HLW glass and the intricate interplay between thermal, chemical, and kinetic factors further complicates this understanding. However, new experiments seeking to elucidate the contributing factors of crystal nucleation and growth in waste glass, and the compilation of data from older experiments, may go a long way towards helping to achieve higher waste loadings while developing more efficient processing strategies.« less
Vitrification of ion exchange resins

DOEpatents

Cicero-Herman, Connie A.; Workman, Rhonda Jackson

2001-01-01

The present invention relates to vitrification of ion exchange resins that have become loaded with hazardous or radioactive wastes, in a way that produces a homogenous and durable waste form and reduces the disposal volume of the resin. The methods of the present invention involve directly adding borosilicate glass formers and an oxidizer to the ion exchange resin and heating the mixture at sufficient temperature to produce homogeneous glass.
Bio-inspired Cryo-ink Preserves Red Blood Cell Phenotype and Function during Nanoliter Vitrification

PubMed Central

Assal, Rami El; Guven, Sinan; Gurkan, Umut Atakan; Gozen, Irep; Shafiee, Hadi; Dalbeyber, Sedef; Abdalla, Noor; Thomas, Gawain; Fuld, Wendy; Illigens, Ben M.W.; Estanislau, Jessica; Khoory, Joseph; Kaufman, Richard; Zylberberg, Claudia; Lindeman, Neal; Wen, Qi; Ghiran, Ionita; Demirci, Utkan

2014-01-01

Current red blood cell cryopreservation methods utilize bulk volumes, causing cryo-injury of cells, which results in irreversible disruption of cell morphology, mechanics, and function. An innovative approach to preserve human red blood cell morphology, mechanics, and function following vitrification in nanoliter volumes is developed using a novel cryo-ink integrated with a bio-printing approach. PMID:25047246
Testing Report: Littleford-Day Dryer Operation: Dryer Operation Impacts of Proposed MIS Mitigation Changes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shimskey, Rick W.; Buchmiller, William C.; Elmore, Monte R.

2007-06-01

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory performed a series of tests using the Littleford Day 22-liter dryer during investigations that evaluated changes in the melter-feed composition for the Demonstration Bulk Vitrification System. During testing, a new melter-feed formulation was developed that improved dryer performance while improving the retention of waste salts in the melter feed during vitrification.
Effective Oocyte Vitrification and Survival Techniques for Bovine Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

PubMed Central

Park, Min Jee; Lee, Seung Eun; Lee, Jun Beom; Jeong, Chang Jin

2015-01-01

Abstract Bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) using vitrified–thawed (VT) oocytes has been studied; however, the cloning efficiency of these oocytes is not comparable with that of nonvitrified (non-V) fresh oocytes. This study sought to optimize the survival and cryopreservation of VT oocytes for SCNT. Co-culture with feeder cells that had been preincubated for 15 h significantly improved the survival of VT oocytes and their in vitro developmental potential following SCNT in comparison to co-culture with feeder cells that had been preincubated for 2, 5, or 24 h (p<0.05). Spindle assessment via the Oosight Microscopy Imaging System and microtubule staining revealed that vitrified metaphase II oocytes (VT group) were not suitable for SCNT. However, enucleating and/or activating oocytes prior to freezing enhanced their developmental potential and suitability for SCNT. The cloning efficiency of the enucleated–activated–vitrified–thawed (EAVT) group (21.6%) was better than that of the other vitrification groups [enucleated–vitrified–thawed (EVT) group, 13.7%; VT group, 15.0%; p<0.05] and was comparable with that of the non-V group (25.9%). The reactive oxygen species level was significantly lower in the EAVT group than in the other vitrification groups (p<0.05). mRNA levels of maternal genes (ZAR1, BMP15, and NLRP5) and a stress gene (HSF1) were lower in the vitrification groups than in the non-V group (p<0.05), whereas the level of phospho-p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase did not differ among the groups. Among the vitrification groups, blastocysts in the EAVT group had the best developmental potential, as judged by their high mRNA expression of developmental potential–related genes (POU5f1, Interferon-tau, and SLC2A5) and their low expression of proapoptotic (CASP3) and stress (Hsp70) genes. This study demonstrates that SCNT using bovine frozen–thawed oocytes can be successfully achieved using optimized vitrification and co-culture techniques. PMID:25984830
Effects of Vitrification on Outcomes of In Vivo-Mature, In Vitro-Mature and Immature Human Oocytes.

PubMed

Song, Wen-Yan; Peng, Zhao-Feng; Chen, Xue-Mei; Jin, Hai-Xia; Yao, Gui-Dong; Shi, Sen-Lin; Yang, Hong-Yi; Zhang, Xiang-Yang; Sun, Ying-Pu

2016-01-01

To observe the effects of vitrification on spindle, zona pellucida, embryonic aneuploidy and DNA injury in in vivo-maruted, in vitro-mature and immature human oocytes. Between January 2009 and February 2015, 223 immature oocytes from 450 infertile patients, and 31 in vivo-mature oocytes from 3 infertile couples were collected. Of the 223 immature oocytes, 113 were used for in vitro culture before vitrification. Some oocytes were randomly divided into in vivo-mature group (group A, n = 15), in vitro-mature group (group B, n = 88) and immature group (group C, n = 85), and then the oocytes with spindle in these three groups after freezing-thawing were selected to use for Polscope imaging, embryonic aneuploidy screening and embryo development evaluation. Other oocytes were randomly divided into group A (n = 16), group B (n = 25) and group C (n = 25) for detecting DNA injury. After thawing, spindle occurrence rate, spindle Retardance value, and cleavage rate were significantly higher in groups A and B than in group C (all P < 0.05), but there were no statistical differences in fertility rate, high-quality embryo rate, blastulation rate and aneuploidy rate amongst the three groups (all P > 0.05). Zona pellucida density (ZPD) was significantly lower in group A than in groups B and C both before and after vitrification (all P < 0.05). ZPD was significantly higher after thawing than before vitrification (all P < 0.05), but zona pellucida thickness (ZPT) was not significantly changed in all the three groups (all P > 0.05). Rate of comet cells was significantly lower in group A than in groups B and C (all P < 0.01). Comet tail was significantly longer in group C than in groups B and A (all P < 0.05). In vivo- and in vitro-mature human oocytes are more suitable to vitrification than immature human oocytes. Spindle Retardance value has more predictive value for embryonic development potential than ZPD and ZPT. © 2016 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.

[A prospective study to compare the efficiency of oocyte vitrification using closed or open devices].

PubMed

Sarandi, S; Herbemont, C; Sermondade, N; Benoit, A; Sonigo, C; Poncelet, C; Benard, J; Gronier, H; Boujenah, J; Grynberg, M; Sifer, C

2016-05-01

Oocyte vitrification using an open device is thought to be a source of microbiological and chemical contaminations that can be avoided using a closed device. The principal purpose of this study was to compare the two vitrification protocols: closed and open system. The secondary aim was to study the effects of the storage in the vapor phase of nitrogen (VPN) on oocytes vitrified using an open system and to compare it to those of a storage in liquid nitrogen (LN). Forty-four patients have been included in our study between November 2014 and May 2015. Two hundred and fourteen oocytes have been vitrified at germinal vesicle (GV), metaphase I (0PB) and metaphase II (1PB) stages. We vitrified 96 oocytes (59 GV/37 0PB) using a closed vitrification device and 118 oocytes (57 GV/31 0PB/30 1PB) using an open device. The vitrified oocytes were then stored either in LN or in VPN. The main outcome measures were the survival rate after warming (SR), meiosis resumption rate (MRR) and maturation rate (MR). The global post-thaw SR was significantly higher for oocytes vitrified using an open system (93.2%) compared to those vitrified using a closed one (64.5%; P<0.001). On the contrary, there was no significant difference in terms of global MRR and MR (82.1% vs. 87.5% and 60.7% vs. 61.2% using closed and open system respectively). The SR, MRR and the MR were not significantly different when vitrified oocytes were stored in VPN or LN (91.6, 83.8, 64.5% vs. 93.9, 89.8, 59.1% respectively). Taking into account the limits of our protocol, the open vitrification system remains the more efficient system. The use of sterile liquid nitrogen for oocyte vitrification and the subsequent storage in vapor phase of nitrogen could minimize the hypothetical risks of biological and chemical contaminations. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
Ultra-high cooling rate utilizing thin film evaporation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su, Fengmin; Ma, Hongbin; Han, Xu; Chen, Hsiu-hung; Tian, Bohan

2012-09-01

This research introduces a cell cryopreservation method, which utilizes thin film evaporation and provides an ultra-high cooling rate. The microstructured surface forming the thin film evaporation was fabricated from copper microparticles with an average diameter of 50 μm. Experimental results showed that a cooling rate of approximately 5×104 °C/min was achieved in a temperature range from 10 °C to -187 °C. The current investigation will give birth to a cell cryopreservation method through vitrification with relatively low concentrations of cryoprotectants.
Strain preservation of experimental animals: vitrification of two-cell stage embryos for multiple mouse strains.

PubMed

Eto, Tomoo; Takahashi, Riichi; Kamisako, Tsutomu

2015-04-01

Strain preservation of experimental animals is crucial for experimental reproducibility. Maintaining complete animal strains, however, is costly and there is a risk for genetic mutations as well as complete loss due to disasters or illness. Therefore, the development of effective vitrification techniques for cryopreservation of multiple experimental animal strains is important. We examined whether a vitrification method using cryoprotectant solutions, P10 and PEPeS, is suitable for preservation of multiple inbred and outbred mouse strains. First, we investigated whether our vitrification method using cryoprotectant solutions was suitable for two-cell stage mouse embryos. In vitro development of embryos exposed to the cryoprotectant solutions was similar to that of fresh controls. Further, the survival rate of the vitrified embryos was extremely high (98.1%). Next, we collected and vitrified two-cell stage embryos of 14 mouse strains. The average number of embryos obtained from one female was 7.3-33.3. The survival rate of vitrified embryos ranged from 92.8% to 99.1%, with no significant differences among mouse strains. In vivo development did not differ significantly between fresh controls and vitrified embryos of each strain. For strain preservation using cryopreserved embryos, two offspring for inbred lines and one offspring for outbred lines must be produced from two-cell stage embryos collected from one female. The expected number of surviving fetuses obtained from embryos collected from one female of either the inbred or outbred strains ranged from 2.9 to 19.5. The findings of the present study indicated that this vitrification method is suitable for strain preservation of multiple mouse strains. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Vitrification: an effective new approach to oocyte banking and preserving fertility in cancer patients.

PubMed

Cobo, A; Domingo, J; Pérez, S; Crespo, J; Remohí, J; Pellicer, A

2008-05-01

Oocyte cryopreservation is a useful tool for preserving the fertility of cancer patients at risk of losing ovarian function due to undergoing potentially sterilising therapies. Results obtained with different cryopreservation protocols have been disappointing, particularly those obtained with slow cooling procedures. The efficacy of vitrification as an application in clinical practice has recently been demonstrated. The aim of this study is to report results obtained with the Cryotop method of oocyte vitrification in a population of healthy women and to point out its potential usefulness for fertility preservation in oncological patients. The study population consisting of non-oncological patients included 47 oocyte donors and 57 recipients undergoing an oocyte donation cycle of assisted reproductive technology (ART). A total of 693 mature metaphase II oocytes were collected following ovarian stimulation using long protocol down-regulation plus gonadotropin administration. Vitrification was carried out by means of the Cryotop method. Oocytes were donated to a compatible recipient after endometrial preparation. Of the 693 oocytes, 666 (96.1%) survived. A total of 487 (73.1%) were fertilised successfully. One hundred and seventeen embryos were transferred to 57 recipients. Pregnancy rate per transfer and implantation rates were 63.2% and 38.5% respectively. Twenty-eight healthy babies were later born. Oocyte cryo-banking by means of the Cryotop vitrification method represents a viable option for healthy women, producing excellent survival rates and a clinical outcome similar to that obtained with fresh oocytes. This approach could potentially be used in cancer patients who want to safeguard their fertility. Cancer patients could potentially benefit from this approach by storing their oocytes before the onset of the oncological therapy.
Forskolin effect on the cryosurvival of in vitro-produced bovine embryos in the presence or absence of fetal calf serum.

PubMed

Paschoal, Daniela Martins; Sudano, Mateus José; Guastali, Midyan Daroz; Dias Maziero, Rosiára Rosária; Crocomo, Letícia Ferrari; Oña Magalhães, Luis Carlos; da Silva Rascado, Tatiana; Martins, Alicio; da Cruz Landim-Alvarenga, Fernanda

2014-05-01

The objective of this study was to assess the viability and cryotolerance of zebu embryos produced in vitro with or without the addition of fetal calf serum (FCS) and forskolin (F). Embryos produced in vivo were used as a control. Presumptive zygotes were cultured in modified synthetic oviductal fluid supplemented with amino acids (SOFaa), bovine serum albumin (BSA) and with (2.5%) or without (0%) FCS. On day 6 of growth, the embryos from each group were divided into treatments with or without 10 μM F to induce embryonic lipolysis, comprising a total of four experimental groups: 2.5% FCS, 0% FCS, 2.5% + F and 0% + F. For vitrification, embryos were exposed to vitrification solution 1 (5 M EG (ethylene glycol)) for 3 min and then transferred to vitrification solution 2 (7 M EG, 0.5 M galactose solution and 18% (w/v) Ficoll 70) before being introduced to liquid nitrogen. The presence of FCS in the culture medium resulted in the production of embryos with a similar rate of damaged cells compared with in vivo-produced embryos. After vitrification, the 2.5% FCS group had a significantly higher rate of damaged cells when compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). The results of this experiment indicated that the omission of FCS and the addition of forskolin do not have deleterious effect on embryo production rates. In addition, embryos produced in the presence of FCS had greater sensitivity to cryopreservation, but this effect was reversed when forskolin was added to the medium, which improved embryo survival without affecting embryo development and quality after vitrification.
Decreased pregnancy and live birth rates after vitrification of in vitro matured oocytes.

PubMed

Cohen, Yoni; St-Onge-St-Hilaire, Alexandra; Tannus, Samer; Younes, Grace; Dahan, Michael H; Buckett, William; Son, Weon-Young

2018-06-04

To assess effects on fertilization rate, embryo quality, pregnancy, and live birth rates of vitrification and warming of oocytes that matured in vitro (vIVM) compared to fresh in vitro maturation (fIVM) cycles. A retrospective cohort study conducted at a university hospital-affiliated IVF unit. Fifty-six cycles of vIVM cycles and 263 fIVM in women diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) ovaries were included in the analysis. The study group included PCOS patients who failed ovulation induction with intrauterine insemination and were offered IVM cycle followed by oocyte vitrification and warming. The embryological aspects and clinical outcomes were compared to those of controls undergoing fresh IVM cycles during the same period. The main outcome measure was live birth rate. One thousand seventy oocytes were collected from 56 patients and underwent vitrification and warming. In the control group, 4781 oocytes were collected from 219 patients who had undergone a fresh IVM cycle. Oocyte maturation rates were similar between the groups (mean ± SD: 0.7 ± 0.2 vs. 0.6 ± 0.2, for vIVM and fIVM, respectively). Survival rate after warming was 59.8%. Fertilization and embryo cleavage rates per oocyte were significantly lower in the vIVM group. Clinical pregnancy (10.7 vs. 36.1%) and live birth rates (8.9 vs. 25.9%) per cycle were significantly lower in the vIVM group than those in the fIVM group (P = 0.005 and P < 0.001, respectively). Five healthy babies were born in the vIVM group. The reproductive potential of vitrified IVM oocytes is impaired. This injury likely occurs through vitrification and warming.
Survival of mouse embryos after vitrification depending on the cooling rate of the cryoprotectant solution.

PubMed

Hredzák, R; Ostró, A; Zdilová, Viera; Maracek, I; Kacmárik, J

2006-03-01

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the rate of cooling of eight-cell mouse embryos to the temperature of liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C) and their developmental capacity after thawing on the basis of their ability to leave the zona pellucida ('hatching') during in vitro culturing. Eight-cell embryos were obtained from superovulated female mice and divided into three experimental and one control group. Embryos from the experimental groups were cryopreserved by the vitrification method using ethylene glycol as cryoprotectant. The vitrification protocols used in the study differed in the rate of cooling of the cryoprotectant solution. Embryos from the first group were frozen in conventional 0.25-ml plastic straws, those from the second group in pipetting 'tips', and embryos from the third group, placed in vitrification solution, were introduced dropwise directly into liquid nitrogen. The control group of embryos was cultured in vitro without freezing in a culturing medium in an environment consisting of 95% air and 5% CO2. The developmental capacity of thawed embryos was assessed on the basis of their ability to leave the zona pellucida ('hatching') after three days of in vitro culturing. In the control group 95.1% of embryos 'hatched'. A significantly higher number of embryos that 'hatched' after thawing was observed in the group introduced dropwise directly into liquid nitrogen (60.0%) compared to the group frozen in pipetting 'tips' (37.9%). The group frozen in straws yielded significantly the lowest proportion of 'hatching' embryos (8.1%). These results showed that increasing cooling rates during vitrification of embryos improved their survival.
Effects of vitrification on nuclear maturation, ultrastructural changes and gene expression of canine oocytes

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Cryopreservation of oocytes, which is an interesting procedure to conserve female gametes, is an essential part of reproductive biotechnology. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of vitrification on nuclear maturation, ultrastructural changes and gene expression of canine oocytes. Methods Immature oocytes (germinal vesicles) isolated from ovaries of normal bitches (> 6 months of age) were either vitrified in open pulled straw (OPS) using 20% ethylene glycol (EG) and 20% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as vitrification solution or exposed to vitrification solution without subjected to liquid nitrogen. After warming, oocytes were investigated for nuclear maturation following in vitro maturation (IVM), ultrastructural changes using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and gene expression using RT-PCR. Fresh immature oocytes were used as the control group. Results The rate of resumption of meiosis in vitrified-warmed oocytes (53.4%) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of control (93.8%) and exposure (91.4%) groups. However, there were no statistically significant differences among groups in the rates of GV oocytes reaching the maturation stage (metaphase II, MII). The ultrastructural alterations revealed by TEM showed that cortical granules, mitochondria, lipid droplets and smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) were affected by vitrification procedures. RT-PCR analysis for gene expression revealed no differences in HSP70, Dnmt1, SOD1 and BAX genes among groups, whereas Bcl2 was strongly expressed in vitrified-warmed group when compared to the control. Conclusion Immature canine oocytes were successfully cryopreserved, resumed meiosis and developed to the MII stage. The information obtained in this study is crucial for the development of an effective method to cryopreserve canine oocytes for establishment of genetic banks of endangered canid species. PMID:20565987
Synthetic polymers improve vitrification outcomes of macaque ovarian tissue as assessed by histological integrity and the in vitro development of secondary follicles☆

PubMed Central

Ting, Alison Y.; Yeoman, Richard R.; Lawson, Maralee S.; Zelinski, Mary B.

2013-01-01

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is the only proven option for fertility preservation in female cancer patients who are prepubertal or require immediate treatment. However it remains unclear which cryopreservation protocol is best in cases where the tissue may contain cancerous cells, as these should be matured in vitro rather than autografted. This study evaluated different cryoprotectant exposure times and whether the addition of synthetic polymers (Supercool X-1000, Z-1000 and polyvinylpyrrolidone [PVP K-12]) to the vitrification solution is beneficial to tissue morphology, cellular proliferation and subsequent in vitro function of secondary follicles. Pieces of macaque (n = 4) ovarian cortex were exposed to vitrification solution containing glycerol (25%, v/v) and ethylene glycol (25%, v/v) for 3 or 8 min, without (V3, V8) or with (VP3, VP8) polymers (0.2% [v/v] X-1000, 0.4% Z-1000 and 0.2% PVP). Fresh and vitrified tissues were fixed for histology and phosphohistone H3 (PPH3) analysis, or used for secondary follicle isolation followed by encapsulated 3D culture. Five-week follicle survival and growth, as well as steroid hormones (estradiol [E2], progesterone, androstenedione) were measured weekly. Morphology of the stroma and preantral follicles as well as PPH3 expression, was preserved in all vitrified tissues. Vitrification with polymers and shorter incubation time (VP3) increased in vitro follicle survival and E2 production compared to other vitrified groups. Thus, a short exposure of macaque ovarian tissue to a vitrification solution containing synthetic polymers preserves morphology and improves in vitro function of secondary follicles. PMID:22569078
Comparison of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol for the vitrification of immature porcine oocytes.

PubMed

Somfai, Tamás; Nakai, Michiko; Tanihara, Fuminori; Noguchi, Junko; Kaneko, Hiroyuki; Kashiwazaki, Naomi; Egerszegi, István; Nagai, Takashi; Kikuchi, Kazuhiro

2013-01-01

Our aim was to optimize a cryoprotectant treatment for vitrification of immature porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). Immature COCs were vitrified either in 35% ethylene glycol (EG), 35% propylene glycol (PG) or a combination of 17.5% EG and 17.5% PG. After warming, the COCs were in vitro matured (IVM), and surviving oocytes were in vitro fertilized (IVF) and cultured. The mean survival rate of vitrified oocytes in 35% PG (73.9%) was higher (P<0.05) than that in 35% EG (27.8%). Oocyte maturation rates did not differ among vitrified and non-vitrified control groups. Blastocyst formation in the vitrified EG group (10.8%) was higher (P<0.05) than that in the vitrified PG group (2.0%) but was lower than that in the control group (25.0%). Treatment of oocytes with 35% of each cryoprotectant without vitrification revealed a higher toxicity of PG on subsequent blastocyst development compared with EG. The combination of EG and PG resulted in 42.6% survival after vitrification. The maturation and fertilization rates of the surviving oocytes were similar in the vitrified, control and toxicity control (TC; treated with EG+PG combination without cooling) groups. Blastocyst development in the vitrified group was lower (P<0.05) than that in the control and TC groups, which in turn had similar development rates (10.7%, 18.1% and 23.3%, respectively). In conclusion, 35% PG enabled a higher oocyte survival rate after vitrification compared with 35% EG. However, PG was greatly toxic to oocytes. The combination of 17.5% EG and 17.5% PG yielded reasonable survival rates without toxic effects on embryo development.
FINAL REPORT SUMMARY OF DM 1200 OPERATION AT VSL VSL-06R6710-2 REV 0 9/7/06

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

KRUGER AA; MATLACK KS; DIENER G

2011-12-29

The principal objective of this report was to summarize the testing experience on the DuraMelter 1200 (DMI200), which is the High Level Waste (HLW) Pilot Melter located at the Vitreous State Laboratory (VSL). Further objectives were to provide descriptions of the history of all modifications and maintenance, methods of operation, problems and unit failures, and melter emissions and performance while processing a variety of simulated HL W and low activity waste (LAW) feeds for the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) and employing a variety of operating methods. All of these objectives were met. The River Protection Project -more » Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (RPP-WTP) Project has undertaken a 'tiered' approach to vitrification development testing involving computer-based glass formulation, glass property-composition models, crucible melts, and continuous melter tests of increasing, more realistic scales. Melter systems ranging from 0.02 to 1.2 m{sup 2} installed at the Vitreous State Laboratory (VSL) have been used for this purpose, which, in combination with the 3.3 m{sup 2} low activity waste (LAW) Pilot Melter at Duratek, Inc., span more than two orders of magnitude in melt surface area. In this way, less-costly small-scale tests can be used to define the most appropriate tests to be conducted at the larger scales in order to extract maximum benefit from the large-scale tests. For high level waste (HLW) vitrification development, a key component in this approach is the one-third scale DuraMelter 1200 (DM 1200), which is the HLW Pilot Melter that has been installed at VSL with an integrated prototypical off-gas treatment system. That system replaced the DM1000 system that was used for HLW throughput testing during Part B1. Both melters have similar melt surface areas (1.2 m{sup 2}) but the DM1200 is prototypical of the present RPP-WTP HLW melter design whereas the DM1000 was not. In particular, the DM1200 provides for testing on a vitrification system with the specific train of unit operations that has been selected for both HLW and LAW RPP-WTP off-gas treatment.« less
Plasma vitrification of asbestos fibers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Camacho, S.L.

Asbestos is a mineral in the form of long, thread-like fibers. Asbestos fibers have been among the best insulators of pipes, boilers, ducts, tanks, etc., in buildings, ships, and industrial furnaces. Over 150,000 metric tons of asbestos were consumed in the United States in 1984. The Environmental Protection Agency has declared asbestos fibers a known human carcinogen. And today, asbestos insulators are being replaced by manmade non-hazardous fibers. Millions of tons of replaced asbestos fiber insulators are in storage, awaiting the demonstration of effective alternative disposal technologies. Plasma vitrification has been demonstrated during May, June and July 1995 as amore » viable, cost-effective, safe technology for asbestos fiber disposal. A low-mass plasma arc heater is submerged under the waste asbestos insulating materials, and the intense heat of the plasma flame heats and melts the fibers. The by-product is dark, non-hazardous glass pellets. The vitrification process renders the asbestos waste safe for use as road construction aggregates or other fill materials. This paper will describe the results of start-up of a 1 ton-per-hour Plasma Mobile Asbestos Vitrification (MAV) Plant at a DOD Site in Port Clinton, Ohio. The Plasma MAV Plant is being demonstrated for the on-site disposal of 1.5 million pounds of Amosite asbestos fibers.« less
Ovarian reserve and response to stimulation in women undergoing fertility preservation according to malignancy type.

PubMed

Lefebvre, Tiphaine; Mirallié, Sophie; Leperlier, Florence; Reignier, Arnaud; Barrière, Paul; Fréour, Thomas

2018-05-02

Does ovarian reserve and ovarian response to ovarian stimulation in women with cancer undergoing oocyte vitrification for fertility preservation vary according to the type of malignancy? Retrospective cohort study including 105 women aged between 18 and 40 years, who were referred for fertility preservation (oocyte vitrification) between 2013 and 2016. The women were divided into three groups: breast cancer, lymphoma or other cancer. All of them had been recently diagnosed with cancer, with gonadotoxic treatment scheduled, and had oocyte vitrification after ovarian stimulation with antagonist protocol. Baseline antral follicle count and anti-Müllerian hormone were no different between women with breast cancer, lymphoma or other cancer. The number of cancelled cycles for poor ovarian response was similar between the groups. The number of FSH units per mature oocyte, the number of mature oocytes (metaphase II) retrieved, and the oocyte maturity rate were not significantly different between the three groups. As the type of cancer does not seem to significantly affect ovarian reserve and ovarian response to ovarian stimulation, our results do not support the relevance of integrating this parameter when establishing ovarian stimulation protocol for oocyte vitrification cycle in women with cancer. Copyright © 2018 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Vitrification of mouse embryos using the thin plastic strip method

PubMed Central

Hur, Yong Soo; Ann, Ji Young; Maeng, Ja Young; Park, Miji; Park, Jeong Hyun; Yoon, Jung; Yoon, San Hyun; Hur, Chang Young; Lee, Won Don; Lim, Jin Ho

2012-01-01

Objective The aim of this study was to compare vitrification optimization of mouse embryos using electron microscopy (EM) grid, cryotop, and thin plastic strip (TPS) containers by evaluating developmental competence and apoptosis rates. Methods Mouse embryos were obtained from superovulated mice. Mouse cleavage-stage, expanded, hatching-stage, and hatched-stage embryos were cryopreserved in EM grid, cryotop, and TPS containers by vitrification in 15% ethylene glycol, 15% dimethylsulfoxide, 10 µg/mL Ficoll, and 0.65 M sucrose, and 20% serum substitute supplement (SSS) with basal medium, respectively. For the three groups in which the embryos were thawed in the EM grid, cryotop, and TPS containers, the thawing solution consisted of 0.25 M sucrose, 0.125 M sucrose, and 20% SSS with basal medium, respectively. Rates of survival, re-expansion, reaching the hatched stage, and apoptosis after thawing were compared among the three groups. Results Developmental competence after thawing of vitrified expanded and hatching-stage blastocysts using cryotop and TPS methods were significantly higher than survival using the EM grid (p<0.05). Also, apoptosis positive nuclei rates after thawing of vitrified expanded blastocysts using cryotop and TPS were significantly lower than when using the EM grid (p<0.05). Conclusion The TPS vitrification method has the advantages of achieving a high developmental ability and effective preservation. PMID:23346525
Experimental vitrification of human compacted morulae and early blastocysts using fine diameter plastic micropipettes.

PubMed

Cremades, N; Sousa, M; Silva, J; Viana, P; Sousa, S; Oliveira, C; Teixeira da Silva, J; Barros, A

2004-02-01

Vitrification of human blastocysts has been successfully applied using grids, straws and cryoloops. We assessed the survival rate of human compacted morulae and early blastocysts vitrified in pipette tips with a smaller inner diameter and solution volume than the previously described open pulled straw (OPS) method. Excess day 5 human embryos (n = 63) were experimentally vitrified in vessels. Embryos were incubated at 37 degrees C with sperm preparation medium (SPM) for 1 min, SPM + 7.5% ethylene glycol (EG)/dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) for 3 min, and SPM + 16.5% EG + 16.5% DMSO + 0.67 mol/l sucrose for 25 s. They were then aspirated (0.5 microl) into a plastic micropipette tip (0.36 mm inner diameter), exposed to liquid nitrogen (LN(2)) vapour for 2 min before being placed into a pre-cooled cryotube, which was then closed and plunged into LN(2). Embryos were warmed and diluted using 0.33 mol/l and 0.2 mol/l sucrose. The survival rate for compacted morulae was 73% (22/30) and 82% (27/33) for early blastocysts. The survival rates of human compacted morulae and early blastocysts after vitrification with this simple technique are similar to those reported in the literature achieved by slow cooling and other vitrification protocols.
Zinc supplementation of vitrification medium improves in vitro maturation and fertilization of oocytes derived from vitrified-warmed mouse ovaries.

PubMed

Geravandi, Shirin; Azadbakht, Mehri; Pourmoradi, Mahsa; Nowrouzi, Fatemeh

2017-02-01

Oocyte cryopreservation is an approach for fertility preservation for normal women and cancer patients facing chemo and radiotherapy. The present study evaluated the effect of adding zinc chloride to the vitrification medium used for whole mouse ovaries and then assessing the in vitro maturation and fertilization of oocytes when they were subsequently extracted from these vitrified ovarian tissues. Four vitrification solutions with 0, 100,150 and 200 μg/dl zinc (V0, V1, V2 and V3 respectively) were compared. The viability of oocytes isolated from ovaries vitrified-warmed in the highest concentration of zinc (V3) was significantly higher after 24 than in the control V0 group (72.99 vs 85.97). Progression to the MII stage, fertilization and cleavage by 48 h was also higher in the V3 than V0 control group (35.55 vs 44.73), (47.67 vs 63.74), (28.72 vs 43.03) (P < 0.05) respectively. These results indicate that supplementation of vitrification medium for intact ovaries with zinc can improve the oocyte viability and in vitro maturation-fertilization rate. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Local geology controlled the feasibility of vitrifying Iron Age buildings

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fabian B Wadsworth,; Michael J Heap,; Damby, David; Kai-Uwe Hess,; Jens Najorka,; Jérémie Vasseur,; Dominik Fahrner,; Donald B Dingwell,

2017-01-01

During European prehistory, hilltop enclosures made from polydisperse particle-and-block stone walling were exposed to temperatures sufficient to partially melt the constituent stonework, leading to the preservation of glassy walls called ‘vitrified forts’. During vitrification, the granular wall rocks partially melt, sinter viscously and densify, reducing inter-particle porosity. This process is strongly dependent on the solidus temperature, the particle sizes, the temperature-dependence of the viscosity of the evolving liquid phase, as well as the distribution and longevity of heat. Examination of the sintering behaviour of 45 European examples reveals that it is the raw building material that governs the vitrification efficiency. As Iron Age forts were commonly constructed from local stone, we conclude that local geology directly influenced the degree to which buildings were vitrified in the Iron Age. Additionally, we find that vitrification is accompanied by a bulk material strengthening of the aggregates of small sizes, and a partial weakening of larger blocks. We discuss these findings in the context of the debate surrounding the motive of the wall-builders. We conclude that if wall stability by bulk strengthening was the desired effect, then vitrification represents an Iron Age technology that failed to be effective in regions of refractory local geology.
Preservation of human ovarian follicles within tissue frozen by vitrification in a xeno-free closed system using only ethylene glycol as a permeating cryoprotectant.

PubMed

Sheikhi, Mona; Hultenby, Kjell; Niklasson, Boel; Lundqvist, Monalill; Hovatta, Outi

2013-07-01

To study the preservation of follicles within ovarian tissue vitrified using only one or a combination of three permeating cryoprotectants. Experimental study. University hospital. Ovarian tissue was donated by consenting women undergoing elective cesarean section. Ovarian tissue was vitrified in closed sealed vials using either a combination of dimethyl sulfoxide, 1,2-propanediol, and ethylene glycol (EG), or only EG as permeating cryoprotectants. Ovarian tissue was vitrified with the use of two vitrification methods. Tissue from the same donor was used for comparison of two different solutions. The morphology of the follicles was evaluated after vitrification, warming, and culture by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Apoptosis was assessed by immunohistochemistry for active caspase-3 in fresh and vitrified tissue. Light and electron microscopic analysis showed equally well preserved morphology of oocytes, granulosa cells, and ovarian stroma when either of the vitrification solutions was used. No apoptosis was observed in primordial and primary follicles. Using only EG as a permeating cryoprotectant in a closed tube gives as good ultrastructural preservation of ovarian follicles as a more complicated system using several cryoprotectants. Copyright © 2013 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Multiphase, multi-electrode Joule heat computations for glass melter and in situ vitrification simulations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lowery, P.S.; Lessor, D.L.

Waste glass melter and in situ vitrification (ISV) processes represent the combination of electrical thermal, and fluid flow phenomena to produce a stable waste-from product. Computational modeling of the thermal and fluid flow aspects of these processes provides a useful tool for assessing the potential performance of proposed system designs. These computations can be performed at a fraction of the cost of experiment. Consequently, computational modeling of vitrification systems can also provide and economical means for assessing the suitability of a proposed process application. The computational model described in this paper employs finite difference representations of the basic continuum conservationmore » laws governing the thermal, fluid flow, and electrical aspects of the vitrification process -- i.e., conservation of mass, momentum, energy, and electrical charge. The resulting code is a member of the TEMPEST family of codes developed at the Pacific Northwest Laboratory (operated by Battelle for the US Department of Energy). This paper provides an overview of the numerical approach employed in TEMPEST. In addition, results from several TEMPEST simulations of sample waste glass melter and ISV processes are provided to illustrate the insights to be gained from computational modeling of these processes. 3 refs., 13 figs.« less
Remediation techniques for heavy metal-contaminated soils: Principles and applicability.

PubMed

Liu, Lianwen; Li, Wei; Song, Weiping; Guo, Mingxin

2018-08-15

Globally there are over 20millionha of land contaminated by the heavy metal(loid)s As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, Co, Cu, Ni, Zn, and Se, with the present soil concentrations higher than the geo-baseline or regulatory levels. In-situ and ex-situ remediation techniques have been developed to rectify the heavy metal-contaminated sites, including surface capping, encapsulation, landfilling, soil flushing, soil washing, electrokinetic extraction, stabilization, solidification, vitrification, phytoremediation, and bioremediation. These remediation techniques employ containment, extraction/removal, and immobilization mechanisms to reduce the contamination effects through physical, chemical, biological, electrical, and thermal remedy processes. These techniques demonstrate specific advantages, disadvantages, and applicability. In general, in-situ soil remediation is more cost-effective than ex-situ treatment, and contaminant removal/extraction is more favorable than immobilization and containment. Among the available soil remediation techniques, electrokinetic extraction, chemical stabilization, and phytoremediation are at the development stage, while the others have been practiced at full, field scales. Comprehensive assessment indicates that chemical stabilization serves as a temporary soil remediation technique, phytoremediation needs improvement in efficiency, surface capping and landfilling are applicable to small, serious-contamination sites, while solidification and vitrification are the last remediation option. The cost and duration of soil remediation are technique-dependent and site-specific, up to $500ton -1 soil (or $1500m -3 soil or $100m -2 land) and 15years. Treatability studies are crucial to selecting feasible techniques for a soil remediation project, with considerations of the type and degree of contamination, remediation goals, site characteristics, cost effectiveness, implementation time, and public acceptability. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Bio-inspired cryo-ink preserves red blood cell phenotype and function during nanoliter vitrification.

PubMed

El Assal, Rami; Guven, Sinan; Gurkan, Umut Atakan; Gozen, Irep; Shafiee, Hadi; Dalbeyler, Sedef; Abdalla, Noor; Thomas, Gawain; Fuld, Wendy; Illigens, Ben M W; Estanislau, Jessica; Khoory, Joseph; Kaufman, Richard; Zylberberg, Claudia; Lindeman, Neal; Wen, Qi; Ghiran, Ionita; Demirci, Utkan

2014-09-03

Current red-blood-cell cryopreservation methods utilize bulk volumes, causing cryo-injury of cells, which results in irreversible disruption of cell morphology, mechanics, and function. An innovative approach to preserve human red-blood-cell morphology, mechanics, and function following vitrification in nanoliter volumes is developed using a novel cryo-ink integrated with a bioprinting approach. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
Evaluation of alloy 690 process pot at the contact with borosilicate melt pool during vitrification of high-level nuclear waste

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sengupta, Pranesh; Kaushik, C. P.; Kale, G. B.; Das, D.; Raj, K.; Sharma, B. P.

2009-08-01

Understanding the material behaviour under service conditions is essential to enhance the life span of alloy 690 process pot used in vitrification of high-level nuclear waste. During vitrification process, interaction of alloy 690 with borosilicate melt takes place for substantial time period. Present experimental studies show that such interactions may result in Cr carbide precipitation along grain boundaries, Cr depletion in austenitic matrix and intergranular attack close to alloy 690/borosilicate melt pool interfaces. Widths of Cr depleted zone within alloy 690 is found to follow kinetics of the type x = 10.9 × 10 -6 + 1 × 10 -8t1/2 m. Based on the experimental results it is recommended that compositional modification of alloy 690 process pot adjacent to borosilicate melt pool need to be considered seriously for any efforts towards reduction and/or prevention of process pot failures.
Oocyte vitrification for elective fertility preservation: the past, present, and future.

PubMed

Gunnala, Vinay; Schattman, Glenn

2017-02-01

Oocyte cryopreservation is no longer experimental and one of its rapidly growing indications is elective fertility preservation. Currently there is no sufficient evidence to support its practice and therefore its place in IVF remains uncertain. Vitrification has superior post-thaw survival and fertilization outcomes compared with oocytes that were frozen with the slow-freeze technique. Oocyte vitrification produces similar IVF outcomes compared with fresh oocytes and is not associated with further obstetrical or perinatal morbidity. Undergoing elective oocyte cryopreservation between ages 35 and 37 will optimize live birth rates as well as cost effectiveness from mathematical models. In women who delay child bearing, elective oocyte cryopreservation in the mid 30s may be beneficial in terms of live birth rates and cost effectiveness. Prospective studies of women who have undergone oocyte cryopreservation and are now attempting conception are needed before official recommendations can be made regarding elective egg freezing.
Emerging technologies in medical applications of minimum volume vitrification

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xiaohui; Catalano, Paolo N; Gurkan, Umut Atakan; Khimji, Imran; Demirci, Utkan

2011-01-01

Cell/tissue biopreservation has broad public health and socio-economic impact affecting millions of lives. Cryopreservation technologies provide an efficient way to preserve cells and tissues targeting the clinic for applications including reproductive medicine and organ transplantation. Among these technologies, vitrification has displayed significant improvement in post-thaw cell viability and function by eliminating harmful effects of ice crystal formation compared to the traditional slow freezing methods. However, high cryoprotectant agent concentrations are required, which induces toxicity and osmotic stress to cells and tissues. It has been shown that vitrification using small sample volumes (i.e., <1 μl) significantly increases cooling rates and hence reduces the required cryoprotectant agent levels. Recently, emerging nano- and micro-scale technologies have shown potential to manipulate picoliter to nanoliter sample sizes. Therefore, the synergistic integration of nanoscale technologies with cryogenics has the potential to improve biopreservation methods. PMID:21955080
Current results with slow freezing and vitrification of the human oocyte.

PubMed

Boldt, Jeffrey

2011-09-01

The past decade has witnessed renewed interest in human oocyte cryopreservation (OCP). This article reviews the two general methods used for OCP, slow freezing and vitrification, compares the outcomes associated with each technique and discusses the factors that might influence success with OCP (such as oocyte selection or day of transfer). Based on available data, OCP offers a reliable, reproducible method for preservation of the female gamete and will find increasing application in assisted reproductive technology. Oocyte cryopreservation can provide a number of advantages to couples undergoing assisted reproduction or to women interested in fertility preservation. Two methods, slow freezing and vitrification, have been used successfully for oocyte cryopreservation. This article reviews and compares these methods, and discusses various factors that can impact upon success of oocyte cryopreservation. Copyright © 2011 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Hanford High-Level Waste Vitrification Program at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: technology development - annotated bibliography

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Larson, D.E.

1996-09-01

This report provides a collection of annotated bibliographies for documents prepared under the Hanford High-Level Waste Vitrification (Plant) Program. The bibliographies are for documents from Fiscal Year 1983 through Fiscal Year 1995, and include work conducted at or under the direction of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The bibliographies included focus on the technology developed over the specified time period for vitrifying Hanford pretreated high-level waste. The following subject areas are included: General Documentation; Program Documentation; High-Level Waste Characterization; Glass Formulation and Characterization; Feed Preparation; Radioactive Feed Preparation and Glass Properties Testing; Full-Scale Feed Preparation Testing; Equipment Materials Testing; Meltermore » Performance Assessment and Evaluations; Liquid-Fed Ceramic Melter; Cold Crucible Melter; Stirred Melter; High-Temperature Melter; Melter Off-Gas Treatment; Vitrification Waste Treatment; Process, Product Control and Modeling; Analytical; and Canister Closure, Decontamination, and Handling« less
Fast Cooling and Vitrification of Aqueous Solutions for Cryopreservation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Warkentin, Matt; Husseini, Naji; Berejnov, Viatcheslav; Thorne, Robert

2006-03-01

In many applications, a small volume of aqueous solution must be cooled at a rate sufficient to produce amorphous solid water. Two prominent examples include flash-freezing of protein crystals for X-ray data collection and freezing of cells (i.e. spermatozoa) for cryopreservation. The cooling rate required to vitrify pure water (˜10^6 K/s) is unattainable for volumes that might contain cells or protein crystals, but the required rate can be reduced by adding cryoprotectants. We report the first measurements of the critical concentration required to produce a vitrified sample as a function of the sample's volume, the cryogen into which the sample is plunged, and the temperature of the cryogen, for a wide range of cryoprotectants. These experiments have broad practical consequences for cryopreservation, and provide insight into the physics of glass formation in aqueous systems.
Review of the Scientific Understanding of Radioactive Waste at the U.S. DOE Hanford Site

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Peterson, Reid A.; Buck, Edgar C.; Chun, Jaehun

This paper reviews the origin and chemical and rheological complexity of radioactive waste at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hanford Site. The waste, stored in underground tanks, was generated via three distinct processes over decades of plutonium extraction operations. Although close records were kept of original waste disposition, tank-to-tank transfers and conditions that impede equilibrium complicate our understanding of the chemistry, phase composition, and rheology of the waste. Tank waste slurries comprise particles and aggregates from nano to micron scales, with varying densities, morphologies, heterogeneous compositions, and complicated responses to flow regimes and process conditions. Further, remnant or changing radiationmore » fields may affect the stability and rheology of the waste. These conditions pose challenges for transport through conduits or pipes to treatment plants for vitrification. Additionally, recalcitrant boehmite degrades glass quality and must be reduced prior to vitrification, but dissolves much more slowly than predicted given surface normalized rates. Existing empirical models based on ex situ experiments and observations lack true predictive capabilities. Recent advances in in situ microscopy, aberration corrected TEM, theoretical modeling across scales, and experimental methods for probing the physics and chemistry at mineral-fluid and mineral-mineral interfaces are being implemented to build robustly predictive physics-based models.« less
Cryoprotectant-free vitrification of human spermatozoa in new artificial seminal fluid.

PubMed

Agha-Rahimi, A; Khalili, M A; Nottola, S A; Miglietta, S; Moradi, A

2016-11-01

Vitrification is a new method that has been recently introduced in Assisted Reproduction Technique programs. The aim of this study was to design a new medium similar to normal human seminal fluid (SF), formulation artificial seminal fluid (ASF), and to compare the cryoprotective potency of this medium with SF and human tubal fluid (HTF) medium. Thirty normal ejaculates were processed with the swim-up technique and sperm suspensions were divided into four aliquots: (i) fresh sample (control); (ii) vitrification in HTF medium supplemented with 5 mg/mL human serum albumin and 0.25 mol sucrose (Vit HTF); (iii) vitrification with patients' SF (Vit SF); and (iv) vitrification in ASF (Vit ASF). After warming, sperm parameters of motility, viability, and morphology were analyzed using WHO criteria. Also, sperm pellets were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde and processed for scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observations. The results showed that progressive motility (46.09 ± 10.33 vs. 36.80 ± 13.75), grade A motility (36.59 ± 11.40 vs. 16.41 ± 11.24), and normal morphology (18.74 ± 8.35 vs. 11.85 ± 5.84) and viability (68.22 ± 10.83 vs. 60.86 ± 11.72) of spermatozoa were significantly higher in Vit ASF than in Vit HTF. All parameters were better in Vit ASF than in Vit SF, but only viability was significantly different (p = 0.006). After cryopreservation, deep invagination in cytoplasm and mechanically weak point sites and folded tail were commonly observed. But, this phenomenon was more significant in Vit HTF and Vit SF than in ASF (p < 0.05). In transmission electron microscopy evaluation, acrosome damage, plasma membrane loss, chromatin vacuolation, and disruption of mitochondria arrangement and structures were observed in all vitrified groups. Adherence of several tail sections together was also seen in all cryo groups. But this was seen more in Vit HTF and Vit SF than in ASF (p < 0.05). In conclusion, vitrification of human spermatozoa with ASF can effectively preserve the quality of sperm motility in comparison with Vit HTF. © 2016 American Society of Andrology and European Academy of Andrology.
Analysis of Hanford Cast Stone Supplemental LAW using Composition Adjusted SRS Tank 50 Salt Solution

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Crawford, C.; Cozzi, A.; Hill, K.

Vitrification is the primary disposition path for Low Activity Waste (LAW) at the Department of Energy (DOE) Hanford Site. A cementitious waste form is one of the alternatives being considered for the supplemental immobilization of the LAW that will not be treated by the primary vitrification facility. Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) has been directed to generate and collect data on cementitious or pozzolanic waste forms such as Cast Stone.
Review of vitreous islet cryopreservation

PubMed Central

Baicu, Simona

2009-01-01

Transplantation of pancreatic islets for the treatment of diabetes mellitus is widely anticipated to eventually provide a cure once a means for preventing rejection is found without reliance upon global immunosuppression. Long-term storage of islets is crucial for the organization of transplantation, islet banking, tissue matching, organ sharing, immuno-manipulation and multiple donor transplantation. Existing methods of cryopreservation involving freezing are known to be suboptimal providing only about 50% survival. The development of techniques for ice-free cryopreservation of mammalian tissues using both natural and synthetic ice blocking molecules, and the process of vitrification (formation of a glass as opposed to crystalline ice) has been a focus of research during recent years. These approaches have established in other tissues that vitrification can markedly improve survival by circumventing ice-induced injury. Here we review some of the underlying issues that impact the vitrification approach to islet cryopreservation and describe some initial studies to apply these new technologies to the long-term storage of pancreatic islets. These studies were designed to optimize both the pre-vitrification hypothermic exposure conditions using newly developed media and to compare new techniques for ice-free cryopreservation with conventional freezing protocols. Some practical constraints and feasible resolutions are discussed. Eventually the optimized techniques will be applied to clinical allografts and xenografts or genetically-modified islets designed to overcome immune responses in the diabetic host. PMID:20046679
Successful slush nitrogen vitrification of human ovarian tissue.

PubMed

Talevi, Riccardo; Barbato, Vincenza; Fiorentino, Ilaria; Braun, Sabrina; De Stefano, Cristofaro; Ferraro, Raffaele; Sudhakaran, Sam; Gualtieri, Roberto

2016-06-01

To study whether slush nitrogen vitrification improves the preservation of human ovarian tissue. Control vs. treatment study. University research laboratory. Ovarian biopsies collected from nine women (aged 14-35 years) during laparoscopic surgery for benign gynecologic conditions. None. Ovarian cortical strips of 2 × 5 × 1 mm were vitrified with liquid or slush nitrogen. Fresh and vitrified cortical strips were analyzed for cryodamage and viability under light, confocal, and transmission electron microscopy. Compared with liquid nitrogen, vitrification with slush nitrogen preserves [1] follicle quality (grade 1 follicles: fresh control, 50%; liquid nitrogen, 27%; slush nitrogen, 48%); [2] granulosa cell ultrastructure (intact cells: fresh control, 92%; liquid nitrogen, 45%; slush nitrogen, 73%), stromal cell ultrastructure (intact cells: fresh control, 59.8%; liquid nitrogen, 24%; slush nitrogen, 48.7%), and DNA integrity (TUNEL-positive cells: fresh control, 0.5%; liquid nitrogen, 2.3%; slush nitrogen, 0.4%); and [3] oocyte, granulosa, and stromal cell viability (oocyte: fresh control, 90%; liquid nitrogen, 63%; slush nitrogen, 87%; granulosa cells: fresh control, 93%; liquid nitrogen, 53%; slush nitrogen, 81%; stromal cells: fresh control, 63%; liquid nitrogen, 30%; slush nitrogen, 52%). The histology, ultrastructure, and viability of follicles and stromal cells are better preserved after vitrification with slush nitrogen compared with liquid nitrogen. Copyright © 2016 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
The influence of cumulus cells during in vitro fertilization of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) denuded oocytes that have undergone vitrification.

PubMed

Attanasio, Laura; De Rosa, Anna; De Blasi, Marina; Neglia, Gianluca; Zicarelli, Luigi; Campanile, Giuseppe; Gasparrini, Bianca

2010-11-01

The aim of this work was to evaluate whether providing a support of cumulus cells during IVF of buffalo denuded oocytes submitted to vitrification-warming enhances their fertilizing ability. In vitro matured denuded oocytes were vitrified by Cryotop in 20% EG + 20% of DMSO and 0.5 M sucrose and warmed into decreasing concentrations of sucrose (1.25 M-0.3M). Oocytes that survived vitrification were fertilized: 1) in the absence of a somatic support (DOs); 2) in the presence of bovine cumulus cells in suspension (DOs+susp); 3) on a bovine cumulus monolayer (DOs+monol); and 4) with intact bovine COCs in a 1:1 ratio (DOs+COCs). In vitro matured oocytes were fertilized and cultured to the blastocyst stage as a control. An increased cleavage rate was obtained from DOs+COCs (60.9%) compared to DOs, DOs+susp (43.6 and 38.4, respectively; P < 0.01) and DOs+monol (47.5%; P < 0.05). Interestingly, cleavage rate of DOs+COCs was similar to that of fresh control oocytes (67.8%). However, development to blastocysts significantly decreased in all vitrification groups compared to the control (P < 0.01). In conclusion the co-culture with intact COCs during IVF completely restores fertilizing capability of buffalo denuded vitrified oocytes, without improving blastocyst development. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Cold Test Operation of the German VEK Vitrification Plant

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fleisch, J.; Schwaab, E.; Weishaupt, M.

2008-07-01

In 2007 the German High-Level Liquid Waste (HLLW) Vitrification plant VEK (Verglasungseinrichtung Karlsruhe) has passed a three months integral cold test operation as final step before entering the hot phase. The overall performance of the vitrification process equipment with a liquid-fed ceramic glass melter as main component proved to be completely in line with the requirements of the regulatory body. The retention efficiency of main radioactive-bearing elements across melter and wet off-gas treatment system exceeded the design values distinctly. The strategy to produce a specified waste glass could be successfully demonstrated. The results of the cold test operation allow enteringmore » the next step of hot commissioning, i.e. processing of approximately 2 m{sup 3} of diluted HLLW. In summary: An important step of the VEK vitrification plant towards hot operation has been the performance of the cold test operation from April to July 2007. This first integral operation was carried out under boundary conditions and rules established for radioactive operation. Operation and process control were carried out following the procedure as documented in the licensed operational manuals. The function of the process technology and the safe operation could be demonstrated. No severe problems were encountered. Based on the positive results of the cold test, application of the license for hot operation has been initiated and is expected in the near future. (authors)« less
Effects of polyethylene glycol and a synthetic ice blocker during vitrification of immature porcine oocytes on survival and subsequent embryo development.

PubMed

Santos, Elisa Caroline da Silva; Somfai, Tamas; Appeltant, Ruth; Dang-Nguyen, Thanh Quang; Noguchi, Junko; Kaneko, Hiroyuki; Kikuchi, Kazuhiro

2017-08-01

We evaluated the effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and Supercool X-1000 (SC) as supplements during the vitrification of immature cumulus-enclosed porcine oocytes in a solution based on 17.5% ethylene glycol + 17.5% propylene glycol. After warming, the oocytes were subjected to in vitro maturation, fertilization and embryo culture. In Experiment 1, equilibration and vitrification solutions were supplemented with or without 2% (w/v) PEG (PEG+ and PEG-, respectively). The survival rate, cleavage and blastocyst development were similar between PEG+ and PEG- groups; however, all values were lower than those in the non-vitrified control. In Experiment 2, vitrification solution was supplemented with or without 1% (v/v) SC (SC+ and SC-, respectively). The percentages of survival and blastocyst development were similar between SC+ and SC- groups but lower than those in the non-vitrified control. The percentage of cleavage in the SC- group was significantly lower than the control and the SC+ groups, which were in turn similar to one another. In both experiments, the cell numbers in blastocysts were not significantly different among the non-vitrified and vitrified groups. In conclusion, PEG did not improve oocyte survival and embryo development, whereas SC improved the ability of surviving oocytes to cleave but not to develop into blastocysts. © 2016 Japanese Society of Animal Science.
Impact of vitrification on human oocytes before and after in vitro maturation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Mohsenzadeh, Mehdi; Salehi-Abargouei, Amin; Tabibnejad, Nasim; Karimi-Zarchi, Mojgan; Khalili, Mohammad Ali

2018-05-21

There are controversies regarding in vitro maturation (IVM) procedure, the time of storing frozen oocytes and maturation stage of vitrified oocytes and its impact on oocytes fertilization capability. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the impact of vitrification on human oocytes during IVM procedure. A systematic review with meta-analysis was undertaken. Main search terms were those related key words. We searched Medline, Embase, Scopus and ISI web of science to detect English-language studies. The final search was performed on 27 January 2018. The original articles which studied laboratory outcomes after vitrification of MII or GV oocytes before or after IVM were included. Exclusion criteria were animal trials and the studies that performed cryopreservation using slow-freeze method. Oocyte maturation, survival, fertilization and cleavage rates were assessed. Bias and quality assessments were applied. 2476 articles were screened and after duplicates removing together with application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 14 studies assessed for eligibility. Finally 5 studies included for analysis. All studies compared laboratory outcomes between oocytes that vitrified at the GV stage and those which firstly matured in vitro, and then vitrified. Meta-analysis showed that vitrification of oocytes at GV stage had a negative impact on maturation rate (RR = 1.28, 95% CI: 0.96-1.70); but not on cleavage rate (RR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.70-1.64); fertilization rate (RR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.85-1.14) and survival rate(RR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.96-1.06). In general, Based on our results, oocyte vitrification decreases the maturation rate. In addition, survival, fertilization as well as cleavage rates did not significantly differ between the oocytes vitrified before IVM versus oocytes vitrified after IVM. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Survival of mouse oocytes after being cooled in a vitrification solution to -196°C at 95° to 70,000°C/min and warmed at 610° to 118,000°C/min: A new paradigm for cryopreservation by vitrification.

PubMed

Mazur, Peter; Seki, Shinsuke

2011-02-01

There is great interest in achieving reproducibly high survivals of mammalian oocytes (especially human) after cryopreservation, but the results to date have not matched the interest. A prime cause of cell death is the formation of more than trace amounts of intracellular ice, and one strategy to avoid it is vitrification. In vitrification procedures, cells are loaded with high concentrations of glass-inducing solutes and cooled to -196°C at rates high enough to presumably induce the glassy state. In the last decade, several devices have been developed to achieve very high cooling rates. Nearly all in the field have assumed that the cooling rate is the critical factor. The purpose of our study was to test that assumption by examining the consequences of cooling mouse oocytes in a vitrification solution at four rates ranging from 95 to 69,250°C/min to -196°C and for each cooling rate, subjecting them to five warming rates back above 0°C at rates ranging from 610 to 118,000°C/min. In samples warmed at the highest rate (118,000°C/min), survivals were 70% to 85% regardless of the prior cooling rate. In samples warmed at the lowest rate (610°C/min), survivals were low regardless of the prior cooling rate, but decreased from 25% to 0% as the cooling rate was increased from 95 to 69,000°C/min. Intermediate cooling and warming rates gave intermediate survivals. The especially high sensitivity of survival to warming rate suggests that either the crystallization of intracellular glass during warming or the growth by recrystallization of small intracellular ice crystals formed during cooling are responsible for the lethality of slow warming. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
VITRIFICATION SYSTEM FOR THE TREATMENT OF PLUTONIUM-BEARING WASTE AT LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

R. NAKAOKA; G. VEAZEY; ET AL

2001-05-01

A glove box vitrification system is being fabricated to process aqueous evaporator bottom waste generated at the Plutonium Facility (TA-55) at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The system will be the first within the U.S. Department of Energy Complex to routinely convert Pu{sup 239}-bearing transuranic (TRU) waste to a glass matrix for eventual disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). Currently at LANL, this waste is solidified in Portland cement. Radionuclide loading in the cementation process is restricted by potential radiolytic degradation (expressed as a wattage limit), which has been imposed to prevent the accumulation of flammable concentrations ofmore » H{sub 2} within waste packages. Waste matrixes with a higher water content (e.g., cement) are assigned a lower permissible wattage limit to compensate for their potential higher generation of H{sub 2}. This significantly increases the number of waste packages that must be prepared and shipped, thus driving up the costs of waste handling and disposal. The glove box vitrification system that is under construction will address this limitation. Because the resultant glass matrix produced by the vitrification process is non-hydrogenous, no H{sub 2} can be radiolytically evolved, and drums could be loaded to the maximum allowable limit of 40 watts. In effect, the glass waste form shifts the limiting constraint for loading disposal drums from wattage to the criticality limit of 200 fissile gram equivalents, thus significantly reducing the number of drums generated from this waste stream. It is anticipated that the number of drums generated from treatment of evaporator bottoms will be reduced by a factor of 4 annually when the vitrification system is operational. The system is currently undergoing non-radioactive operability testing, and will be fully operational in the year 2003.« less
Recovery patterns, histological observations and genetic integrity in Malus shoot tips cryopreserved using droplet-vitrification and encapsulation-dehydration procedures.

PubMed

Li, Bai-Quan; Feng, Chao-Hong; Wang, Min-Rui; Hu, Ling-Yun; Volk, Gayle; Wang, Qiao-Chun

2015-11-20

A droplet-vitrification procedure is described for cryopreservation of Malus shoot tips. Survival patterns, recovery types, histological observations, and genetic integrity were compared for Malus shoot tips cryopreserved using this droplet-vitrification procedure and an encapsulation-dehydration procedure that was previously reported by us. In both procedures, three types of shoot tip recovery were observed following cryopreservation: callus formation without shoot regrowth, leaf formation without shoot regrowth, and shoot regrowth. Three categories of histological observations were also identified in cross-sections of shoot tips recovered after cryopreservation using the two cryogenic procedures. In category 1, almost all of the cells (94-95%) in the apical dome (AD) were damaged or killed and only some cells (30-32%) in the leaf primordia (LPs) survived. In category 2, only a few cells (18-20%) in the AD and some cells (30-31%) in the LPs survived. In category 3, majority of the cells (60-62%) in the AD and some cells (30-33%) in the LPs survived. These data suggest that shoot regrowth is correlated to the presence of a majority of surviving cells in the AD after liquid nitrogen exposure. No polymorphic bands were detected by inter-simple sequence repeats or by random amplified polymorphic DNA assessments, and ploidy levels analyzed by flow cytometry were unchanged when plants recovered after cryoexposure were compared to controls. The droplet-vitrification procedure appears to be robust since seven genotypes representing four Malus species and one hybrid recovered shoots following cryopreservation. Mean shoot regrowth levels of these seven genotypes were 48% in the droplet-vitrification method, which were lower than those (61%) in the encapsulation-dehydration procedure reported in our previous study, suggesting the latter may be preferred for routine cryobanking applications for Malus shoot tips. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Out-of-equilibrium processes in suspensions of oppositely charged colloids: liquid-to-crystal nucleation and gel formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanz, Eduardo

2009-03-01

We study the kinetics of the liquid-to-crystal transformation and of gel formation in colloidal suspensions of oppositely charged particles. We analyse, by means of both computer simulations and experiments, the evolution of a fluid quenched to a state point of the phase diagram where the most stable state is either a homogeneous crystalline solid or a solid phase in contact with a dilute gas. On the one hand, at high temperatures and high packing fractions, close to an ordered-solid/disordered-solid coexistence line, we find that the fluid-to-crystal pathway does not follow the minimum free energy route. On the other hand, a quench to a state point far from the ordered-crystal/disordered-crystal coexistence border is followed by a fluid-to-solid transition through the minimum free energy pathway. At low temperatures and packing fractions we observe that the system undergoes a gas-liquid spinodal decomposition that, at some point, arrests giving rise to a gel-like structure. Both our simulations and experiments suggest that increasing the interaction range favors crystallization over vitrification in gel-like structures. [4pt] In collaboration with Chantal Valeriani, Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands and SUPA, School of Physics, University of Edinburgh, JCMB King's Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ, UK; Teun Vissers, Andrea Fortini, Mirjam E. Leunissen, and Alfons van Blaaderen, Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University; Daan Frenke, FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics, Kruislaan 407, 1098 SJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW, Cambridge, UK; and Marjolein Dijkstra, Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University.

Blood Banking in Living Droplets

PubMed Central

Shao, Lei; Zhang, Xiaohui; Xu, Feng; Song, YoungSeok; Keles, Hasan Onur; Matloff, Laura; Markel, Jordan; Demirci, Utkan

2011-01-01

Blood banking has a broad public health impact influencing millions of lives daily. It could potentially benefit from emerging biopreservation technologies. However, although vitrification has shown advantages over traditional cryopreservation techniques, it has not been incorporated into transfusion medicine mainly due to throughput challenges. Here, we present a scalable method that can vitrify red blood cells in microdroplets. This approach enables the vitrification of large volumes of blood in a short amount of time, and makes it a viable and scalable biotechnology tool for blood cryopreservation. PMID:21412411
Development of a modified straw method for vitrification of in vitro-produced bovine blastocysts and various genes expression in between the methods.

PubMed

Ha, A-Na; Lee, Sang-Ryeul; Jeon, Jeong-Seon; Park, Han-Seul; Lee, Sang-Ho; Jin, Jong-In; Sessions, Benjamin R; Wang, Zhongde; White, Kenneth L; Kong, Il-Keun

2014-02-01

This study evaluated a modified plastic straw loading method for vitrification of in vitro-produced bovine blastocysts. A modified straw was used with a depressed area on its inner surface to which embryos attach. In vitro-produced blastocysts were randomly assigned into three groups: (i) blastocysts attached to the inner surface of a plastic straw (aV), (ii) blastocysts attached to the inner surface of a modified plastic straw (maV), and (iii) non-vitrified blastocysts (control). The recovery rates were not significantly different between aV and maV groups (95.8% vs. 94.3%). The post-thaw survival rate did not significantly differ between aV and maV groups (86.4% vs. 88.2%). The total cell numbers of blastocyst was higher in control than in aV and maV groups (142 ± 21.8 vs. 117 ± 29.7 and 120 ± 25.2; P < 0.05), but not significantly differ between aV and maV groups. The mRNA levels of pro-apoptosis related genes Bax and Caspase-3 were higher in aV and maV than in control (P < 0.05). By contrast, the mRNA levels of anti-apoptotic genes Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 and of antioxidant-related genes MnSOD and Prdx5 were lower in aV and maV than in control (P < 0.05). Confocal microscopy analysis of Golgi apparatus and mitochondria showed that the fluorescence intensity of Golgi apparatus and mitochondria was higher in control than in aV and maV groups. In conclusion, both aV and maV methods can be used to successfully vitrify IVP blastocysts, with maV method to be preferable because of its easiness in embryo loading. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Survival and genetic stability of Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev shoot apices after cryopreservation by vitrification and encapsulation-dehydration.

PubMed

Martín, Carmen; González-Benito, M Elena

2005-12-01

The aim of this study was to compare the genetic stability of chrysanthemum (cv. Pasodoble) apices cryopreserved using two different methods: encapsulation-dehydration and vitrification. The assessment of the genetic stability was developed using RAPDs markers. Assessment of stability was evaluated in pot-cultivated mother plants (from which buds were excised for micropropagation), in shoots (leave tissue) from which apices were extracted for cryopreservation, and in shoots regenerated from cryopreserved apices 30 days after recovery and after further 3 months in culture. Throughout the process the origin of the apices (in vitro-shoot from which they were excised) was recorded. Twenty one regenerants cryopreserved by vitrification and 25 by encapsulation-dehydration were assessed. Only one cryopreserved regenerant from the encapsulation-dehydration method showed a different band pattern. These results support the necessity of monitoring the genetic stability of the regenerants obtained after cryopreservation, as this is a very useful technique for the conservation of plant genetic resources.
Sodalite as a vehicle to increase Re retention in waste glass simulant during vitrification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luksic, Steven A.; Riley, Brian J.; Parker, Kent E.; Hrma, Pavel

2016-10-01

Technetium (Tc) retention during Hanford waste vitrification can be increased if the volatility can be controlled. Incorporating Tc into a thermally stable mineral phase, such as sodalite, is one way to achieve increased retention. Here, rhenium (Re)-bearing sodalite was tested as a vehicle to transport perrhenate (ReO4-), a nonradioactive surrogate for pertechnetate (TcO4-), into high-level (HLW) and low-activity waste (LAW) glass simulants. After melting HLW and LAW simulant feeds, the retention of Re in the glass was measured and compared with the Re retention in glass prepared from a feed containing Re2O7. Phase analysis of sodalite in both these glasses across a profile of temperatures describes the durability of Re-sodalite during the feed-to-glass transition. The use of Re sodalite improved the Re retention by 21% for HLW glass and 85% for LAW glass, demonstrating the potential improvement in Tc-retention if TcO4- were to be encapsulated in a Tc-sodalite prior to vitrification.
Cryopreservation of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) somatic embryos by vitrification.

PubMed

Adu-Gyamfi, Raphael; Wetten, Andy

2012-01-01

Losses of cultivated cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) due to diseases and continued depletion of forests that harbour the wild progenitors of the crop make ex situ conservation of cocoa germplasm of paramount importance. In order to enhance security of in situ germplasm collections, 2-3 mm floral-derived secondary somatic embryos were cryopreserved by vitrification. This work demonstrates the most uncomplicated clonal cocoa cryopreservation. Optimal post-cryostorage survival (74.5 percent) was achieved by 5 d preculture of SSEs on 0.5 M sucrose medium followed by 60 min dehydration in cold PVS2. To minimise free radical related cryo-injury, cation sources were removed from the embryo development solution and/or the recovery medium, the former treatment resulting in a significant benefit. After optimisation with cocoa genotype AMAZ 15, the same protocol was effective across all five additional cocoa genotypes tested. For the multiplication of clones, embryos regenerated following cryopreservation were used as explant sources, and vitrification was found to maintain their embryogenic potential.
Dehydration Preparation of Mouse Sperm for Vitrification and Rapid Laser Warming.

PubMed

Paredes, E; Mazur, P

Mice are fundamental models of study due to their ease of breeding, manipulation, and the well-studied genome. There has been extensive research focused on the cryopreservation of mouse germaplasm, as a way to help maintain the different transgenic mouse breeds. The first protocols for mouse sperm were developed in the 90's using slow cooling and a mixture of raffinose and glycerol. Since then, the rate of success reported remains highly variable. The Aim of this work is to study factors that are key for developing vitrification protocols for ultra-rapid laser warming of mouse sperm. Our results show that due to the exquisite sensitivity of sperm cells to osmotic excursions, our target levels of dehydration (~85% water content) cannot be achieved without causing a significant decrease in sperm motility and membrane fusion. It seems likely that mouse sperm vitrification is going to be difficult to develop due to the exquisite sensitivity of mouse sperm cells to handling and dehydration.
HIGH INCIDENCE OF POLYSPERMIC FERTILIZATION IN BOVINE OOCYTES MATURED IN VITRO AFTER CRYOTOP VITRIFICATION.

PubMed

Hwang, In-Sul; Kwon, Dae-Jin; Im, Gi-Sun; Tashima, Kazuya; Hochi, Shinichi; Hwang, Seongsoo

2016-01-01

Vitrification with the Cryotop device is the most promising technique for oocyte cryopreservation, but the high post-warming morphological survival of bovine oocytes does not guarantee high developmental competence after in vitro fertilization (IVF). This study was designed to examine achievement of normal fertilization in bovine oocytes vitrified-warmed with the Cryotop device. Oocytes were matured in vitro and vitrified-warmed after complete removal of the cumulus layers. Distribution of cortical granules (CGs) was assessed by Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA) lectin staining. Ten hours after IVF, presumptive zygotes were analyzed for pronuclear formation. Day-8 blastocysts were harvested and stained with Hoechst-33342 for total cell counting. Both yield and mean cell number of the blastocysts were impaired by Cryotop vitrification. Incidence of polyspermic fertilization was three-times higher in vitrified oocytes compared to fresh oocytes. No difference in CG distribution was found between vitrified and fresh oocytes. Polyspermic fertilization induced in vitrified-warmed bovine oocytes may be one of the possible causes responsible for their low developmental potential.
Safeguardability of the vitrification option for disposal of plutonium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pillay, K.K.S.

1996-05-01

Safeguardability of the vitrification option for plutonium disposition is rather complex and there is no experience base in either domestic or international safeguards for this approach. In the present treaty regime between the US and the states of the former Soviet Union, bilaterial verifications are considered more likely with potential for a third-party verification of safeguards. There are serious technological limitations to applying conventional bulk handling facility safeguards techniques to achieve independent verification of plutonium in borosilicate glass. If vitrification is the final disposition option chosen, maintaining continuity of knowledge of plutonium in glass matrices, especially those containing boron andmore » those spike with high-level wastes or {sup 137}Cs, is beyond the capability of present-day safeguards technologies and nondestructive assay techniques. The alternative to quantitative measurement of fissile content is to maintain continuity of knowledge through a combination of containment and surveillance, which is not the international norm for bulk handling facilities.« less
The role of troublesome components in plutonium vitrification

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Hong; Vienna, J.D.; Peeler, D.K.

1996-05-01

One option for immobilizing surplus plutonium is vitrification in a borosilicate glass. Two advantages of the glass form are (1) high tolerance to feed variability and, (2) high solubility of some impurity components. The types of plutonium-containing materials in the United States inventory include: pits, metals, oxides, residues, scrap, compounds, and fuel. Many of them also contain high concentrations of carbon, chloride, fluoride, phosphate, sulfate, and chromium oxide. To vitrify plutonium-containing scrap and residues, it is critical to understand the impact of each component on glass processing and chemical durability of the final product. This paper addresses glass processing issuesmore » associated with these troublesome components. It covers solubility limits of chlorine, fluorine, phosphate, sulfate, and chromium oxide in several borosilicate based glasses, and the effect of each component on vitrification (volatility, phase segregation, crystallization, and melt viscosity). Techniques (formulation, pretreatment, removal, and/or dilution) to mitigate the effect of these troublesome components are suggested.« less
Dewatering Treatment Scale-up Testing Results of Hanford Tank Wastes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tedeschi, A.R.; May, T.H.; Bryan, W.E.

2008-07-01

This report documents CH2M HILL Hanford Group Inc. (CH2M HILL) 2007 dryer testing results in Richland, WA at the AMEC Nuclear Ltd., GeoMelt Division (AMEC) Horn Rapids Test Site. It provides a discussion of scope and results to qualify the dryer system as a viable unit-operation in the continuing evaluation of the bulk vitrification process. A 10,000 liter (L) dryer/mixer was tested for supplemental treatment of Hanford tank low activity wastes, drying and mixing a simulated non-radioactive salt solution with glass forming minerals. Testing validated the full scale equipment for producing dried product similar to smaller scale tests, and qualifiedmore » the dryer system for a subsequent integrated dryer/vitrification test using the same simulant and glass formers. The dryer system is planned for installation at the Hanford tank farms to dry/mix radioactive waste for final treatment evaluation of the supplemental bulk vitrification process. (authors)« less
An alternative approach to recovering valuable metals from zinc phosphating sludge.

PubMed

Kuo, Yi-Ming

2012-01-30

This study used a vitrification process (with good potential for commercialization) to recover valuable metals from Zn phosphating sludge. The involved vitrification process achieves two major goals: it transformed hazardous Zn phosphating sludge into inert slag and it concentrated Fe (83.5%) and Zn (92.8%) into ingot and fine particulate-phase material, respectively. The Fe content in the ingot was 278,000 mg/kg, making the ingot a potential raw material for iron making. The fine particulate-phase material (collected from flue gas) contained abundant Zn (544,000 mg/kg) in the form of ZnO. The content (67.7%) of ZnO was high, so it can be directly sold to refineries. The recovered coarse particulate-phase material, with insufficient amount of ZnO, can be recycled as a feeding material for Zn re-concentration. Therefore, the vitrification process can not only treat hazardous materials but also effectively recover valuable metals. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Stabilization of biothreat diagnostic samples through vitrification matrices.

PubMed

Minogue, Timothy Devin; Kalina, Warren Vincent; Coyne, Susan Rajnik

2014-06-01

Diagnostics for biothreat agents require sample shipment to reference labs for diagnosis of disease; however high/fluctuating temperatures during sample transport negatively affect sample quality and results. Vitrification additives preserve sample integrity for molecular-based assay diagnostics in the absence of refrigeration by imparting whole molecule stability to a plethora of environmental insults. Therefore, we have evaluated commercially available vitrification matrices' (Biomatrica's CloneStable® and RNAStable®) ability to stabilize samples of Yersinia pestis and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus. When heated to 95°C in RNAStable®, Y. pestis had a 13-fold improvement in detection via real-time PCR compared to heated samples in buffer. VEEV, in RNAStable® at 55°C, had a ~10-fold improved detection versus heated samples in buffer. CloneStable® also preserved Y. pestis antigens for 7days after exposure to cycling temperatures. Overall, RNAStable® and CloneStable® respectively offered superior stabilization to nucleic acids and proteins in response to temperature fluctuations. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.
The role of frit in nuclear waste vitrification

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vienna, J.D.; Smith, P.A.; Dorn, D.A.

1994-04-01

Vitrification of nuclear waste requires additives which are often vitrified independently to form a frit. Frit composition is formulated to meet the needs of glass composition and processing. The effects of frit on melter feed and melt processing, glass acceptance, and waste loading is of practical interest in understanding the trade-offs associated with the competing demands placed on frit composition. Melter feed yield stress, viscosity and durability of frits and corresponding waste glasses as well as the kinetics of elementary melting processes have been measured. The results illustrate the competing requirements on frit. Four frits (FY91, FY93, HW39-4, and SR202)more » and simulated neutralized current acid waste (NCAW) were used in this study. The experimental evidence shows that optimization of frit for one processing related property often results in poorer performance for the remaining properties. The difficulties associated with maximum waste loading and durability are elucidated for glasses which could be processed using technology available for the previously proposed Hanford Waste Vitrification Plant.« less
Quality Assurance Project Plan for the treatability study of in situ vitrification of Seepage Pit 1 in Waste Area Grouping 7 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

This Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPjP) establishes the quality assurance procedures and requirements to be implemented for the control of quality-related activities for Phase 3 of the Treatability Study (TS) of In Situ Vitrification (ISV) of Seepage Pit 1, ORNL Waste Area Grouping 7. This QAPjP supplements the Quality Assurance Plan for Oak Ridge National Laboratory Environmental Restoration Program by providing information specific to the ISV-TS. Phase 3 of the TS involves the actual ISV melt operations and posttest monitoring of Pit 1 and vicinity. Previously, Phase 1 activities were completed, which involved determining the boundaries of Pit 1, usingmore » driven rods and pipes and mapping the distribution of radioactivity using logging tools within the pipes. Phase 2 involved sampling the contents, both liquid and solids, in and around seepage Pit 1 to determine their chemical and radionuclide composition and the spatial distribution of these attributes. A separate QAPjP was developed for each phase of the project. A readiness review of the Phase 3 activities presented QAPjP will be conducted prior to initiating field activities, and an Operational Acceptance, Test (OAT) will also be conducted with no contamination involved. After, the OAT is complete, the ISV process will be restarted, and the melt will be allowed to increase with depth and incorporate the radionuclide contamination at the bottom of Pit 1. Upon completion of melt 1, the equipment will be shut down and mobilized to an adjacent location at which melt 2 will commence.« less
Dynamics of intracellular phospholipid membrane organization during oocyte maturation and successful vitrification of immature oocytes retrieved by ovum pick-up in cattle.

PubMed

Aono, Akira; Nagatomo, Hiroaki; Takuma, Tetsuya; Nonaka, Rika; Ono, Yoshitaka; Wada, Yasuhiko; Abe, Yasuyuki; Takahashi, Masashi; Watanabe, Tomomasa; Kawahara, Manabu

2013-05-01

The objective was to determine if immature bovine oocytes with cumulus cells at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage could be vitrified by aluminum sheets (AS; pieces of sheet-like aluminum foil). Cleavage rates in fertilized oocytes previously vitrified by the AS procedure were higher than those vitrified by a nylon-mesh holder (NM) procedure (89.3 ± 2.1% vs. 65.0 ± 3.7%). Cleaved embryos derived from the AS but not from the NM procedures developed to blastocysts. Furthermore, to investigate the effects of vitrifying GV oocytes on cytoplasmic structure and on the ability to undergo cytoplasmic changes, the intracellular phospholipid membrane (IM) was stained with the lipophilic fluorescent dye, 3,3'-dioctadecyloxa-carbocyanine perchlorate. After vitrification by AS, the IM remained intact relative to that of oocytes vitrified by NM. During in vitro maturation, reorganization of the IM was also undamaged in oocytes vitrified by AS before oocyte maturation, and the IM within oocytes vitrified by the NM procedure was evidently impaired. Finally, vitrification (AS) was used for GV oocytes collected using the ovum pick-up method. A bull calf was born after in vitro production and subsequent embryo transfer. The vitrification techniques described herein should facilitate generation of viable in vitro production bovine blastocysts using oocytes recovered using the ovum pick-up method. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Fertility preservation treatment for young women with autoimmune diseases facing treatment with gonadotoxic agents.

PubMed

Elizur, S E; Chian, R C; Pineau, C A; Son, W Y; Holzer, H E G; Huang, J Y J; Gidoni, Y; Levin, D; Demirtas, E; Tan, S L

2008-10-01

To describe a case series of seven women with SLE and other systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) who required cyclophosphamide therapy and underwent fertility preservation treatments. Of the seven patients reported here, five women had SLE with nephritis, the sixth had immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) and the seventh had microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) with renal involvement. All women were nulliparous and younger than 35 yrs. Patients with SLE underwent in vitro maturation (IVM) of immature oocytes aspirated during a natural menstrual cycle followed by vitrification of the matured oocytes if a male partner was not available, or vitrification of embryos if one was available. The patient with ITP and the patient with MPA underwent gonadotropin ovarian stimulation followed by oocyte or embryo vitrification. All women completed fertility preservation treatment successfully and mature oocytes or embryos (36 and 13, respectively) were vitrified. No complications were associated with this treatment and cytotoxic therapy was initiated as scheduled in all cases. Oocyte or embryo cryopreservation should be considered for fertility preservation in young women with SARDs who face imminent gonadotoxic treatment. In patients, where gonadotropin ovarian stimulation is deemed unsafe, IVM of immature oocytes, aspirated during a natural menstrual cycle, followed by vitrification or fertilization of the mature oocytes, seems to be safe and feasible. For patients in whom hormonal ovarian stimulation is not contraindicated, this method may be considered depending on the urgency to start cytotoxic therapy.
INNOVATIVE FOSSIL FUEL FIRED VITRIFICATION TECHNOLOGY FOR SOIL REMEDIATION

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

J. Hnat; L.M. Bartone; M. Pineda

2001-07-13

This Summary Report summarizes the progress of Phases 3, 3A and 4 of a waste technology Demonstration Project sponsored under a DOE Environmental Management Research and Development Program and administered by the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory-Morgantown (DOE-NETL) for an ''Innovative Fossil Fuel Fired Vitrification Technology for Soil Remediation''. The Summary Reports for Phases 1 and 2 of the Program were previously submitted to DOE. The total scope of Phase 3 was to have included the design, construction and demonstration of Vortec's integrated waste pretreatment and vitrification process for the treatment of low level waste (LLW), TSCA/LLWmore » and mixed low-level waste (MLLW). Due to funding limitations and delays in the project resulting from a law suit filed by an environmental activist and the extended time for DOE to complete an Environmental Assessment for the project, the scope of the project was reduced to completing the design, construction and testing of the front end of the process which consists of the Material Handling and Waste Conditioning (MH/C) Subsystem of the vitrification plant. Activities completed under Phases 3A and 4 addressed completion of the engineering, design and documentation of the Material Handling and Conditioning System such that final procurement of the remaining process assemblies can be completed and construction of a Limited Demonstration Project be initiated in the event DOE elects to proceed with the construction and demonstration testing of the MH/C Subsystem.« less
Inertization of heavy metals present in galvanic sludge by DC thermal plasma.

PubMed

Leal Vieira Cubas, Anelise; de Medeiros Machado, Marília; de Medeiros Machado, Marina; Gross, Frederico; Magnago, Rachel Faverzani; Moecke, Elisa Helena Siegel; Gonçalvez de Souza, Ivan

2014-01-01

Galvanic sludge results from the treatment of effluents generated by the industrial metal surface treatment of industrial material, which consists in the deposition of a metal on a surface or a metal surface attack, for example, electrodeposition of conductors (metals) and non conductive, phosphate, anodizing, oxidation and/or printed circuit. The treatment proposed here is exposure of the galvanic sludge to the high temperatures provided by thermal plasma, a process which aims to vitrify the galvanic sludge and render metals (iron, zinc, and chromium) inert. Two different plasma reactors were assembled: with a DC transferred arc plasma torch and with a DC nontransferred arc plasma torch. In this way it was possible to verify which reactor was more efficient in the inertization of the metals and also to investigate whether the addition of quartzite sand to the sludge influences the vitrification of the material. Quantification of water content and density of the galvanic raw sludge were performed, as well as analyzes of total organic carbon (TOC) and identify the elements that make up the raw sludge through spectroscopy X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The chemical composition and the form of the pyrolyzed and vitrified sludge were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDS) analysis, which it is a analysis that shows the chemical of the sample surface. The inertization of the sludge was verified in leaching tests, where the leachate was analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS). The results of water content and density were 64.35% and 2.994 g.cm(-3), respectively. The TOC analysis determined 1.73% of C in the sample of galvanic raw sludge, and XRF analysis determined the most stable elements in the sample, and showed the highest peaks (higher stability) were Fe, Zn, and Cr. The efficiency of the sludge inertization was 100% for chromium, 99% for zinc, and 100% for iron. The results also showed that the most efficient reactor was that with the DC transferred arc plasma torch and quartzite sand positively influenced by the vitrification during the pyrolysis of the galvanic sludge.
Vitrification of MSWI Fly Ash by Thermal Plasma Melting and Fate of Heavy Metals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ni, Guohua; Zhao, Peng; Jiang, Yiman; Meng, Yuedong

2012-09-01

Municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) fly ash with high basicity (about 1.68) was vitrified in a thermal plasma melting furnace system. Through the thermal plasma treatment, the vitrified product (slag) with amorphous dark glassy structure was obtained, and the leachability of hazardous metals in slag was significantly reduced. Meanwhile, it was found that the cooling rate affects significantly the immobility of heavy metals in slag. The mass distribution of heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Cr, Pb, As, Hg) was investigated in residual products (slag, secondary residues and flue gas), in order to analyze the behavior of heavy metals in thermal plasma atmosphere. Heavy metal species with low boiling points accounting for the major fraction of their input-mass were adsorbed in secondary residues by pollution abatement devices, while those with high boiling points tended to be encapsulated in slag.
Chapter 10 Human Oocyte Vitrification.

PubMed

Rienzi, Laura; Cobo, Ana; Ubaldi, Filippo Maria

2017-01-01

Discovery and widespread application of successful cryopreservation methods for MII-phase oocytes was one of the greatest successes in human reproduction during the past decade. Although considerable improvements in traditional slow-rate freezing were also achieved, the real breakthrough was the result of introduction of vitrification. Here we describe the method that is most commonly applied for this purpose, provides consistent survival and in vitro developmental rates, results in pregnancy and birth rates comparable to those achievable with fresh oocytes, and does not result in higher incidence of gynecological or postnatal complications.

Nanoscale stiffness of individual dendritic molecules and their aggregates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsukruk, Vladimir V.; Shulha, Hennady; Zhai, Xiaowen

2003-02-01

We demonstrate that carefully designed micromapping of the surface stiffness with nanoscale resolution could reveal quantitative data on the elastic properties of compliant, dendritic organic molecules with nanoparticulate dimensions below 3 nm. Much higher elastic modulus was observed for individual, fourth generation dendritic molecules due to their more shape persistent conformation. Large, reversible, elastic deformation is a distinct characteristic of the nanomechanical response observed for individual dendritic molecules. Such a "rubbery" response could be an indication of spatial constraints imposed on vitrification of dendritic molecules tethered to the functionalized interface. Surprisingly, an increased stiffness was also found for the third generation dendritic molecules within long aggregates.
Infrared reflectance spectra (2. 2-15. mu. m) of plagioclase feldspars

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nash, D.B.; Salisbury, J.W.

Laboratory results show that (1) the Christiansen frequency (CF) feature in mid-infrared reflectance spectra of powders can be used to accurately distinguish plagioclase composition, and (2) the wavelength position of the CF is not affected by vitrification of the plagioclase. Although the CF position does not distinguish glass from crystalline forms of plagioclase, other features (combination-tone, overtone, restrahlen bands) in the mid-IR spectra of plagioclase can be used for that purpose. These results have important implications for application of thermal emission spectroscopy to mapping the surface composition of regolith-covered planetary bodies like the Moon, Mars, and asteroids.
Human single follicle growth in vitro from cryopreserved ovarian tissue after slow freezing or vitrification.

PubMed

Wang, Tian-ren; Yan, Jie; Lu, Cui-ling; Xia, Xi; Yin, Tai-lang; Zhi, Xu; Zhu, Xiao-hui; Ding, Ting; Hu, Wei-hong; Guo, Hong-yan; Li, Rong; Yan, Li-ying; Qiao, Jie

2016-04-01

What is the effect of human ovarian tissue cryopreservation on single follicular development in vitro? Vitrification had a greater negative effect on growth and gene expression of human ovarian follicles when compared with fresh follicles. For human ovarian cortex cryopreservation, the conventional option is slow freezing while more recently vitrification has been demonstrated to maintain good quality and function of ovarian tissues. Ovarian tissues were collected from 11 patients. For every patient, the ovarian cortex was divided into three samples: Fresh, slow-rate freezing (Slow) and vitrification (Vit). Tissue histology was performed and follicles were isolated for single-cell mRNA analysis and in vitro culture (IVC) in 1% alginate for 8 days. Follicle morphology was assessed with hematoxylin-eosin analysis. Follicles were individually embedded in alginate (1% w/v) and cultured in vitro for 8 days. Follicle survival and growth were assessed by microscopy. Follicle viability was observed after Calcein-AM and ethidium homodimer-I (Ca-AM/EthD-I) staining. Expression of genes, including GDF9 (growth differentiation factor 9), BMP15 (bone morphogenetic protein 15) and ZP3 (zona pellucida glycoprotein 3) in oocytes and AMH (anti-Mullerian hormone), FSHR (FSH receptor), CYP11A (cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450) and STAR (steroidogenic acute regulatory protein) in GCs, was evaluated by single-cell mRNA analysis. A total of 129 follicles were separated from ovarian cortex (Fresh n = 44; Slow n = 40; Vit n = 45). The percentage of damaged oocytes and granulosa cells was significantly higher in both the Slow and Vit groups, as compared with Fresh control (P< 0.05). The growth of follicles in vitro was significantly delayed in the Vit group compared with the Fresh group (P< 0.05). Both slow freezing (P< 0.05) and vitrification (P< 0.05) down-regulated the mRNA levels of ZP3 and CYP11A compared with Fresh group, while there was no significant difference between the Slow and Vit groups (P> 0.05). Vitrification also down-regulates AMH mRNA levels compared with Fresh group (P< 0.05). Only short-term IVC studies (8 days) are reported. Further study should be performed to examine and improve follicular development in a long-term culture system after cryopreservation. This is the first comparison of gene expression and growth of single human ovarian follicles in vitro after either slow freezing or vitrification. With the decreased gene expression and growth during IVC, damage by cryopreservation still exists and needs to be minimized during the long-term IVC of follicles in the future for eventual clinical application. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31230047, 81571386, 81471508, 31429004 and 81501247), National Natural Science Foundation of Beijing (7142166) and Mega-projects of Science Research for the 12th five-year plan (2012ba132b05). There are no conflicts of interest to declare. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.
IMPACT OF NOBLE METALS AND MERCURY ON HYDROGEN GENERATION DURING HIGH LEVEL WASTE PRETREATMENT AT THE SAVANNAH RIVER SITE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stone, M; Tommy Edwards, T; David Koopman, D

2009-03-03

The Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) at the Savannah River Site vitrifies radioactive High Level Waste (HLW) for repository internment. The process consists of three major steps: waste pretreatment, vitrification, and canister decontamination/sealing. HLW consists of insoluble metal hydroxides (primarily iron, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and uranium) and soluble sodium salts (carbonate, hydroxide, nitrite, nitrate, and sulfate). The pretreatment process in the Chemical Processing Cell (CPC) consists of two process tanks, the Sludge Receipt and Adjustment Tank (SRAT) and the Slurry Mix Evaporator (SME) as well as a melter feed tank. During SRAT processing, nitric and formic acids are addedmore » to the sludge to lower pH, destroy nitrite and carbonate ions, and reduce mercury and manganese. During the SME cycle, glass formers are added, and the batch is concentrated to the final solids target prior to vitrification. During these processes, hydrogen can be produced by catalytic decomposition of excess formic acid. The waste contains silver, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, and mercury, but silver and palladium have been shown to be insignificant factors in catalytic hydrogen generation during the DWPF process. A full factorial experimental design was developed to ensure that the existence of statistically significant two-way interactions could be determined without confounding of the main effects with the two-way interaction effects. Rh ranged from 0.0026-0.013% and Ru ranged from 0.010-0.050% in the dried sludge solids, while initial Hg ranged from 0.5-2.5 wt%, as shown in Table 1. The nominal matrix design consisted of twelve SRAT cycles. Testing included: a three factor (Rh, Ru, and Hg) study at two levels per factor (eight runs), three duplicate midpoint runs, and one additional replicate run to assess reproducibility away from the midpoint. Midpoint testing was used to identify potential quadratic effects from the three factors. A single sludge simulant was used for all tests and was spiked with the required amount of noble metals immediately prior to performing the test. Acid addition was kept effectively constant except to compensate for variations in the starting mercury concentration. SME cycles were also performed during six of the tests.« less
Cryopreservation: Vitrification and Controlled Rate Cooling.

PubMed

Hunt, Charles J

2017-01-01

Cryopreservation is the application of low temperatures to preserve the structural and functional integrity of cells and tissues. Conventional cooling protocols allow ice to form and solute concentrations to rise during the cryopreservation process. The damage caused by the rise in solute concentration can be mitigated by the use of compounds known as cryoprotectants. Such compounds protect cells from the consequences of slow cooling injury, allowing them to be cooled at cooling rates which avoid the lethal effects of intracellular ice. An alternative to conventional cooling is vitrification. Vitrification methods incorporate cryoprotectants at sufficiently high concentrations to prevent ice crystallization so that the system forms an amorphous glass thus avoiding the damaging effects caused by conventional slow cooling. However, vitrification too can impose damaging consequences on cells as the cryoprotectant concentrations required to vitrify cells at lower cooling rates are potentially, and often, harmful. While these concentrations can be lowered to nontoxic levels, if the cells are ultra-rapidly cooled, the resulting metastable system can lead to damage through devitrification and growth of ice during subsequent storage and rewarming if not appropriately handled.The commercial and clinical application of stem cells requires robust and reproducible cryopreservation protocols and appropriate long-term, low-temperature storage conditions to provide reliable master and working cell banks. Though current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) compliant methods for the derivation and banking of clinical grade pluripotent stem cells exist and stem cell lines suitable for clinical applications are available, current cryopreservation protocols, whether for vitrification or conventional slow freezing, remain suboptimal. Apart from the resultant loss of valuable product that suboptimal cryopreservation engenders, there is a danger that such processes will impose a selective pressure on the cells selecting out a nonrepresentative, freeze-resistant subpopulation. Optimizing this process requires knowledge of the fundamental processes that occur during the freezing of cellular systems, the mechanisms of damage and methods for avoiding them. This chapter draws together the knowledge of cryopreservation gained in other systems with the current state-of-the-art for embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cell preservation in an attempt to provide the background for future attempts to optimize cryopreservation protocols.
Comparison of different cryopreservation methods for horse and donkey embryos.

PubMed

Pérez-Marín, C C; Vizuete, G; Vazquez-Martinez, R; Galisteo, J J

2018-05-01

Few studies have been published about cryopreservation and embryo assessment in horses and donkeys. To evaluate the viability of embryos collected from mares and jennies that were cryopreserved by slow freezing or by vitrification. Randomised controlled experiment. Horse (n=19) and donkey (n=16) embryos (≤300 μm) were recovered on days 6.5-7.5 post-ovulation and assigned to control or cryopreservation protocols of slow freezing or vitrification. For slow freezing, 1.5 mol/L ethylene glycol (EG) was used. For vitrification, horse embryos were exposed to 1.4 mol/L glycerol, 1.4 mol/L glycerol + 3.6 mol/L EG and 3.4 mol/L glycerol + 4.6 mol/L EG, using Fibreplug or a 0.25 mL straw; donkey embryos were vitrified using Fibreplug with similar EG-glycerol solutions to above or 7.0 mol/L EG. Dead cells, apoptotic and fragmented nuclei, and cytoskeleton quality were assessed on thawed/warmed embryos. A significant decrease in embryo quality was observed after cryopreservation (P<0.05). Although the percentage of dead cells was lower (P<0.05) in control than in cryopreserved embryos, no differences were observed between freezing protocols used for horse or donkey embryos. While no differences were detected in the number of apoptotic cells in warmed horse embryos, in donkey embryos a higher incidence of apoptosis was measured after vitrification with EG-glycerol in Fibreplug (P<0.05). Vitrified horse embryos had a significantly (P<0.05) higher percentage of nonviable cells than donkey embryo. Actin cytoskeleton quality did not differ between treatments. Difficulties in obtaining a large number of embryos meant that the number of embryos per group was low. Vitrified horse and donkey embryos did not show higher susceptibility to cell damage than those preserved by slow freezing, whether using straws or Fibreplug. However, Fibreplug with EG 7 mol/L resulted in fewer nonviable and apoptotic cells in donkey embryos. Donkey embryos showed lower susceptibility to vitrification than horse embryos. THE SUMMARY IS AVAILABLE IN SPANISH - SEE SUPPORTING INFORMATION. © 2017 EVJ Ltd.
Final Report - Crystal Settling, Redox, and High Temperature Properties of ORP HLW and LAW Glasses, VSL-09R1510-1, Rev. 0, dated 6/18/09

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kruger, Albert A.; Wang, C.; Gan, H.

2013-11-13

The radioactive tank waste treatment programs at the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) have featured joule heated ceramic melter technology for the vitrification of high level waste (HLW). The Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) employs this same basic technology not only for the vitrification of HLW streams but also for the vitrification of Low Activity Waste (LAW) streams. Because of the much greater throughput rates required of the WTP as compared to the vitrification facilities at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) or the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF), the WTP employs advanced joule heated meltersmore » with forced mixing of the glass pool (bubblers) to improve heat and mass transport and increase melting rates. However, for both HLW and LAW treatment, the ability to increase waste loadings offers the potential to significantly reduce the amount of glass that must be produced and disposed and, therefore, the overall project costs. This report presents the results from a study to investigate several glass property issues related to WTP HLW and LAW vitrification: crystal formation and settling in selected HLW glasses; redox behavior of vanadium and chromium in selected LAW glasses; and key high temperature thermal properties of representative HLW and LAW glasses. The work was conducted according to Test Plans that were prepared for the HLW and LAW scope, respectively. One part of this work thus addresses some of the possible detrimental effects due to considerably higher crystal content in waste glass melts and, in particular, the impact of high crystal contents on the flow property of the glass melt and the settling rate of representative crystalline phases in an environment similar to that of an idling glass melter. Characterization of vanadium redox shifts in representative WTP LAW glasses is the second focal point of this work. The third part of this work focused on key high temperature thermal properties of representative WTP HLW and LAW glasses over a wide range of temperatures, from the melter operating temperature to the glass transition.« less
Spotiton: A prototype for an integrated inkjet dispense and vitrification system for cryo-TEM

PubMed Central

Jain, Tilak; Sheehan, Patrick; Crum, John; Carragher, Bridget; Potter, Clinton S.

2012-01-01

Over the last three decades, Cryo-TEM has developed into a powerful technique for high-resolution imaging of biological macromolecules in their native vitrified state. However, the technique for vitrifying specimens onto EM grids is essentially unchanged – application of ~ 3 µL sample to a grid, followed by blotting and rapid plunge freezing into liquid ethane. Several trials are often required to obtain suitable thin (few hundred nanometers or less) vitrified layers amenable for cryo-TEM imaging, which results in waste of precious sample and resources. While commercially available instruments provide some level of automation to control the vitrification process in an effort to increase quality and reproducibility, obtaining satisfactory vitrified specimens remains a bottleneck in the Cryo-TEM pipeline. We describe here a completely novel method for EM specimen preparation based on small volume (picoliter to nanoliter) dispensing using inkjet technology. A first prototype system (Spotiton v0.5) demonstrates feasibility of this new approach for specimen vitrification. A piezo-electric inkjet dispenser is integrated with optical real-time cameras (100 Hz frame rate) to analyze picoliter to nanoliter droplet profiles in-flight and spreading dynamics on the grid, and thus provides a method to optimize timing of the process. Using TEM imaging and biochemical assays we demonstrate that the piezo-electric inkjet mechanism does not disrupt the structural or functional integrity of macromolecules. These preliminary studies provide insight into the factors and components that will need further development to enable a robust and repeatable technique for specimen vitrification using this novel approach. PMID:22569522
Cryopreservation of Mexican fruit flies by vitrification: stage selection and avoidance of thermal stress.

PubMed

Rajamohan, A; Leopold, R A

2007-02-01

This report presents details of a vitrification methodology for the cryopreservation of embryos of the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens. The overall summary of the data indicates that selecting the correct developmental stage for cryopreservation is the most important criterion. The key aspect in selection of the correct stage is to balance depletion of the gut yolk content against development of the embryonic cuticle. Embryogenesis was divided into four stages between 90 and 120 h after incubation at 21.7 degrees C. The classification was based on the intestinal yolk content and the initial development of mandibular-maxillary complex. Stages having low mid-gut yolk content and the appearance of mouth hooks were found to be the most suitable for cryopreservation. Embryos developing at 30 degrees C had premature cuticle formation relative to gut development and significantly lower hatching after cryopreservation. Vitrification of embryos by direct quenching in liquid nitrogen was less effective than quenching after annealing the samples in liquid nitrogen vapor. Quenched samples of vitrification solutions containing 1,2-ethanediol as the major component exhibited fractures. Fracturing occurred less frequently when the solutions were annealed and when containing polyethylene glycol. Hatching of vitrified embryos stored in liquid nitrogen for over 12 months was not statistically different from those held for only 15 min. Our protocol yielded normalized hatching rates that ranged as high as 61%. Selecting the exact stage for cryopreservation from a population of embryos obtained by collection from ovipositing females during a span of just 30 min resulted in nearly 80% of the embryos hatching into larvae.
Predict the glass transition temperature of glycerol-water binary cryoprotectant by molecular dynamic simulation.

PubMed

Li, Dai-Xi; Liu, Bao-Lin; Liu, Yi-shu; Chen, Cheng-lung

2008-04-01

Vitrification is proposed to be the best way for the cryopreservation of organs. The glass transition temperature (T(g)) of vitrification solutions is a critical parameter of fundamental importance for cryopreservation by vitrification. The instruments that can detect the thermodynamic, mechanical and dielectric changes of a substance may be used to determine the glass transition temperature. T(g) is usually measured by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In this study, the T(g) of the glycerol-aqueous solution (60%, wt/%) was determined by isothermal-isobaric molecular dynamic simulation (NPT-MD). The software package Discover in Material Studio with the Polymer Consortium Force Field (PCFF) was used for the simulation. The state parameters of heat capacity at constant pressure (C(p)), density (rho), amorphous cell volume (V(cell)) and specific volume (V(specific)) and radial distribution function (rdf) were obtained by NPT-MD in the temperature range of 90-270K. These parameters showed a discontinuity at a specific temperature in the plot of state parameter versus temperature. The temperature at the discontinuity is taken as the simulated T(g) value for glycerol-water binary solution. The T(g) values determined by simulation method were compared with the values in the literatures. The simulation values of T(g) (160.06-167.51K) agree well with the DSC results (163.60-167.10K) and the DMA results (159.00K). We drew the conclusion that molecular dynamic simulation (MDS) is a potential method for investigating the glass transition temperature (T(g)) of glycerol-water binary cryoprotectants and may be used for other vitrification solutions.
Investigations on the heat transport capability of a cryogenic oscillating heat pipe and its application in achieving ultra-fast cooling rates for cell vitrification cryopreservation☆

PubMed Central

Han, Xu; Ma, Hongbin; Jiao, Anjun; Critser, John K.

2010-01-01

Theoretically, direct vitrification of cell suspensions with relatively low concentrations (~1 M) of permeating cryoprotective agents (CPA) is suitable for cryopreservation of almost all cell types and can be accomplished by ultra-fast cooling rates that are on the order of 106–7 K/min. However, the methods and devices currently available for cell cryopreservation cannot achieve such high cooling rates. In this study, we constructed a novel cryogenic oscillating heat pipe (COHP) using liquid nitrogen as its working fluid and investigated its heat transport capability to assess its application for achieving ultra-fast cooling rates for cell cryopreservation. The experimental results showed that the apparent heat transfer coefficient of the COHP can reach 2 × 105 W/m2·K, which is two orders of the magnitude higher than traditional heat pipes. Theoretical analyzes showed that the average local heat transfer coefficient in the thin film evaporation region of the COHP can reach 1.2 × 106 W/m2·K, which is approximately 103 times higher than that achievable with standard pool-boiling approaches. Based on these results, a novel device design applying the COHP and microfabrication techniques is proposed and its efficiency for cell vitrification is demonstrated through numerical simulation. The estimated average cooling rates achieved through this approach is 106–7 K/min, which is much faster than the currently available methods and sufficient for achieving vitrification with relatively low concentrations of CPA. PMID:18430413
Improving ovarian tissue cryopreservation for oncologic patients: slow freezing versus vitrification, effect of different procedures and devices.

PubMed

Herraiz, Sonia; Novella-Maestre, Edurne; Rodríguez, Beatriz; Díaz, César; Sánchez-Serrano, María; Mirabet, Vicente; Pellicer, Antonio

2014-03-01

To compare slow freezing (SF) with four vitrification techniques (VT) for cryopreservation of ovarian tissue (OT) and to evaluate the best protocol for human OT in a xenograft model. Experimental study. University hospital. Patients undergoing fertility preservation. Ovariectomized nude mice. Cryopreservation of bovine OT after SF and four VTs (VT1, VT2, VT3, and VT4) by combining two cryoprotectant vitrification solutions (VS1 and VS2) and two devices (metallic grid and ethyl vinyl acetate bag), after which the cryopreservation of human OT by SF and VT1 and xenograft into nude mice. Follicular densities, proliferation, vascularization, fibrosis, apoptosis, tissue viability. The in vitro study in bovine OT showed a lower percentage of quiescent follicles in the SF group but not in the vitrification groups (VT1-VT4). Apoptosis increased and cell proliferation decreased in all the experimental groups except VT1 (20% ethylene glycol, 20% dimethyl sulfoxide, 0.5 M sucrose, and 20% synthetic serum substitute in HEPES-buffered M199 culture media with Cryotissue metallic grids). Tissue viability was diminished in VT3, and the SF-xenografted human samples showed reduced primordial and secondary densities and unbalanced follicular populations when compared with fresh and VT1 tissue. VT1 offers similar conditions to fresh tissue for follicular density, proliferation, viability, and cell death and preserves a larger population of quiescent follicles than SF after transplantation, thus ensuring the maintenance of graft potential fertility. Copyright © 2014 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Property evolution during vitrification of dimethacrylate photopolymer networks

PubMed Central

Abu-Elenain, Dalia; Lewis, Steven H.; Stansbury, Jeffrey W.

2013-01-01

Objectives This study seeks to correlate the interrelated properties of conversion, shrinkage, modulus and stress as dimethacrylate networks transition from rubbery to glassy states during photopolymerization. Methods An unfilled BisGMA/TEGDMA resin was photocured for various irradiation intervals (7–600 s) to provide controlled levels of immediate conversion, which was monitored continuously for 10 min. Fiber optic near-infrared spectroscopy permitted coupling of real-time conversion measurement with dynamic polymerization shrinkage (linometer), modulus (dynamic mechanical analyzer) and stress (tensometer) development profiles. Results The varied irradiation conditions produced final conversion ranging from 6 % to more than 60 %. Post-irradiation conversion (dark cure) was quite limited when photopolymerization was interrupted either at very low or very high levels of conversion while significant dark cure contributions were possible for photocuring reactions suspended within the post-gel, rubbery regime. Analysis of conversion-based property evolution during and subsequent to photocuring demonstrated that the shrinkage rate increased significantly at about 40 % conversion followed by late-stage suppression in the conversion-dependent shrinkage rate that begins at about 45–50 % conversion. The gradual vitrification process over this conversion range is evident based on the broad but well-defined inflection in the modulus versus conversion data. As limiting conversion is approached, modulus and, to a somewhat lesser extent, stress rise precipitously as a result of vitrification with the stress profile showing little if any late-stage suppression as seen with shrinkage. Significance Near the limiting conversion for this model resin, the volumetric polymerization shrinkage rate slows while an exponential rise in modulus promotes the vitrification process that appears to largely dictate stress development. PMID:24080378
Investigations on the heat transport capability of a cryogenic oscillating heat pipe and its application in achieving ultra-fast cooling rates for cell vitrification cryopreservation.

PubMed

Han, Xu; Ma, Hongbin; Jiao, Anjun; Critser, John K

2008-06-01

Theoretically, direct vitrification of cell suspensions with relatively low concentrations ( approximately 1 M) of permeating cryoprotective agents (CPA) is suitable for cryopreservation of almost all cell types and can be accomplished by ultra-fast cooling rates that are on the order of 10(6-7) K/min. However, the methods and devices currently available for cell cryopreservation cannot achieve such high cooling rates. In this study, we constructed a novel cryogenic oscillating heat pipe (COHP) using liquid nitrogen as its working fluid and investigated its heat transport capability to assess its application for achieving ultra-fast cooling rates for cell cryopreservation. The experimental results showed that the apparent heat transfer coefficient of the COHP can reach 2 x 10(5) W/m(2).K, which is two orders of the magnitude higher than traditional heat pipes. Theoretical analyzes showed that the average local heat transfer coefficient in the thin film evaporation region of the COHP can reach 1.2 x 10(6) W/m(2).K, which is approximately 10(3) times higher than that achievable with standard pool-boiling approaches. Based on these results, a novel device design applying the COHP and microfabrication techniques is proposed and its efficiency for cell vitrification is demonstrated through numerical simulation. The estimated average cooling rates achieved through this approach is 10(6-7)K/min, which is much faster than the currently available methods and sufficient for achieving vitrification with relatively low concentrations of CPA.
In situ vitrification application to buried waste: Final report of intermediate field tests at Idaho National Engineering Laboratory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Callow, R.A.; Weidner, J.R.; Loehr, C.A.

This report describes two in situ vitrification field tests conducted on simulated buried waste pits during June and July 1990 at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. In situ vitrification, an emerging technology for in place conversion of contaminated soils into a durable glass and crystalline waste form, is being investigated as a potential remediation technology for buried waste. The overall objective of the two tests was to access the general suitability of the process to remediate waste structures representative of buried waste found at Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. In particular, these tests, as part of a treatability study, were designedmore » to provide essential information on the field performance of the process under conditions of significant combustible and metal wastes and to test a newly developed electrode feed technology. The tests were successfully completed, and the electrode feed technology successfully processed the high metal content waste. Test results indicate the process is a feasible technology for application to buried waste. 33 refs., 109 figs., 39 tabs.« less
Compositional Models of Glass/Melt Properties and their Use for Glass Formulation

DOE PAGES

Vienna, John D.; USA, Richland Washington

2014-12-18

Nuclear waste glasses must simultaneously meet a number of criteria related to their processability, product quality, and cost factors. The properties that must be controlled in glass formulation and waste vitrification plant operation tend to vary smoothly with composition allowing for glass property-composition models to be developed and used. Models have been fit to the key glass properties. The properties are transformed so that simple functions of composition (e.g., linear, polynomial, or component ratios) can be used as model forms. The model forms are fit to experimental data designed statistically to efficiently cover the composition space of interest. Examples ofmore » these models are found in literature. The glass property-composition models, their uncertainty definitions, property constraints, and optimality criteria are combined to formulate optimal glass compositions, control composition in vitrification plants, and to qualify waste glasses for disposal. An overview of current glass property-composition modeling techniques is summarized in this paper along with an example of how those models are applied to glass formulation and product qualification at the planned Hanford high-level waste vitrification plant.« less
Vitrification of waste

DOEpatents

Wicks, G.G.

1999-04-06

A method is described for encapsulating and immobilizing waste for disposal. Waste, preferably, biologically, chemically and radioactively hazardous, and especially electronic wastes, such as circuit boards, are placed in a crucible and heated by microwaves to a temperature in the range of approximately 300 C to 800 C to incinerate organic materials, then heated further to a temperature in the range of approximately 1100 C to 1400 C at which temperature glass formers present in the waste will cause it to vitrify. Glass formers, such as borosilicate glass, quartz or fiberglass can be added at the start of the process to increase the silicate concentration sufficiently for vitrification.
Porous materials produced from incineration ash using thermal plasma technology.

PubMed

Yang, Sheng-Fu; Chiu, Wen-Tung; Wang, To-Mai; Chen, Ching-Ting; Tzeng, Chin-Ching

2014-06-01

This study presents a novel thermal plasma melting technique for neutralizing and recycling municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) ash residues. MSWI ash residues were converted into water-quenched vitrified slag using plasma vitrification, which is environmentally benign. Slag is adopted as a raw material in producing porous materials for architectural and decorative applications, eliminating the problem of its disposal. Porous materials are produced using water-quenched vitrified slag with Portland cement and foaming agent. The true density, bulk density, porosity and water absorption ratio of the foamed specimens are studied here by varying the size of the slag particles, the water-to-solid ratio, and the ratio of the weights of the core materials, including the water-quenched vitrified slag and cement. The thermal conductivity and flexural strength of porous panels are also determined. The experimental results show the bulk density and the porosity of the porous materials are 0.9-1.2 g cm(-3) and 50-60%, respectively, and the pore structure has a closed form. The thermal conductivity of the porous material is 0.1946 W m(-1) K(-1). Therefore, the slag composite materials are lightweight and thermal insulators having considerable potential for building applications. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Low melting high lithia glass compositions and methods

DOEpatents

Jantzen, Carol M.; Pickett, John B.; Cicero-Herman, Connie A.; Marra, James C.

2004-11-02

The invention relates to methods of vitrifying waste and for lowering the melting point of glass forming systems by including lithia formers in the glass forming composition in significant amounts, typically from about 0.16 wt % to about 11 wt %, based on the total glass forming oxides. The lithia is typically included as a replacement for alkali oxide glass formers that would normally be present in a particular glass forming system. Replacement can occur on a mole percent or weight percent basis, and typically results in a composition wherein lithia forms about 10 wt % to about 100 wt % of the alkali oxide glass formers present in the composition. The present invention also relates to the high lithia glass compositions formed by these methods. The invention is useful for stabilization of numerous types of waste materials, including aqueous waste streams, sludge solids, mixtures of aqueous supernate and sludge solids, combinations of spent filter aids from waste water treatment and waste sludges, supernate alone, incinerator ash, incinerator offgas blowdown, or combinations thereof, geological mine tailings and sludges, asbestos, inorganic filter media, cement waste forms in need of remediation, spent or partially spent ion exchange resins or zeolites, contaminated soils, lead paint, etc. The decrease in melting point achieved by the present invention desirably prevents volatilization of hazardous or radioactive species during vitrification.
Low melting high lithia glass compositions and methods

DOEpatents

Jantzen, Carol M.; Pickett, John B.; Cicero-Herman, Connie A.; Marra, James C.

2003-10-07

The invention relates to methods of vitrifying waste and for lowering the melting point of glass forming systems by including lithia formers in the glass forming composition in significant amounts, typically from about 0.16 wt % to about 11 wt %, based on the total glass forming oxides. The lithia is typically included as a replacement for alkali oxide glass formers that would normally be present in a particular glass forming system. Replacement can occur on a mole percent or weight percent basis, and typically results in a composition wherein lithia forms about 10 wt % to about 100 wt % of the alkali oxide glass formers present in the composition. The present invention also relates to the high lithia glass compositions formed by these methods. The invention is useful for stabilization of numerous types of waste materials, including aqueous waste streams, sludge solids, mixtures of aqueous supernate and sludge solids, combinations of spent filter aids from waste water treatment and waste sludges, supernate alone, incinerator ash, incinerator offgas blowdown, or combinations thereof, geological mine tailings and sludges, asbestos, inorganic filter media, cement waste forms in need of remediation, spent or partially spent ion exchange resins or zeolites, contaminated soils, lead paint, etc. The decrease in melting point achieved by the present invention desirably prevents volatilization of hazardous or radioactive species during vitrification.

Low melting high lithia glass compositions and methods

DOEpatents

Jantzen, Carol M.; Pickett, John B.; Cicero-Herman, Connie A.; Marra, James C.

2000-01-01

The invention relates to methods of vitrifying waste and for lowering the melting point of glass forming systems by including lithia formers in the glass forming composition in significant amounts, typically from about 0.16 wt % to about 11 wt %, based on the total glass forming oxides. The lithia is typically included as a replacement for alkali oxide glass formers that would normally be present in a particular glass forming system. Replacement can occur on a mole percent or weight percent basis, and typically results in a composition wherein lithia forms about 10 wt % to about 100 wt % of the alkali oxide glass formers present in the composition. The present invention also relates to the high lithia glass compositions formed by these methods. The invention is useful for stabilization of numerous types of waste materials, including aqueous waste streams, sludge solids, mixtures of aqueous supernate and sludge solids, combinations of spent filter aids from waste water treatment and waste sludges, supernate alone, incinerator ash, incinerator offgas blowdown, or combinations thereof, geological mine tailings and sludges, asbestos, inorganic filter media, cement waste forms in need of remediation, spent or partially spent ion exchange resins or zeolites, contaminated soils, lead paint, etc. The decrease in melting point achieved by the present invention desirably prevents volatilization of hazardous or radioactive species during vitrification.
Methods of vitrifying waste with low melting high lithia glass compositions

DOEpatents

Jantzen, Carol M.; Pickett, John B.; Cicero-Herman, Connie A.; Marra, James C.

2001-01-01

The invention relates to methods of vitrifying waste and for lowering the melting point of glass forming systems by including lithia formers in the glass forming composition in significant amounts, typically from about 0.16 wt % to about 11 wt %, based on the total glass forming oxides. The lithia is typically included as a replacement for alkali oxide glass formers that would normally be present in a particular glass forming system. Replacement can occur on a mole percent or weight percent basis, and typically results in a composition wherein lithia forms about 10 wt % to about 100 wt % of the alkali oxide glass formers present in the composition. The present invention also relates to the high lithia glass compositions formed by these methods. The invention is useful for stabilization of numerous types of waste materials, including aqueous waste streams, sludge solids, mixtures of aqueous supernate and sludge solids, combinations of spent filter aids from waste water treatment and waste sludges, supernate alone, incinerator ash, incinerator offgas blowdown, or combinations thereof, geological mine tailings and sludges, asbestos, inorganic filter media, cement waste forms in need of remediation, spent or partially spent ion exchange resins or zeolites, contaminated soils, lead paint, etc. The decrease in melting point achieved by the present invention desirably prevents volatilization of hazardous or radioactive species during vitrification.
Rhenium volatilisation as caesium perrhenate from simulated vitrified high level waste from a melter crucible

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Taylor, T.A.; Short, R.J.; Gribble, N.R.

2013-07-01

The Waste Vitrification Plant (WVP) converts Highly Active Liquor (HAL) from spent nuclear fuel reprocessing into a stable vitrified product. Recently WVP have been experiencing accumulation of solids in their primary off gas (POG) system leading to potential blockages. Chemical analysis of the blockage material via Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) has shown it to exclusively consist of caesium, technetium and oxygen. The solids are understood to be caesium pertechnetate (CsTcO{sub 4}), resulting from the volatilisation of caesium and technetium from the high level waste glass melt. Using rhenium as a chemical surrogate for technetium, a series of full scalemore » experiments have been performed in order to understand the mechanism of rhenium volatilisation as caesium perrhenate (CsReO{sub 4}), and therefore technetium volatilisation as CsTcO{sub 4}. These experiments explored the factors governing volatilisation rates from the melt, potential methods of minimising the amount of volatilisation, and various strategies for mitigating the deleterious effects of the volatile material on the POG. This paper presents the results from those experiments, and discusses potential methods to minimise blockages that can be implemented on WVP, so that the frequency of the CsTcO{sub 4} blockages can be reduced or even eradicated altogether. (authors)« less
Influence of cell loss after vitrification or slow-freezing on further in vitro development and implantation of human Day 3 embryos.

PubMed

Van Landuyt, L; Van de Velde, H; De Vos, A; Haentjens, P; Blockeel, C; Tournaye, H; Verheyen, G

2013-11-01

Is the effect of cell loss on further cleavage and implantation different for vitrified than for slowly frozen Day 3 embryos? Vitrified embryos develop better overnight than slowly frozen embryos, regardless of the number of cells lost, but have similar implantation potential if further cleavage occurs overnight. After slow-freezing, similar implantation rates have been obtained for intact 4-cell embryos or 4-cell embryos with 1 cell damaged. For slowly frozen Day 3 embryos, lower implantation rates have been observed when at least 25% of cells were lost. Other studies reported similar implantation potential for 7- to 8-cell embryos with 0, 1 or 2 cells damaged. No data are available on further development of vitrified embryos in relation to cell damage. Survival and overnight cleavage were retrospectively assessed for 7664 slowly frozen Day 3 embryos (study period: January 2004-December 2008) and 1827 vitrified embryos (study period: April 2010-September 2011). Overnight cleavage was assessed according to cell stage at cryopreservation and post-thaw cell loss for both protocols. The relationship between cell loss and implantation rate was analysed in a subgroup of single-embryo transfers (SETs) with 780 slowly frozen and 294 vitrified embryos. Embryos with ≥6 blastomeres and ≤20% fragmentation were cryopreserved using slow controlled freezing [with dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) as cryoprotectant] or closed vitrification [with DMSO-ethylene glycol (EG)-sucrose (S) as cryoprotectants]. Only embryos with ≥50% of cells intact after thawing were cultured overnight and were only transferred if further cleaved. For each outcome, logistic regression analysis was performed. Survival was 94 and 64% after vitrification and slow-freezing respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that overnight cleavage of surviving embryos was higher after vitrification than after slow-freezing (P < 0.001) and decreased according to the degree of cell damage (P < 0.001). If the embryo continued to cleave after thawing, there was no effect of the number of cells lost or the cryopreservation method on its implantation potential. The implantation rates of embryos with 0, 1 or 2 cells damaged were, respectively, 21% (n = 114), 21% (n = 28) and 20% (n = 12) after slow-freezing and 20% (n = 50), 21% (n = 5) and 27% (n = 4) after vitrification. This analysis is retrospective and study periods for vitrification and slow-freezing are different. The number of SETs with vitrified embryos is limited. However, a large number of vitrified embryos were available to analyse the further cleavage of surviving embryos. Although it is not proved that vitrified embryos are more viable than slowly frozen embryos in terms of pregnancy outcome, vitrification yields higher survival rates, better overnight development and higher transfer rates per embryo warmed. This increases the number of frozen transfer cycles originating from a single treatment and might result in a better cumulative clinical outcome. Based on the present data, the policy to warm an extra embryo before overnight culture depends on the cell stage at cryopreservation and the cell damage after warming. For 8-cell embryos, up to two cells may be damaged compared with only one cell for 6- to 7-cell embryos, before an additional embryo is warmed. none.
Vitamin K2 improves developmental competency and cryo-tolerance of in vitro derived ovine blastocyst.

PubMed

Sefid, Fatemeh; Ostadhosseini, S; Hosseini, S M; Ghazvini Zadegan, F; Pezhman, M; Nasr Esfahani, Mohammad Hossein

2017-08-01

Vitamin K2 (VK2), acts as an electron carrier in mitochondria and thereby effects reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ATP production. This study evaluates role of VK2 on in vitro developmental competency and cryo-survival of pre-implantation ovine embryos. Initially the optimal and beneficial concentration of VK2 on compaction and blastocyst formation rates was defined (0.1 μM). Subsequently, it was shown that 0.1 μM VK2, at blastocyst stage, reduces H2O2 production, increase the expression of mitochondrial related gene and improved embryos quality. We further assessed presence VK2 supplementation before and/or after vitrification of in vitro derived blastocysts. Our results reveal that presence of VK2 before and after vitrification improves rates of blastocysts re-expansion (88.19± 3.37% vs 73.68± 1.86%, P < 0.05) and hatching (49.55± 4.37% vs 32.7± 3.32%) compared to control group. These observation were consistent with reduction in H2O2 production and improved in expression of mitochondrial related genes. However, VK2 before or after vitrification, not only had no positive effect on these two parameters, but also significantly reduced these parameters. Therefore, in concordance with pervious report in bovine, we show that VK2 supplementation post genomic activation (Day 3-7) improved developmental competency of ovine in vitro derived embryos. We also showed that presence of VK2 after vitrification improves the cryo-survival of ovine embryos. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
The Dominance of Warming Rate Over Cooling Rate in the Survival of Mouse Oocytes Subjected to a Vitrification Procedure✰

PubMed Central

Seki, Shinsuke; Mazur, Peter

2009-01-01

The formation of more than trace amounts of ice in cells is lethal. The two contrasting routes to avoiding it are slow equilibrium freezing and vitrification. The cryopreservation of mammalian oocytes by either method continues to be difficult, but there seems a slowly emerging consensus that vitrification procedures are somewhat better for mouse and human oocytes. The approach in these latter procedures is to load cells with high concentrations of glass-inducing solutes and cool them at rates high enough to induce the glassy state. Several devices have been developed to achieve very high cooling rates. Our study has been concerned with the relative influences of warming rate and cooling rate on the survival of mouse oocytes subjected to a vitrification procedure. Oocytes suspended in an ethylene glycol-acetamide-Ficoll-sucrose solution were cooled to −196°C at rates ranging from 37°C/min to 1827°C/min between 20°C and −120°C, and for each cooling rate, warmed at rates ranging from 139°C/min to 2950°C/min between −70°C and −35°C. The results are unambiguous. If the samples were warmed at the highest rate, survivals were >80% over cooling rates of 187°C/min to 1827°C/min. If the samples were warmed at the lowest rate, survivals were near 0% regardless of the cooling rate. We interpret the lethality of slow warming to be a consequence of it allowing time for the growth of small intracellular ice crystals by recrystallization. PMID:19427303
Property evolution during vitrification of dimethacrylate photopolymer networks.

PubMed

Abu-elenain, Dalia A; Lewis, Steven H; Stansbury, Jeffrey W

2013-11-01

This study seeks to correlate the interrelated properties of conversion, shrinkage, modulus and stress as dimethacrylate networks transition from rubbery to glassy states during photopolymerization. An unfilled BisGMA/TEGDMA resin was photocured for various irradiation intervals (7-600 s) to provide controlled levels of immediate conversion, which was monitored continuously for 10 min. Fiber optic near-infrared spectroscopy permitted coupling of real-time conversion measurement with dynamic polymerization shrinkage (linometer), modulus (dynamic mechanical analyzer) and stress (tensometer) development profiles. The varied irradiation conditions produced final conversion ranging from 6% to more than 60%. Post-irradiation conversion (dark cure) was quite limited when photopolymerization was interrupted either at very low or very high levels of conversion while significant dark cure contributions were possible for photocuring reactions suspended within the post-gel, rubbery regime. Analysis of conversion-based property evolution during and subsequent to photocuring demonstrated that the shrinkage rate increased significantly at about 40% conversion followed by late-stage suppression in the conversion-dependent shrinkage rate that begins at about 45-50% conversion. The gradual vitrification process over this conversion range is evident based on the broad but well-defined inflection in the modulus versus conversion data. As limiting conversion is approached, modulus and, to a somewhat lesser extent, stress rise precipitously as a result of vitrification with the stress profile showing little if any late-stage suppression as seen with shrinkage. Near the limiting conversion for this model resin, the volumetric polymerization shrinkage rate slows while an exponential rise in modulus promotes the vitrification process that appears to largely dictate stress development. Copyright © 2013 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Biophysical Characteristics of Successful Oilseed Embryo Cryoprotection and Cryopreservation Using Vacuum Infiltration Vitrification: An Innovation in Plant Cell Preservation

PubMed Central

Nadarajan, Jayanthi; Pritchard, Hugh W.

2014-01-01

Heterogeneity in morphology, physiology and cellular chemistry of plant tissues can compromise successful cryoprotection and cryopreservation. Cryoprotection is a function of exposure time × temperature × permeability for the chosen protectant and diffusion pathway length, as determined by specimen geometry, to provide sufficient dehydration whilst avoiding excessive chemical toxicity. We have developed an innovative method of vacuum infiltration vitrification (VIV) at 381 mm (15 in) Hg (50 kPa) that ensures the rapid (5 min), uniform permeation of Plant Vitrification Solution 2 (PVS2) cryoprotectant into plant embryos and their successful cryopreservation, as judged by regrowth in vitro. This method was validated on zygotic embryos/embryonic axes of three species (Carica papaya, Passiflora edulis and Laurus nobilis) up to 1.6 mg dry mass and 5.6 mm in length, with varying physiology (desiccation tolerances) and 80°C variation in lipid thermal profiles, i.e., visco-elasticity properties, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry. Comparisons between the melting features of cryoprotected embryos and embryo regrowth indicated an optimal internal PVS2 concentration of about 60% of full strength. The physiological vigour of surviving embryos was directly related to the proportion of survivors. Compared with conventional vitrification, VIV-cryopreservation offered a ∼ 10-fold reduction in PVS2 exposure times, higher embryo viability and regrowth and greater effectiveness at two pre-treatment temperatures (0°C and 25°C). VIV-cryopreservation may form the basis of a generic, high throughput technology for the ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources, aiding food security and protection of species from diverse habitats and at risk of extinction. PMID:24788797
Oocyte cryopreservation: where are we now?

PubMed

Argyle, Catrin E; Harper, Joyce C; Davies, Melanie C

2016-06-01

Since the first live birth from oocyte cryopreservation three decades ago, oocyte cryopreservation has become an important component of ART. Cryopreservation techniques have evolved, leading to higher success rates and the introduction of oocyte cryopreservation into IVF clinics worldwide. Concurrently, there has been an increase in patient demand, especially for so-called 'social egg freezing' that allows women to preserve their fertility in anticipation of age-related fertility decline. This review addresses a need to evaluate the current status of oocyte cryopreservation. It explores current techniques and success rates, clinical applications, the rise of elective oocyte cryopreservation, and future implications. A search was performed using Web of Science and PubMed databases for publications between January 1980 and December 2015. Keywords used included 'egg freezing', 'oocyte freezing', 'oocyte cryopreservation', 'oocyte vitrification', and 'fertility preservation'. The success rate of oocyte cryopreservation has risen, and the increasing use of vitrification offers has improved outcomes, with IVF pregnancy rates now similar to those achieved with fresh oocytes. There are conflicting opinions about the comparative success rates of open and closed vitrification. Patients are accessing and receiving oocyte cryopreservation for a wide range of indications, and there has been a marked increase in patient numbers and oocyte cryopreservation cycles. Oocyte cryopreservation for circumventing age-related infertility is becoming more widely accepted. Oocyte cryopreservation is an established component of ART, with vitrification now being the cryopreservation technique of choice. Increasing numbers of women undergo oocyte cryopreservation for both medical and social reasons. It is important to continue auditing outcomes and reporting long-term follow-up of children born from frozen-thawed oocytes. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.
CRYOPRESERVATION EFFECTS ON RECOMBINANT MYOBLASTS ENCAPSULATED IN ADHESIVE ALGINATE HYDROGELS

PubMed Central

Ahmad, Hajira F.; Sambanis, Athanassios

2013-01-01

Cell encapsulation in hydrogels is widely used in tissue engineering applications, including encapsulation of islets or other insulin-secreting cells in pancreatic substitutes. Use of adhesive, bio-functionalized hydrogels is receiving increasing attention, as cell-matrix interactions in 3-D can be important for various cell processes. With pancreatic substitutes, studies have indicated benefits of 3-D adhesion on the viability and/or function of insulin-secreting cells. As long-term storage of microencapsulated cells is critical for their clinical translation, cryopreservation of cells in hydrogels is actively being investigated. Previous studies have examined the cryopreservation response of cells encapsulated in non-adhesive hydrogels using conventional freezing and/or vitrification (ice-free cryopreservation), however, none have systematically compared the two cryopreservation methods with cells encapsulated within an adhesive 3-D environment. The latter would be significant, as evidence suggests adhesion influences cellular response to cryopreservation. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the response to conventional freezing and vitrification of insulin-secreting cells encapsulated in an adhesive biomimetic hydrogel. Recombinant insulin-secreting C2C12 myoblasts were encapsulated in oxidized RGD-alginate and cultured 1 or 4 days post-encapsulation, cryopreserved, and assessed up to 3 days post-warming for metabolic activity and insulin secretion, and one day post-warming for cell morphology. Besides certain transient differences of the vitrified group relative to the Fresh control, both conventional freezing and vitrification maintained metabolism, secretion and morphology of the recombinant C2C12 cells. Thus, due to a simpler procedure and slightly superior results, conventional freezing is recommended over vitrification for the cryopreservation of C2C12 cells in oxidized RGD-modified alginate. PMID:23499987
Recent advances in the cryopreservation of shoot-derived germplasm of economically important fruit trees of Actinidia, Diospyros, Malus, Olea, Prunus, Pyrus and Vitis.

PubMed

Benelli, Carla; De Carlo, Anna; Engelmann, Florent

2013-01-01

This paper presents the advances made over the last decade in cryopreservation of economically important vegetatively propagated fruit trees. Cryopreservation protocols have been established using both dormant buds sampled on field-grown plants and shoot tips sampled on in vitro plantlets. In the case of dormant buds, scions are partially dehydrated by storage at -5 °C, and then cooled slowly to -30 °C using low cooling rates (c.a. 1 °C/h) before immersion in liquid nitrogen. After slow rewarming and rehydration of samples, regrowth takes place either through grafting of buds on rootstocks or excision of apices and inoculation in vitro. In the case of shoot tips of in vitro plantlets, the cryopreservation techniques employed are the following: controlled rate cooling procedures involving slow prefreezing followed by immersion in liquid nitrogen or vitrification-based procedures including encapsulation-dehydration, vitrification, encapsulation-vitrification and droplet-vitrification. The current status of cryopreservation for a series of fruit tree species including Actinidia, Diospyros, Malus, Olea, Prunus, Pyrus and Vitis is presented. Routine application of cryopreservation for long-term germplasm storage in genebanks is currently limited to apple and pear, for which large cryopreserved collections have been established at NCGRP, Fort Collins (USA), using dormant buds and in vitro shoot tips, respectively. However, there are a growing number of examples of pilot scale testing experiments under way for different species in various countries. Progress in the further development and application of cryopreservation techniques will be made through a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the induction of tolerance to dehydration and cryopreservation in frozen explants. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Effects of various freezing containers for vitrification freezing on mouse oogenesis.

PubMed

Kim, Ji Chul; Kim, Jae Myeoung; Seo, Byoung Boo

2016-01-01

In the present study, various freezing containers were tested for mouse embryos of respective developmental stages; embryos were vitrified and then their survival rate and developmental rate were monitored. Mouse two cell, 8 cell, and blastula stage embryos underwent vitrification freezing-thawing and then their recovery rate, survival rate, development rate, and hatching rate were investigated. EM-grid, OPS, and cryo-loop were utilized for vitrification freezing-thawing of mouse embryos. It was found that recovery rate and survival rate were higher in the group of cryo-loop compared to those of EM-grid (p < 0.05). Embryonic development rate, two cell embryos to blastocyst, as well as hatching rate were higher in the control group compared to the EM-grid group and OPS group (p < 0.05), yet no difference was noted between the control group and cryo-loop group. Development rate and hatching rate of eight cell morulae and blastocysts were all lower in the treatment groups than the control group whilst hatching rate of blastocysts was higher in the control group compared to the groups of EM-grid and OPS (p < 0.05); although the cryo-loop group was shown to be slightly higher than other groups, it was not statistically significant. In the study, we investigate effects of freezing containers on vitrified embryos of respective developmental stages; it was demonstrated that higher developmental rate was shown in more progressed (or developed) embryos with more blastomeres. There was however, no difference in embryonic development rate was shown amongst containers. Taken together, further additional studies are warranted with regards to 1) manipulation techniques of embryos for various vitrification freezing containers and 2) preventive measures against contamination via liquid nitrogen.
The Effect of Vitrification and in vitro Culture on the Adenosine Triphosphate Content and Mitochondrial Distribution of Mouse Pre-Implantation Embryos

PubMed Central

Amoushahi, Mahboobeh; Salehnia, Mojdeh; HosseinKhani, Saman

2013-01-01

Background: The mitochondria are an important source of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production in pre-implantation embryo. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of vitrification and in vitro culture of mouse embryos on their mitochondrial distribution and ATP content. Methods: The embryos at 2-PN, 4-cell and blastocyst stages were collected from the oviduct of stimulated pregnant mice and uterine horns. Then, the embryos were vitrified with the cryotop method using ethylene glycol and dimethylsulphoxide. After evaluating the survival rates of vitrified embryos, their development to hatching stages were assessed. The ATP content of collected in vivo and in vitro embryos at different stages was measured by luciferin-luciferase bioluminescence assay. The distribution of mitochondria was studied using Mito-tracker green staining under a fluorescent microscope. Results: The survival rates of vitrified embryos at 2-PN, 4-cell and early blastocyst stages were 84.3, 87.87 and 89.89%, respectively. The hatching rates in previous developmental stages in vitrified group were 57.44, 66.73 and 70.89% and in non-vitrified group were 66.32, 73.25 and 75.89%, respectively (P>0.05). The ATP content of in vivo or in vitro collected embryos was not significantly different in both vitrified and non-vitrified groups (P>0.05). Mitochondrial distribution of vitrified and non-vitrified 2-PN embryos was similar, but some clampings or large aggregation of mitochondria within the vitrified 4-cell embryos was prominent. Conclusions: Vitrification method did not affect the mouse embryo ATP content. Also, the cellular stress was not induced by this procedure and the safety of vitrification was shown. PMID:23748889
Preliminary hazards analysis -- vitrification process

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Coordes, D.; Ruggieri, M.; Russell, J.

1994-06-01

This paper presents a Preliminary Hazards Analysis (PHA) for mixed waste vitrification by joule heating. The purpose of performing a PHA is to establish an initial hazard categorization for a DOE nuclear facility and to identify those processes and structures which may have an impact on or be important to safety. The PHA is typically performed during and provides input to project conceptual design. The PHA is then followed by a Preliminary Safety Analysis Report (PSAR) performed during Title 1 and 2 design. The PSAR then leads to performance of the Final Safety Analysis Report performed during the facility`s constructionmore » and testing. It should be completed before routine operation of the facility commences. This PHA addresses the first four chapters of the safety analysis process, in accordance with the requirements of DOE Safety Guidelines in SG 830.110. The hazards associated with vitrification processes are evaluated using standard safety analysis methods which include: identification of credible potential hazardous energy sources; identification of preventative features of the facility or system; identification of mitigative features; and analyses of credible hazards. Maximal facility inventories of radioactive and hazardous materials are postulated to evaluate worst case accident consequences. These inventories were based on DOE-STD-1027-92 guidance and the surrogate waste streams defined by Mayberry, et al. Radiological assessments indicate that a facility, depending on the radioactive material inventory, may be an exempt, Category 3, or Category 2 facility. The calculated impacts would result in no significant impact to offsite personnel or the environment. Hazardous materials assessment indicates that a Mixed Waste Vitrification facility will be a Low Hazard facility having minimal impacts to offsite personnel and the environment.« less
Effect of estrous cow serum during bovine embryo culture on blastocyst development and cryotolerance after slow freezing or vitrification.

PubMed

Mucci, N; Aller, J; Kaiser, G G; Hozbor, F; Cabodevila, J; Alberio, R H

2006-05-01

The present study investigated the effect of estrous cow serum (ECS) during culture of bovine embryos on blastocyst development and survival after cryopreservation by slow freezing or vitrification. Embryos were derived from in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) of abbatoir-derived oocytes. At Day 3, embryos were cultured in three different media: Charles Ronsenkrans medium + amino acids (CR1aa; without bovine serum albumin (BSA)) + 5% estrous cow serum (CR1-ECS), CR1aa + 3 mg/mL BSA (CR1-BSA) or CR1aa + 5% ECS + 3 mg/mL BSA (CR1-ECS-BSA). At 7.5 d post-insemination (PI), blastocyst yield and quality were evaluated; blastocysts and expanded blastocysts from each media were cryopreserved by Open Pulled Straw (OPS) vitrification method or slow freezing (1.5 M ethylene glycol, EM). Total blastocyst yield did not differ among CR1-ECS, CR1-BSA and CR1-ECS-BSA (30.9, 33.1 and 32.9%, respectively, P < 0.05). Embryo survival (hatching rate) was higher in vitrified versus slow-frozen embryos (43% versus 12%, respectively, P < 0.01), and in embryos cultured in CR1-BSA (40.3%) compared with those cultured in serum-containing media (CR1-ECS, 21.5% and CR1-ECS-BSA, 19.8%; P < 0.01). (a) it was possible to produce in vitro bovine embryos in serum-free culture medium without affecting blastocyst yield and quality; (b) serum-free medium produced the best quality embryos (in terms of post-cryopreservation survival); and (c) vitrification yielded the highest post-cryopreservation survival rates, regardless of the presence of serum in the culture medium.
Ovarian tissue vitrification and heterotopic autologous transplantation in prepubertal Wistar rats.

PubMed

Wietcovsky, Leticia; Til, David; Salvador, Rafael Alonso; Amaral, Nicole Louise Lângaro; Senn, Alfred Paul; Amaral, Vera Lucia Lângaro

2018-03-15

To evaluate the efficiency of ovarian tissue heterotopic autografting after vitrification in prepubertal rats. Fragments of excised ovaries from prepubertal rats were used after assessing post-warming cellular viability, to determine the best vitrification protocol prior to retroauricular autografting. Pre-pubertal females (N=24) were castrated and divided into three group: Group 1 - fresh ovarian tissue transplantation; Group 2 - vitrified/warmed tissue transplantation; Group 3 - bilateral oophorectomy without transplantation. The ovarian fragments were exposed to solutions from the Ingamed® commercial kit, allocated in bacteriological loops and immersed in liquid nitrogen. Sixty days after transplantation, a vaginal mucus sample was collected for cytology tests, followed by sacrificing the animal, performing a cardiac puncture for collecting a blood sample to determine luteinizing hormone and estradiol levels, and excision of the transplanted fragment for histology tests. Vaginal cytology revealed that 87.5% of females from groups 1 and 2 had estrus while all females in Group 3 remained in diestrus. The mean LH value in groups 1 (0.08 mIU/mL) and 2 (0.34 mIU/mL) were statistically different from that of Group 3 (2.27 mIU/mL). E2 values did not differ between the groups. The histological analysis of Group 1 excised grafts versus those from Group 2 showed a higher percentage of primary follicles (62.5% vs. 12.5%), developing follicles (75% vs. 25%), corpus luteum (37.5% vs. 12.5%) and stromal region (100% vs. 87.5%). This study indicated that pre-pubertal ovarian tissue vitrification can be used to preserve fertility and to restore endocrine function in castrated rats.
Efficient Term Development of Vitrified Ferret Embryos Using a Novel Pipette Chamber Technique1

PubMed Central

Sun, Xingshen; Li, Ziyi; Yi, Yaling; Chen, Juan; Leno, Gregory H.; Engelhardt, John F.

2008-01-01

Development of an efficient cryopreservation technique for the domestic ferret is key for the long-term maintenance of valuable genetic specimens of this species and for the conservation of related endangered species. Unfortunately, current cryopreservation procedures, such as slow-rate freezing and vitrification with open pulled straws, are inefficient. In this report, we describe a pipette tip-based vitrification method that significantly improves the development of thawed ferret embryos following embryo transfer (ET). Ferret embryos at the morula (MR), compact morula (CM), and early blastocyst (EB) stages were vitrified using an Eppendorf microloader pipette tip as the chamber vessel. The rate of in vitro development was significantly (P < 0.05) higher among embryos vitrified at the CM (93.6%) and EB (100%) stages relative to those vitrified at the MR stages (58.7%). No significant developmental differences were observed when comparing CM and EB vitrified embryos with nonvitrified control CM (100%) and EB (100%) embryos. In addition, few differences in the ultrastructure of intracellular lipid droplets or in microfilament structure were observed between control embryos and embryos vitrified at any developmental stage. Vitrified-thawed CM/EB embryos cultured for 2 or 16 h before ET resulted in live birth rates of 71.3% and 77.4%, respectively. These rates were not significantly different from the control live birth rate (79.2%). However, culture for 32 h (25%) or 48 h (7.8%) after vitrification significantly reduced the rate of live births. These data indicate that the pipette chamber vitrification technique significantly improves the live birth rate of transferred ferret embryos relative to current state-of-the-art methods.. PMID:18633142
Tribological properties of surfaces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buckley, D. H.

1978-01-01

The real area of contact between two solid surfaces is only a small portion of the apparent area. Deformation of these areas can result in solid state contact through surface films. For clean solid to solid contact strong adhesive bonding occurs across the interface. Under these conditions many properties of the solid such as the metallurgical and chemical nature of metals can influence adhesion, friction, and wear behavior. The presence of gases, liquids, and solid films on the surface of solids alter markedly tribological characteristics. These surface films can also considerably change the mechanical effects of solid state contact on bulk material behavior.
Review of the Scientific Understanding of Radioactive Waste at the U.S. DOE Hanford Site.

PubMed

Peterson, Reid A; Buck, Edgar C; Chun, Jaehun; Daniel, Richard C; Herting, Daniel L; Ilton, Eugene S; Lumetta, Gregg J; Clark, Sue B

2018-01-16

This Critical Review reviews the origin and chemical and rheological complexity of radioactive waste at the U.S. Department of Energy Hanford Site. The waste, stored in underground tanks, was generated via three distinct processes over decades of plutonium extraction operations. Although close records were kept of original waste disposition, tank-to-tank transfers and conditions that impede equilibrium complicate our understanding of the chemistry, phase composition, and rheology of the waste. Tank waste slurries comprise particles and aggregates from nano to micro scales, with varying densities, morphologies, heterogeneous compositions, and complicated responses to flow regimes and process conditions. Further, remnant or changing radiation fields may affect the stability and rheology of the waste. These conditions pose challenges for transport through conduits or pipes to treatment plants for vitrification. Additionally, recalcitrant boehmite degrades glass quality and the high aluminum content must be reduced prior to vitrification for the manufacture of waste glass of acceptable durability. However, caustic leaching indicates that boehmite dissolves much more slowly than predicted given surface normalized rates. Existing empirical models based on ex situ experiments and observations generally only describe material balances and have not effectively predicted process performance. Recent advances in the areas of in situ microscopy, aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy, theoretical modeling across scales, and experimental methods for probing the physics and chemistry at mineral-fluid and mineral-mineral interfaces are being implemented to build robustly predictive physics-based models.
Technical information report: Plasma melter operation, reliability, and maintenance analysis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hendrickson, D.W.

1995-03-14

This document provides a technical report of operability, reliability, and maintenance of a plasma melter for low-level waste vitrification, in support of the Hanford Tank Waste Remediation System (TWRS) Low-Level Waste (LLW) Vitrification Program. A process description is provided that minimizes maintenance and downtime and includes material and energy balances, equipment sizes and arrangement, startup/operation/maintence/shutdown cycle descriptions, and basis for scale-up to a 200 metric ton/day production facility. Operational requirements are provided including utilities, feeds, labor, and maintenance. Equipment reliability estimates and maintenance requirements are provided which includes a list of failure modes, responses, and consequences.

Vitrification of waste

DOEpatents

Wicks, George G.

1999-01-01

A method for encapsulating and immobilizing waste for disposal. Waste, preferably, biologically, chemically and radioactively hazardous, and especially electronic wastes, such as circuit boards, are placed in a crucible and heated by microwaves to a temperature in the range of approximately 300.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. to incinerate organic materials, then heated further to a temperature in the range of approximately 1100.degree. C. to 1400.degree. C. at which temperature glass formers present in the waste will cause it to vitrify. Glass formers, such as borosilicate glass, quartz or fiberglass can be added at the start of the process to increase the silicate concentration sufficiently for vitrification.
Volatile species of technetium and rhenium during waste vitrification

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Dongsang; Kruger, Albert A.

Volatile loss of technetium (Tc) during vitrification of low-activity wastes is a technical challenge for treating and immobilizing the large volumes of radioactive and hazardous wastes stored at the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Site. There are various research efforts being pursued to develop technologies that can be implemented for cost effective management of Tc, including studies to understand the behavior of Tc during vitrification, with the goal of eventually increasing Tc retention in glass. Furthermore, one of these studies has focused on identifying the form or species of Tc and Re (surrogate for Tc) that evolve during the waste-to-glassmore » conversion process. This information is important for understanding the mechanism of Tc volatilization. In this paper, available information collected from the literature is critically evaluated to clarify the volatile species of Tc and Re and, more specifically, whether they volatilize as alkali pertechnetate and perrhenate or as technetium and rhenium oxides after decomposition of alkali pertechnetate and perrhenate. The evaluated data ranged from mass spectrometric identification of species volatilized from pure and binary alkali pertechnetate and perrhenate salts to structural and chemical analyses of volatilized materials during crucible melting and scaled melter processing of simulated wastes.« less
How thermal stress alters the confinement of polymers vitrificated in nanopores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teng, Chao; Li, Linling; Wang, Yong; Wang, Rong; Chen, Wei; Wang, Xiaoliang; Xue, Gi

2017-05-01

Understanding and controlling the glass transition temperature (Tg) and dynamics of polymers in confined geometries are of significance in both academia and industry. Here, we investigate how the thermal stress induced by a mismatch in the coefficient of thermal expansion affects the Tg behavior of polystyrene (PS) nanorods located inside cylindrical alumina nanopores. The size effects and molecular weight dependence of the Tg are also studied. A multi-step relaxation process was employed to study the relationship between thermal stress and cooling rate. At fast cooling rates, the imparted thermal stress would overcome the yield stress of PS and peel chains off the pore walls, while at slow cooling rates, chains are kept in contact with the pore walls due to timely dissipation of the produced thermal stress during vitrification. In smaller nanopores, more PS chains closely contact with pore walls, then stronger internal thermal stress would be generated between core and shell of PS nanorod, which results in a larger deviation between two Tgs. The core part of PS shows lower Tg than bulk value, which can induce faster dynamics in the center region. A complex and important role stress plays is supposed in complex confinement condition, e.g., in nanopores, during vitrification.
Adsorbing/dissolving Lyoprotectant Matrix Technology for Non-cryogenic Storage of Archival Human Sera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solivio, Morwena J.; Less, Rebekah; Rynes, Mathew L.; Kramer, Marcus; Aksan, Alptekin

2016-04-01

Despite abundant research conducted on cancer biomarker discovery and validation, to date, less than two-dozen biomarkers have been approved by the FDA for clinical use. One main reason is attributed to inadvertent use of low quality biospecimens in biomarker research. Most proteinaceous biomarkers are extremely susceptible to pre-analytical factors such as collection, processing, and storage. For example, cryogenic storage imposes very harsh chemical, physical, and mechanical stresses on biospecimens, significantly compromising sample quality. In this communication, we report the development of an electrospun lyoprotectant matrix and isothermal vitrification methodology for non-cryogenic stabilization and storage of liquid biospecimens. The lyoprotectant matrix was mainly composed of trehalose and dextran (and various low concentration excipients targeting different mechanisms of damage), and it was engineered to minimize heterogeneity during vitrification. The technology was validated using five biomarkers; LDH, CRP, PSA, MMP-7, and C3a. Complete recovery of LDH, CRP, and PSA levels was achieved post-rehydration while more than 90% recovery was accomplished for MMP-7 and C3a, showing promise for isothermal vitrification as a safe, efficient, and low-cost alternative to cryogenic storage.
Ovarian and oocyte cryopreservation.

PubMed

Lornage, Jacqueline; Salle, Bruno

2007-08-01

The present article is an update on progress in the two available techniques of oocyte and ovarian cryopreservation: slow cooling/rapid thawing and vitrification. A new line of research has opened in recent years: freezing the whole ovary with its vascular pedicle, so as to enable vascular grafts limiting ischemia-related follicle reserve loss. The technique of mature oocyte vitrification has advanced significantly, with improved oocyte physiology, increased safety, and higher clinical pregnancy rates. The number of studies on whole ovary freezing has grown, and there has been a large-mammal (sheep) live birth by orthotopic graft with vascular anastomosis of a cryopreserved ovary. Ovarian and oocyte cryopreservation is essential to conserving the fertility of young women. Results of mature oocyte freezing techniques have improved significantly over the past few years, but remain poorer than those with embryo freezing. Mature oocyte vitrification is progressing well, but requires safety validation in view of the high cryoprotectant concentrations used. Ovarian cortex fragment freezing is widely used in patients, with two live births after orthotopic graft, worldwide. The problem of rapid graft exhaustion has led to a focus on whole ovary cryopreservation which has resulted in one live birth in a ewe.
Metal behavior during vitrification of incinerator ash in a coke bed furnace.

PubMed

Kuo, Yi-Ming; Lin, Ta-Chang; Tsai, Perng-Jy

2004-06-18

In this study, municipal waste incinerator ash was vitrified in a coke bed furnace system and the behavior of metals was investigated. Coke and lime were added to provide heat which facilitated vitrification. Ash contributed more than 90% of metal (except for Ca) input-mass. Metal species with low boiling points accounted for the major fraction of their input-mass adsorbed by air pollution control devices (APCDs) fly ash. Among the remaining metals, those species with light specific weights in this furnace tended to be encapsulated in slag, while heavier species were mainly discharged by ingot. Meanwhile, the leachability of hazardous metals in slag was significantly reduced. The distribution index (DI) was defined and used as an index for distribution of heavy metals in the system. A high DI assures safe slag reuse and implies feasibility of recovering hazardous heavy metals such as Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn. The vitrification in a coke bed furnace proved to be a useful technology for the final disposal of MSW incinerator ash. The heavy metals are separated into the slag, ingot and fly ash, allowing safe reuse of the slag and possible recovery of the metals contained in the ingot and ash fractions.
Corrosion assessment of refractory materials for high temperature waste vitrification

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Marra, J.C.; Congdon, J.W.; Kielpinski, A.L.

1995-11-01

A variety of vitrification technologies are being evaluated to immobilize radioactive and hazardous wastes following years of nuclear materials production throughout the Department of Energy (DOE) complex. The compositions and physical forms of these wastes are diverse ranging from inorganic sludges to organic liquids to heterogeneous debris. Melt and off-gas products can be very corrosive at the high temperatures required to melt many of these waste streams. Ensuring material durability is required to develop viable treatment processes. Corrosion testing of materials in some of the anticipated severe environments is an important aspect of the materials identification and selection process. Corrosionmore » coupon tests on typical materials used in Joule heated melters were completed using glass compositions with high salt contents. The presence of chloride in the melts caused the most severe attack. In the metal alloys, oxidation was the predominant corrosion mechanism, while in the tested refractory material enhanced dissolution of the refractory into the glass was observed. Corrosion testing of numerous different refractory materials was performed in a plasma vitrification system using a surrogate heterogeneous debris waste. Extensive corrosion was observed in all tested materials.« less
Bench scale experiments for the remediation of Hanford Waste Treatment Plant low activity waste melter off-gas condensate

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Taylor-Pashow, Kathryn M.L.; Poirier, Michael; McCabe, Daniel J.

The Low Activity Waste (LAW) vitrification facility at the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) will generate an aqueous condensate recycle stream (LAW Off-Gas Condensate) from the off-gas system. The plan for disposition of this stream during baseline operations is to send it to the WTP Pretreatment Facility, where it will be blended with LAW, concentrated by evaporation and recycled to the LAW vitrification facility again. The primary reason to recycle this stream is so that the semi-volatile 99Tc isotope eventually becomes incorporated into the glass. This stream also contains non-radioactive salt components that are problematic in the melter,more » so diversion of this stream to another process would eliminate recycling of these salts and would enable simplified operation of the LAW melter and the Pretreatment Facilities. This diversion from recycling this stream within WTP would have the effect of decreasing the LAW vitrification mission duration and quantity of glass waste. The concept being tested here involves removing the 99Tc so that the decontaminated aqueous stream, with the problematic salts, can be disposed elsewhere.« less
Investigation of variable compositions on the removal of technetium from Hanford Waste Treatment Plant low activity waste melter off-gas condensate simulant

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Taylor-Pashow, Kathryn M. L.; McCabe, Daniel J.; Pareizs, John M.

The Low Activity Waste (LAW) vitrification facility at the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) will generate an aqueous condensate recycle stream (LAW Off-Gas Condensate) from the offgas system. The plan for disposition of this stream during baseline operations is to send it to the WTP Pretreatment Facility, where it will be blended with LAW, concentrated by evaporation and recycled to the LAW vitrification facility again. The primary reason to recycle this stream is so that the semi-volatile 99Tc isotope eventually becomes incorporated into the glass. This stream also contains non-radioactive salt components that are problematic in the melter,more » so diversion of this stream to another process would eliminate recycling of these salts and would enable simplified operation of the LAW melter and the Pretreatment Facilities. This diversion from recycling this stream within WTP would have the effect of decreasing the LAW vitrification mission duration and quantity of glass waste. The concept being tested here involves removing the 99Tc so that the decontaminated aqueous stream, with the problematic salts, can be disposed elsewhere.« less
Volatile species of technetium and rhenium during waste vitrification

DOE PAGES

Kim, Dongsang; Kruger, Albert A.

2017-10-26

Volatile loss of technetium (Tc) during vitrification of low-activity wastes is a technical challenge for treating and immobilizing the large volumes of radioactive and hazardous wastes stored at the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Site. There are various research efforts being pursued to develop technologies that can be implemented for cost effective management of Tc, including studies to understand the behavior of Tc during vitrification, with the goal of eventually increasing Tc retention in glass. Furthermore, one of these studies has focused on identifying the form or species of Tc and Re (surrogate for Tc) that evolve during the waste-to-glassmore » conversion process. This information is important for understanding the mechanism of Tc volatilization. In this paper, available information collected from the literature is critically evaluated to clarify the volatile species of Tc and Re and, more specifically, whether they volatilize as alkali pertechnetate and perrhenate or as technetium and rhenium oxides after decomposition of alkali pertechnetate and perrhenate. The evaluated data ranged from mass spectrometric identification of species volatilized from pure and binary alkali pertechnetate and perrhenate salts to structural and chemical analyses of volatilized materials during crucible melting and scaled melter processing of simulated wastes.« less
Determining the dissolution rates of actinide glasses: A time and temperature Product Consistency Test study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Daniel, W.E.; Best, D.R.

1995-12-01

Vitrification has been identified as one potential option for the e materials such as Americium (Am), Curium (Cm), Neptunium (Np), and Plutonium (Pu). A process is being developed at the Savannah River Site to safely vitrify all of the highly radioactive Am/Cm material and a portion of the fissile (Pu) actinide materials stored on site. Vitrification of the Am/Cm will allow the material to be transported and easily stored at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The Am/Cm glass has been specifically designed to be (1) highly durable in aqueous environments and (2) selectively attacked by nitric acid to allow recoverymore » of the valuable Am and Cm isotopes. A similar glass composition will allow for safe storage of surplus plutonium. This paper will address the composition, relative durability, and dissolution rate characteristics of the actinide glass, Loeffler Target, that will be used in the Americium/Curium Vitrification Project at Westinghouse Savannah River Company near Aiken, South Carolina. The first part discusses the tests performed on the Loeffler Target Glass concerning instantaneous dissolution rates. The second part presents information concerning pseudo-activation energy for the one week glass dissolution process.« less
Ovine secondary follicles vitrified out the ovarian tissue grow and develop in vitro better than those vitrified into the ovarian fragments.

PubMed

Lunardi, Franciele Osmarini; de Aguiar, Francisco Leo Nascimento; Duarte, Ana Beatriz Graça; Araújo, Valdevane Rocha; de Lima, Laritza Ferreira; Ribeiro de Sá, Naiza Arcângela; Vieira Correia, Hudson Henrique; Domingues, Sheyla Farhayldes Souza; Campello, Cláudio Cabral; Smitz, Johan; de Figueiredo, José Ricardo; Ribeiro Rodrigues, Ana Paula

2016-04-15

Cryopreservation of preantral follicles is a promising technique to preserve female fertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitrification on the development of secondary follicles included in ovarian tissue or isolated after microdissection. An important end point included is the capacity of grown oocytes to resume meiosis. Sheep ovarian cortexes were cut into fragments and split into three different groups: (1) fresh (control): secondary follicles isolated without any previous vitrification; (2) follicle-vitrification (follicle-vit): secondary follicles vitrified in isolated form; and (3) tissue-vitrification (tissue-vit): secondary follicles vitrified within fragments of ovarian tissue (in situ former) and subsequently subjected to isolation. From the three groups, isolated secondary follicles were submitted to IVC for 18 days. After IVC, cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were harvested from follicles. As an additional control group, in vivo grown, in vivo-grown COCs were collected from antral ovarian follicles. All, recovered COCs were matured and the chromatin configuration was evaluated. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, and the means were compared by Student-Newman-Keuls test, and by chi-square. Differences were considered to be significant when P < 0.05. Isolated preantral follicles from all treatments had normal morphology, antrum formation, and low follicle degeneration after IVC. The growth rate between control and follicle-vit did not differ (P > 0.05), and was higher (P < 0.05) than for tissue-vit. The percentage of follicles that decreased diameter during IVC was significantly higher in tissue-vit than the in follicle-vit. Recovery rate of oocytes from normal follicles was higher in follicle-vit than in tissue-vit. Furthermore, oocyte viability was lower in tissue-vit than other treatments, and follicle-vit did not differ from control and in vivo grown. The percentage of oocytes meiosis resuming was not different between treatments except for in vivo grown. After vitrification, only follicle-vit showed metaphase I oocyte. We conclude that secondary follicles vitrified after isolation displayed a better follicular growth rate, oocyte viability, percentage of oocytes reaching the metaphase I stage, and fewer follicles with decreased diameter after IVC. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Evaluation of Vitrification Processing Step for Rocky Flats Incinerator Ash

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wigent, W.L.; Luey, J.K.; Scheele, R.D.

In 1997, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) staff developed a processing option for incinerator ash at the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Sites (RFETS). This work was performed with support from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Safe Sites of Colorado (SSOC). A description of the remediation needs for the RFETS incinerator ash is provided in a report summarizing the recommended processing option for treatment of the ash (Lucy et al. 1998). The recommended process flowsheet involves a calcination pretreatment step to remove carbonaceous material followed by a vitrification processing step for a mixture of glass tit and calcined incinerator ash.more » Using the calcination pretreatment step to remove carbonaceous material reduced process upsets for the vitrification step, allowed for increased waste loading in the final product, and improved the quality of the final product. Figure 1.1 illustrates the flow sheet for the recommended processing option for treatment of RFETS incinerator ash. In 1998, work at PNNL further developed the recommended flow sheet through a series of studies to better define the vitrification operating parameters and to address secondary processing issues (such as characterizing the offgas species from the calcination process). Because a prototypical rotary calciner was not available for use, studies to evaluate the offgas from the calcination process were performed using a benchtop rotary calciner and laboratory-scale equipment (Lucy et al. 1998). This report focuses on the vitrification process step after ash has been calcined. Testing with full-scale containers was performed using ash surrogates and a muffle furnace similar to that planned for use at RFETS. Small-scale testing was performed using plutonium-bearing incinerator ash to verify performance of the waste form. Ash was not obtained from RFETS because of transportation requirements to calcine the incinerator ash prior to shipment of the material. Because part of PNNL's work was to characterize the ash prior to calcination and to investigate the effect of calcination on product quality, representative material was obtained from LANL. Ash obtained from LANL was selected based on its similarity to that currently stored at RFETS. The plutonium-bearing ashes obtained from LANL are likely from a RFETS incinerator, but the exact origin was not identified.« less
Kinetics of a bioactive compound (caffeine) mobility at the vicinity of the mechanical glass transition temperature induced by gelling polysaccharide.

PubMed

Jiang, Bin; Kasapis, Stefan

2011-11-09

An investigation of the diffusional mobility of a bioactive compound (caffeine) within the high-solid (80.0% w/w) matrices of glucose syrup and κ-carrageenan plus glucose syrup exhibiting distinct mechanical glass transition properties is reported. The experimental temperature range was from 20 to -60 °C, and the techniques of modulated differential scanning calorimetry, small deformation dynamic oscillation in shear, and UV spectrometry were employed. Calorimetric and mechanical measurements were complementary in recording the relaxation dynamics of high-solid matrices upon controlled heating. Predictions of the reaction rate theory and the combined WLF/free volume framework were further utilized to pinpoint the glass transition temperature (T(g)) of the two matrices in the softening dispersion. Independent of composition, calorimetry yielded similar T(g) predictions for both matrices at this level of solids. Mechanical experimentation, however, was able to detect the effect of adding gelling polysaccharide to glucose syrup as an accelerated pattern of vitrification leading to a higher value of T(g). Kinetic rates of caffeine diffusion within the experimental temperature range were taken with UV spectroscopy. These demonstrated the pronounced effect of the gelling κ-carrageenan/glucose syrup mixture to retard diffusion of the bioactive compound near the mechanical T(g). Modeling of the diffusional mobility of caffeine produced activation energy and fractional free-volume estimates, which were distinct from those of the carbohydrate matrix within the glass transition region. This result emphasizes the importance of molecular interactions between macromolecular matrix and small bioactive compound in glass-related relaxation phenomena.
Direct Measurement of Water States in Cryopreserved Cells Reveals Tolerance toward Ice Crystallization

PubMed Central

Huebinger, Jan; Han, Hong-Mei; Hofnagel, Oliver; Vetter, Ingrid R.; Bastiaens, Philippe I.H.; Grabenbauer, Markus

2016-01-01

Complex living systems such as mammalian cells can be arrested in a solid phase by ultrarapid cooling. This allows for precise observation of cellular structures as well as cryopreservation of cells. The state of water, the main constituent of biological samples, is crucial for the success of cryogenic applications. Water exhibits many different solid states. If it is cooled extremely rapidly, liquid water turns into amorphous ice, also called vitreous water, a glassy and amorphous solid. For cryo-preservation, the vitrification of cells is believed to be mandatory for cell survival after freezing. Intracellular ice crystallization is assumed to be lethal, but experimental data on the state of water during cryopreservation are lacking. To better understand the water conditions in cells subjected to freezing protocols, we chose to directly analyze their subcellular water states by cryo-electron microscopy and tomography, cryoelectron diffraction, and x-ray diffraction both in the cryofixed state and after warming to different temperatures. By correlating the survival rates of cells with their respective water states during cryopreservation, we found that survival is less dependent on ice-crystal formation than expected. Using high-resolution cryo-imaging, we were able to directly show that cells tolerate crystallization of extra- and intracellular water. However, if warming is too slow, many small ice crystals will recrystallize into fewer but bigger crystals, which is lethal. The applied cryoprotective agents determine which crystal size is tolerable. This suggests that cryoprotectants can act by inhibiting crystallization or recrystallization, but they also increase the tolerance toward ice-crystal growth. PMID:26541066
Method for treating materials for solidification

DOEpatents

Jantzen, Carol M.; Pickett, John B.; Martin, Hollis L.

1995-01-01

A method for treating materials such as wastes for solidification to form a solid, substantially nonleachable product. Addition of reactive silica rather than ordinary silica to the material when bringing the initial molar ratio of its silica constituent to a desired ratio within a preselected range increases the solubility and retention of the materials in the solidified matrix. Materials include hazardous, radioactive, mixed, and heavy metal species. Amounts of other constituents of the material, in addition to its silica content are also added so that the molar ratio of each of these constituents is within the preselected ranges for the final solidified product. The mixture is then solidified by cement solidification or vitrification. The method can be used to treat a variety of wastes, including but not limited to spent filter aids from waste water treatment, waste sludges, combinations of spent filter aids and waste sludges, combinations of supernate and waste sludges, incinerator ash, incinerator offgas blowdown, combinations of incinerator ash and offgas blowdown, cementitious wastes and contaminated soils.
Enhanced 99 Tc retention in glass waste form using Tc(IV)-incorporated Fe minerals

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Um, Wooyong; Luksic, Steven A.; Wang, Guohui

Technetium (99Tc) immobilization by doping into iron oxide mineral phases may alleviate the problems with Tc volatility during vitrification of nuclear waste. Reduced Tc, Tc(IV), substitutes for Fe(III) in the crystal structure by a process of Tc reduction from Tc(VII) to Tc(IV) followed by co-precipitation of Fe oxide minerals. Two Tc-incorporated Fe minerals (Tc-goethite and Tc-magnetite/maghemite) were prepared and tested for Tc retention in glass melt samples at temperatures between 600 – 1,000 oC. After being cooled, the solid glass specimens prepared at different temperatures were analyzed for Tc oxidation state using Tc K-edge XANES. In most samples, Tc wasmore » partially oxidized from Tc(IV) to Tc(VII) as the melt temperature increased. However, Tc retention in glass melt samples prepared using Tc-incorporated Fe minerals were moderately higher than in glass prepared using KTcO4 because of limited and delayed Tc volatilization.« less
The kinetics of polyurethane structural foam formation: Foaming and polymerization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rao, Rekha R.; Mondy, Lisa A.; Long, Kevin N.

We are developing kinetic models to understand the manufacturing of polymeric foams, which evolve from low viscosity Newtonian liquids, to bubbly liquids, finally producing solid foam. Closed-form kinetics are formulated and parameterized for PMDI-10, a fast curing polyurethane, including polymerization and foaming. PMDI- 10 is chemically blown, where water and isocyanate react to form carbon dioxide. The isocyanate reacts with polyol in a competing reaction, producing polymer. Our approach is unique, though it builds on our previous work and the polymerization literature. This kinetic model follows a simplified mathematical formalism that decouples foaming and curing, including an evolving glass transitionmore » temperature to represent vitrification. This approach is based on IR, DSC, and volume evolution data, where we observed that the isocyanate is always in excess and does not affect the kinetics. Finally, the kinetics are suitable for implementation into a computational fluid dynamics framework, which will be explored in subsequent papers.« less
The kinetics of polyurethane structural foam formation: Foaming and polymerization

DOE PAGES

Rao, Rekha R.; Mondy, Lisa A.; Long, Kevin N.; ...

2017-02-15

We are developing kinetic models to understand the manufacturing of polymeric foams, which evolve from low viscosity Newtonian liquids, to bubbly liquids, finally producing solid foam. Closed-form kinetics are formulated and parameterized for PMDI-10, a fast curing polyurethane, including polymerization and foaming. PMDI- 10 is chemically blown, where water and isocyanate react to form carbon dioxide. The isocyanate reacts with polyol in a competing reaction, producing polymer. Our approach is unique, though it builds on our previous work and the polymerization literature. This kinetic model follows a simplified mathematical formalism that decouples foaming and curing, including an evolving glass transitionmore » temperature to represent vitrification. This approach is based on IR, DSC, and volume evolution data, where we observed that the isocyanate is always in excess and does not affect the kinetics. Finally, the kinetics are suitable for implementation into a computational fluid dynamics framework, which will be explored in subsequent papers.« less
De-vitrification of nanoscale phase-separated amorphous thin films in the immiscible copper-niobium system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Puthucode, A.; Devaraj, A.; Nag, S.; Bose, S.; Ayyub, P.; Kaufman, M. J.; Banerjee, R.

2014-05-01

Copper and niobium are mutually immiscible in the solid state and exhibit a large positive enthalpy of mixing in the liquid state. Using vapour quenching via magnetron co-sputter deposition, far-from equilibrium amorphous Cu-Nb films have been deposited which exhibit a nanoscale phase separation. Annealing these amorphous films at low temperatures (~200 °C) initiates crystallization via the nucleation and growth of primary nanocrystals of a face-centred cubic Cu-rich phase separated by the amorphous matrix. Interestingly, subsequent annealing at a higher temperature (>300 °C) leads to the polymorphic nucleation and growth of large spherulitic grains of a body-centred cubic Nb-rich phase within the retained amorphous matrix of the partially crystallized film. This sequential two-stage crystallization process has been investigated in detail by combining transmission electron microscopy [TEM] (including high-resolution TEM) and atom probe tomography studies. These results provide new insights into the crystallization behaviour of such unusual far-from equilibrium phase-separated metallic glasses in immiscible systems.

Molecular dynamics analysis of a equilibrium nanoscale droplet on a solid surface with periodic roughness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furuta, Yuma; Surblys, Donatas; Yamaguchi, Yastaka

2016-11-01

Molecular dynamics simulations of the equilibrium wetting behavior of hemi-cylindrical argon droplets on solid surfaces with a periodic roughness were carried out. The rough solid surface is located at the bottom of the calculation cell with periodic boundary conditions in surface lateral directions and mirror boundary condition at the top boundary. Similar to on a smooth surface, the change of the cosine of the droplet contact angle was linearly correlated to the potential well depth of the inter-atomic interaction between liquid and solid on a surface with a short roughness period while the correlation was deviated on one with a long roughness period. To further investigate this feature, solid-liquid, solid-vapor interfacial free energies per unit projected area of solid surface were evaluated by using the thermodynamic integration method in independent quasi-one-dimensional simulation systems with a liquid-solid interface or vapor-solid interface on various rough solid surfaces at a constant pressure. The cosine of the apparent contact angles estimated from the density profile of the droplet systems corresponded well with ones calculated from Young's equation using the interfacial energies evaluated in the quasi-one dimensional systems.
Baseline tests for arc melter vitrification of INEL buried wastes. Volume II: Baseline test data appendices

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Oden, L.L.; O`Conner, W.K.; Turner, P.C.

1993-11-19

This report presents field results and raw data from the Buried Waste Integrated Demonstration (BWID) Arc Melter Vitrification Project Phase 1 baseline test series conducted by the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM). The baseline test series was conducted using the electric arc melter facility at the USBM Albany Research Center in Albany, Oregon. Five different surrogate waste feed mixtures were tested that simulated thermally-oxidized, buried, TRU-contaminated, mixed wastes and soils present at the INEL. The USBM Arc Furnace Integrated Waste Processing Test Facility includes a continuous feed system, the arc meltingmore » furnace, an offgas control system, and utilities. The melter is a sealed, 3-phase alternating current (ac) furnace approximately 2 m high and 1.3 m wide. The furnace has a capacity of 1 metric ton of steel and can process as much as 1,500 lb/h of soil-type waste materials. The surrogate feed materials included five mixtures designed to simulate incinerated TRU-contaminated buried waste materials mixed with INEL soil. Process samples, melter system operations data and offgas composition data were obtained during the baseline tests to evaluate the melter performance and meet test objectives. Samples and data gathered during this program included (a) automatically and manually logged melter systems operations data, (b) process samples of slag, metal and fume solids, and (c) offgas composition, temperature, velocity, flowrate, moisture content, particulate loading and metals content. This report consists of 2 volumes: Volume I summarizes the baseline test operations. It includes an executive summary, system and facility description, review of the surrogate waste mixtures, and a description of the baseline test activities, measurements, and sample collection. Volume II contains the raw test data and sample analyses from samples collected during the baseline tests.« less
Baseline tests for arc melter vitrification of INEL buried wastes. Volume 1: Facility description and summary data report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Oden, L.L.; O`Connor, W.K.; Turner, P.C.

1993-11-19

This report presents field results and raw data from the Buried Waste Integrated Demonstration (BWID) Arc Melter Vitrification Project Phase 1 baseline test series conducted by the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM). The baseline test series was conducted using the electric arc melter facility at the USBM Albany Research Center in Albany, Oregon. Five different surrogate waste feed mixtures were tested that simulated thermally-oxidized, buried, TRU-contaminated, mixed wastes and soils present at the INEL. The USBM Arc Furnace Integrated Waste Processing Test Facility includes a continuous feed system, the arc meltingmore » furnace, an offgas control system, and utilities. The melter is a sealed, 3-phase alternating current (ac) furnace approximately 2 m high and 1.3 m wide. The furnace has a capacity of 1 metric ton of steel and can process as much as 1,500 lb/h of soil-type waste materials. The surrogate feed materials included five mixtures designed to simulate incinerated TRU-contaminated buried waste materials mixed with INEL soil. Process samples, melter system operations data and offgas composition data were obtained during the baseline tests to evaluate the melter performance and meet test objectives. Samples and data gathered during this program included (a) automatically and manually logged melter systems operations data, (b) process samples of slag, metal and fume solids, and (c) offgas composition, temperature, velocity, flowrate, moisture content, particulate loading and metals content. This report consists of 2 volumes: Volume I summarizes the baseline test operations. It includes an executive summary, system and facility description, review of the surrogate waste mixtures, and a description of the baseline test activities, measurements, and sample collection. Volume II contains the raw test data and sample analyses from samples collected during the baseline tests.« less
Property/composition relationships for Hanford high-level waste glasses melting at 115{degrees}C volume 1: Chapters 1-11

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hrma, P.R.; Piepel, G.F.

1994-12-01

A Composition Variation study (CVS) is being performed within the Pacific Northwest Laboratory Vitrification Technology Development (PVTD) project in support of a future high-level nuclear waste vitrification plant at the Hanford site in Washington. From 1989 to 1994, over 120 nonradioactive glasses were melted and properties measured in five statistically-designed experimental phases. Glass composition is represented by the 10 components SiO{sub 2}, B{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}, ZrO{sub 2}, Na{sub 2}O, Li{sub 2}O, CaO, MgO, and Others (all remaining components). The properties measured include viscosity ({eta}), electrical conductivity ({epsilon}), glass transition temperature (T{sub g} ), thermalmore » expansion of solid glass ({alpha}{sub s}) and molten glass ({alpha}{sub m}), crystallinity (quenched and canister centerline cooled glasses), liquidus temperature (T{sub L}), durability based on normalized elemental releases from the Materials Characterization Center-1 28-day dissolution test (MCC-1, r{sub mi}) and the 7-day Product Consistency Test (PCT, r{sub pi}), and solution pHs from MCC-1 and PCT. Amorphous phase separation was also evaluated. Empirical first- and second-order mixture models were fit using the CVS data to relate the various properties to glass composition. Equations for calculating the uncertainty associated with property values predicted by the models were also developed. The models were validated using both internal and external data. Other modeling approaches (e.g., non-bridging oxygen, free energy of hydration, phase-equilibria T{sub L}) were investigated for specific properties. A preliminary Qualified Composition Region was developed to identify glass compositions with high confidence of being processable in a melter and meeting waste form acceptance criteria.« less
Glass Waste Forms for Oak Ridge Tank Wastes: Fiscal Year 1998 Report for Task Plan SR-16WT-31, Task B

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Andrews, M.K.

1999-05-10

Using ORNL information on the characterization of the tank waste sludges, SRTC performed extensive bench-scale vitrification studies using simulants. Several glass systems were tested to ensure the optimum glass composition (based on the glass liquidus temperature, viscosity and durability) is determined. This optimum composition will balance waste loading, melt temperature, waste form performance and disposal requirements. By optimizing the glass composition, a cost savings can be realized during vitrification of the waste. The preferred glass formulation was selected from the bench-scale studies and recommended to ORNL for further testing with samples of actual OR waste tank sludges.
Solid Lubrication Fundamentals and Applications. Properties of Clean Surfaces: Adhesion, Friction, and Wear

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miyoshi, Kazuhisa

1998-01-01

This chapter presents the adhesion, friction, and wear behaviors of smooth, atomically clean surfaces of solid-solid couples, such as metal-ceramic couples, in a clean environment. Surface and bulk properties, which determine the adhesion, friction, and wear behaviors of solid-solid couples, are described. The primary emphasis is on the nature and character of the metal, especially its surface energy and ductility. Also, the mechanisms of friction and wear for clean, smooth surfaces are stated.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kot, Wing K.; Pegg, Ian L.; Brandys, Marek

One of the primary roles of waste pretreatment at the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) is to separate the majority of the radioactive components from the majority of the nonradioactive components in retrieved tank wastes, producing a high level waste (HLW) stream and a low activity waste (LAW) stream. This separation process is a key element in the overall strategy to reduce the volume of HLW that requires vitrification and subsequent disposal in a national deep geological repository for high level nuclear waste. After removal of the radioactive constituents, the LAW stream, which has a much largermore » volume but smaller fraction of radioactivity than the HLW stream, will be immobilized and disposed of in near surface facilities at the Hanford site.« less
Consolidation of lunar regolith: Microwave versus direct solar heating

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kunitzer, J.; Strenski, D. G.; Yankee, S. J.; Pletka, B. J.

1991-01-01

The production of construction materials on the lunar surface will require an appropriate fabrication technique. Two processing methods considered as being suitable for producing dense, consolidated products such as bricks are direct solar heating and microwave heating. An analysis was performed to compare the two processes in terms of the amount of power and time required to fabricate bricks of various size. The regolith was considered to be a mare basalt with an overall density of 60 pct. of theoretical. Densification was assumed to take place by vitrification since this process requires moderate amounts of energy and time while still producing dense products. Microwave heating was shown to be significantly faster compared to solar furnace heating for rapid production of realistic-size bricks.
Theory of activated glassy relaxation, mobility gradients, surface diffusion, and vitrification in free standing thin films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mirigian, Stephen, E-mail: kschweiz@illinois.edu, E-mail: smirigian@gmail.com; Schweizer, Kenneth S., E-mail: kschweiz@illinois.edu, E-mail: smirigian@gmail.com

2015-12-28

We have constructed a quantitative, force level, statistical mechanical theory for how confinement in free standing thin films introduces a spatial mobility gradient of the alpha relaxation time as a function of temperature, film thickness, and location in the film. The crucial idea is that relaxation speeds up due to the reduction of both near-surface barriers associated with the loss of neighbors in the local cage and the spatial cutoff and dynamical softening near the vapor interface of the spatially longer range collective elasticity cost for large amplitude hopping. These two effects are fundamentally coupled. Quantitative predictions are made formore » how an apparent glass temperature depends on the film thickness and experimental probe technique, the emergence of a two-step decay and mobile layers in time domain measurements, signatures of confinement in frequency-domain dielectric loss experiments, the dependence of film-averaged relaxation times and dynamic fragility on temperature and film thickness, surface diffusion, and the relationship between kinetic experiments and pseudo-thermodynamic measurements such as ellipsometry.« less
Theory of activated glassy relaxation, mobility gradients, surface diffusion, and vitrification in free standing thin films.

PubMed

Mirigian, Stephen; Schweizer, Kenneth S

2015-12-28

We have constructed a quantitative, force level, statistical mechanical theory for how confinement in free standing thin films introduces a spatial mobility gradient of the alpha relaxation time as a function of temperature, film thickness, and location in the film. The crucial idea is that relaxation speeds up due to the reduction of both near-surface barriers associated with the loss of neighbors in the local cage and the spatial cutoff and dynamical softening near the vapor interface of the spatially longer range collective elasticity cost for large amplitude hopping. These two effects are fundamentally coupled. Quantitative predictions are made for how an apparent glass temperature depends on the film thickness and experimental probe technique, the emergence of a two-step decay and mobile layers in time domain measurements, signatures of confinement in frequency-domain dielectric loss experiments, the dependence of film-averaged relaxation times and dynamic fragility on temperature and film thickness, surface diffusion, and the relationship between kinetic experiments and pseudo-thermodynamic measurements such as ellipsometry.
Surface morphology diagram for cylinder-forming block copolymer thin films.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaohua; Berry, Brian C; Yager, Kevin G; Kim, Sangcheol; Jones, Ronald L; Satija, Sushil; Pickel, Deanna L; Douglas, Jack F; Karim, Alamgir

2008-11-25

We investigate the effect of the ordering temperature (T) and film thickness (h(f)) on the surface morphology of flow-coated block copolymer (BCP) films of asymmetric poly(styrene-block-methyl methacrylate). Morphology transitions observed on the ordered film surface by atomic force microscopy (AFM) are associated with a perpendicular to a parallel cylinder BCP microphase orientation transition with respect to the substrate with increasing h(f). "Hybrid" surface patterns for intermediate h(f) between these limiting morphologies are correspondingly interpreted by a coexistence of these two BCP microphase orientations so that two "transitional" h(f) exist for each T. This explanation of our surface patterns is supported by both neutron reflectivity and rotational SANS measurements. The transitional h(f) values as a function of T define upper and lower surface morphology transition lines, h(fu) (T) and h(fl) (T), respectively, and a surface morphology diagram that should be useful in materials fabrication. Surprisingly, the BCP film surface morphology depends on the method of film formation (flow-coated versus spun-cast films) so that nonequilibrium effects are evidently operative. This morphological variability is attributed primarily to the trapping of residual solvent (toluene) within the film (quantified by neutron reflectivity) due to film vitrification while drying. This effect has significant implications for controlling film structure in nanomanufacturing applications based on BCP templates.
Cryopreservation of umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells without dimethyl sulfoxide.

PubMed

Wang, Hai-Yan; Lun, Zhao-Rong; Lu, Shu-Shen

2011-01-01

Cryopreservation of umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCB-derived MSCs) is crucial step for its clinical applications in cell transplantation therapy. In the cryopreservation of MSCs, dimethyl sulfoxide has been widely used as a cryoprotectant (CPA). However, it has been proved that DMSO has toxic side effects to human body. In this study, DMSO-free CPA solutions which contained ethylene glycol (EG), 1, 2-propylene glycol (PG) and sucrose as basic CPAs, supplemented with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as an additive, were developed for the cryopreservation of UCB-derived MSCs. The cryopreservation of UCB-derived MSCs was achieved by vitrification via plunging into liquid nitrogen and by programmed freezing via an optical-DSC system respectively. The viability of thawed UCB-derived MSCs was tested by trypan blue exclusion assay. Results showed that the viability of thawed UCB-derived MSCs was enhanced from 71.2% to 95.4% in the presence of PVA for vitrification, but only < 10% to 45% of viability was found for programmed freezing. These results indicate that PVA exerts a beneficial effect on the cryopreservation of UCB-derived MSCs and suggest the vitrification in combination with the dimethyl sulfoxide free CPA solutions supplemented with PVA would be an efficient protocol for the cryopreservation of UCB-derived MSCs.
Ash from a pulp mill boiler--characterisation and vitrification.

PubMed

Ribeiro, Ana S M; Monteiro, Regina C C; Davim, Erika J R; Fernandes, M Helena V

2010-07-15

The physical, chemical and mineralogical characterisation of the ash resulting from a pulp mill boiler was performed in order to investigate the valorisation of this waste material through the production of added-value glassy materials. The ash had a particle size distribution in the range 0.06-53 microm, and a high amount of SiO(2) (approximately 82 wt%), which was present as quartz. To favour the vitrification of the ash and to obtain a melt with an adequate viscosity to cast into a mould, different amounts of Na(2)O were added to act as fluxing agent. A batch with 80 wt% waste load melted at 1350 degrees C resulting in a homogeneous transparent green-coloured glass with good workability. The characterisation of the produced glass by differential thermal analysis and dilatometry showed that this glass presents a stable thermal behaviour. Standard leaching tests revealed that the concentration of heavy metals in the leaching solution was lower than those allowed by the Normative. As a conclusion, by vitrification of batch compositions with adequate waste load and additive content it is possible to produce an ash-based glass that may be used in similar applications as a conventional silicate glass inclusively as a building ecomaterial. 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Effect of SiO2 on immobilization of metals and encapsulation of a glass network in slag.

PubMed

Kuo, Yi-Ming; Lin, Ta-Chang; Tsai, Perng-Jy

2003-11-01

The final disposal of ash from an incinerator is of special concern because of the possibility of its releasing toxic substances. Melting/vitrification has been regarded as a prospective technology of ash treatment. The object of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of silica (SiO2) addition on the immobilization of hazardous metals and the encapsulation of a glass network during the vitrification process. Four specimens with SiO2/fly ash mixing ratios of 0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3, respectively, were tested. The mobility of metals in slag was then estimated by a sequential extraction procedure. X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that SiO2 leads to the polymerization of silicates. The encapsulation of aluminum, calcium, and magnesium would not be observed unless adequate amount of SiO2 was added. It was also found that SiO2 addition enhances the formation of a compact and interconnected glass network structure and, thus, contributes to the chemical stability of metals in slag. After vitrification, the mobility of cadmium, copper, iron, chromium, nickel, lead, and zinc was significantly reduced. However, there is no significant correlation between the immobilization of these metals and the addition of SiO2.
Seedling development and evaluation of genetic stability of cryopreserved Dendrobium hybrid mature seeds.

PubMed

Galdiano, Renato Fernandes; de Macedo Lemos, Eliana Gertrudes; de Faria, Ricardo Tadeu; Vendrame, Wagner Aparecido

2014-03-01

Vitrification, a simple, fast, and recommended cryopreservation method for orchid germplasm conservation, was evaluated for Dendrobium hybrid "Dong Yai" mature seeds. The genetic stability of regenerated seedlings was also evaluated using flow cytometry. Mature seeds from this hybrid were submitted to plant vitrification solution (PVS2) for 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 h at 0 °C. Subsequently, they were plunged into liquid nitrogen (LN) at -196 °C for 1 h and recovered in half-strength Murashige and Skoog culture medium (1/2 MS), and seed germination was evaluated after 30 days. Seeds directly submitted to LN did not germinate after cryopreservation. Seeds treated with PVS2 between 1 and 3 h presented the best germination (between 51 and 58%), although longer exposure to PVS2 returned moderated germination (39%). Germinated seeds were further subcultured in P-723 culture medium and developed whole seedlings in vitro after 180 days, with no abnormal characteristics, diseases, or nutritional deficiencies. Seedlings were successfully acclimatized under greenhouse conditions with over 80% survival. Flow cytometry analysis revealed no chromosomal changes on vitrified seedlings, as well as seedlings germinated from the control treatment (direct exposure to LN). These findings indicate that vitrification is a feasible and safe germplasm cryopreservation method for commercial Dendrobium orchid hybrid conservation.
Vitrified metal finishing wastes I. Composition, density and chemical durability.

PubMed

Bingham, P A; Hand, R J

2005-03-17

Durable phosphate glasses were formed by vitrifying waste filter cakes from two metal finishing operations. Some melts formed crystalline components during cooling. Compositional analysis of dried, heat treated and vitrified samples was made using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, inductively-coupled plasma spectroscopy and Leco induction furnace combustion analysis. Hydrolytic dissolution, measured by an adapted product consistency test, was reduced by up to 3 orders of magnitude upon heat treatment or vitrification, surpassing the performance of borosilicate glass in some cases. This was attributed to the high levels of iron and zinc in the wastes, which greatly improve the durability of phosphate glasses. One of the wastes arose from a metal phosphating process and was particularly suitable for vitrification due to its high P2O5 content and favourable melting behaviour. The other waste, which arose from a number of processes, was less suitable as it had a low P2O5 content and during heating it emitted harmful corrosive gases and underwent violent reactions. Substantial volume reductions were obtained by heat treatment and vitrification of both wastes. Compositions and performances of some vitrified wastes were comparable with those of glasses which are under consideration for the immobilisation of toxic and nuclear wastes.
Treatment of Asbestos Wastes Using the GeoMelt Vitrification Process

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Finucane, K.G.; Thompson, L.E.; Abuku, T.

The disposal of waste asbestos from decommissioning activities is becoming problematic in countries which have limited disposal space. A particular challenge is the disposal of asbestos wastes from the decommissioning of nuclear sites because some of it is radioactively contaminated or activated and disposal space for such wastes is limited. GeoMelt{sup R} vitrification is being developed as a treatment method for volume and toxicity minimization and radionuclide immobilization for UK radioactive asbestos mixed waste. The common practice to date for asbestos wastes is disposal in licensed landfills. In some cases, compaction techniques are used to minimize the disposal space requirements.more » However, such practices are becoming less practical. Social pressures have resulted in changes to disposal regulations which, in turn, have resulted in the closure of some landfills and increased disposal costs. In the UK, tens of thousands of tonnes of asbestos waste will result from the decommissioning of nuclear sites over the next 20 years. In Japan, it is estimated that over 40 million tonnes of asbestos materials used in construction will require disposal. Methods for the safe and cost effective volume reduction of asbestos wastes are being evaluated for many sites. The GeoMelt{sup R} vitrification process is being demonstrated at full-scale in Japan for the Japan Ministry of Environment and plans are being developed for the GeoMelt treatment of UK nuclear site decommissioning-related asbestos wastes. The full-scale treatment operations in Japan have also included contaminated soils and debris. The GeoMelt{sup R} vitrification process result in the maximum possible volume reduction, destroys the asbestos fibers, treats problematic debris associated with asbestos wastes, and immobilizes radiological contaminants within the resulting glass matrix. Results from recent full-scale treatment operations in Japan are discussed and plans for GeoMelt treatment of UK nuclear site decommissioning-related asbestos wastes are outlined. (authors)« less
THE DOE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE PROGRAM: OVERVIEW OF TECHNICAL TASKS AND RESULTS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Marra, J.; Fox, K.; Farfan, E.

2009-12-08

The DOE Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) Office of Engineering and Technology is responsible for implementing EM's International Cooperative Program. Over the past 15 years, collaborative work has been conducted through this program with researchers in Russia, Ukraine, France, United Kingdom and Republic of Korea. Currently, work is being conducted with researchers in Russia and Ukraine. Efforts aimed at evaluating and advancing technologies to support U.S. high-level waste (HLW) vitrification initiatives are being conducted in collaboration with Russian researchers. Work at Khlopin Radium Institute (KRI) is targeted at improving the throughput of current vitrification processes by increasing melting rate. Thesemore » efforts are specifically targeted at challenging waste types identified at the Savannah River Site (SRS) and Hanford Site. The objectives of current efforts at SIA Radon are to gain insight into vitrification process limits for the cold crucible induction melter (CCIM) technology. Previous demonstration testing has shown that the CCIM offers the potential for dramatic increases in waste loading and waste throughput. However, little information is known regarding operational limits that could affect long-term, efficient CCIM operations. Collaborative work with the Russian Electrotechnical University (ETU) 'LETI' is aimed at advancing CCIM process monitoring, process control and design. The goal is to further mature the CCIM technology and to establish it as a viable HLW vitrification technology. The greater than two year effort conducted with the International Radioecology Laboratory in the Ukraine recently completed. The objectives of this study were: to assess the long-term impacts to the environment from radiation exposure in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (ChEZ); and to provide information on remediation guidelines and ecological risk assessment within radioactively contaminated territories around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) based on the results of long-term field monitoring, analytical measurements, and numerical modeling of soils and groundwater radioactive contamination.« less
Effect of container, vitrification volume and warming solution on cryosurvival of in vitro-produced bovine embryos.

PubMed

Rios, G L; Mucci, N C; Kaiser, G G; Alberio, R H

2010-03-01

The aim of the present research was to develop a low cost and easy to perform vitrification method for in vitro-produced cattle embryos. Effect of container material was evaluated (plastic straw compared to glass capillary, experiment 1), two volume sample (1 compared to 0.5 microL, experiment 2) and warming solution composition medium (Tissue Culture Medium 199 (TCM-199) compared to phosphate buffered saline (PBS), experiment 3) as modifications of the open pulled straw (OPS) system in order to reduce embryo damage caused by exposure to cold. In all experiments, day 7 and expanded blastocysts of cattle were exposed to the vitrification solution 1 for 3 min and 30s in solution 2. After this, embryos were placed in a droplet and loaded in a narrow end container, and immediately submerged into liquid nitrogen. For warming, vitrified embryos were plunged into warming solution 1 for 3 min, and transferred into warming solution 2 for 1 min. Fresh embryos kept in culture were used as control group. Hatching rates were recorded in all cases at day 13. In experiment 1 there was no significant effect of container material on hatching rates. Postwarming survival rate of vitrified embryos was lower than control (27.5% plastic straws, 18.9% glass capillary and 80.5% control, P<0.05). In experiment 2, there was no significant effect of volume in hatching rates (58.3% 1 microL, 61.3% 0.5 microL and 80.5% control, P<0.05). In experiment 3, the composition of the holding medium of warming solution influenced hatching rates (84.1% TCM-199, 74.8% PBS and 91.1% control P<0.05). These data suggest that neither glass capillaries nor reduced sample volume could improve hatching rates after vitrification-warming with open pulled straw (OPS) procedure, and that PBS can replace TCM-199 in warming solutions, but lesser hatching rates should be expected.
Survival of mouse oocytes after being cooled in a vitrification solution to −196°C at 95° to 70,000°C/min and warmed at 610° to 118,000°C/min: A new paradigm for cryopreservation by vitrification☆

PubMed Central

Mazur, Peter; Seki, Shinsuke

2011-01-01

There is great interest in achieving reproducibly high survivals of mammalian oocytes (especially human) after cryopreservation, but the results to date have not matched the interest. A prime cause of cell death is the formation of more than trace amounts of intracellular ice, and one strategy to avoid it is vitrification. In vitrification procedures, cells are loaded with high concentrations of glass-inducing solutes and cooled to −196°C at rates high enough to presumably induce the glassy state. In the last decade, several devices have been developed to achieve very high cooling rates. Nearly all in the field have assumed that the cooling rate is the critical factor. The purpose of our study was to test that assumption by examining the consequences of cooling mouse oocytes in a vitrification solution at four rates ranging from 95°C/min to 69,250°C/min to −196°C and for each cooling rate, subjecting them to five warming rates back above 0°C at rates ranging from 610°C/min to 118,000°C/min. In samples warmed at the highest rate (118,000°C/min), survivals were 70 to 85% regardless of the prior cooling rate. In samples warmed at the lowest rate (610°C/min), survivals were low regardless of the prior cooling rate, but decreased from 25% to 0% as the cooling rate was increased from 95°C/min to 69,000°C/min. Intermediate cooling and warming rates gave intermediate survivals. The especially high sensitivity of survival to warming rate suggests that either the crystallization of intracellular glass during warming or the growth by recrystallization of small intracellular ice crystals formed during cooling are responsible for the lethality of slow warming. PMID:21055397

Free cholesterol and cholesterol esters in bovine oocytes: Implications in survival and membrane raft organization after cryopreservation

PubMed Central

Ríos, Glenda L.; Canizo, Jesica R.; Antollini, Silvia S.; Alberio, Ricardo H.

2017-01-01

Part of the damage caused by cryopreservation of mammalian oocytes occurs at the plasma membrane. The addition of cholesterol to cell membranes as a strategy to make it more tolerant to cryopreservation has been little addressed in oocytes. In order to increase the survival of bovine oocytes after cryopreservation, we proposed not only to increase cholesterol level of oocyte membranes before vitrification but also to remove the added cholesterol after warming, thus recovering its original level. Results from our study showed that modulation of membrane cholesterol by methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) did not affect the apoptotic status of oocytes and improved viability after vitrification yielding levels of apoptosis closer to those of fresh oocytes. Fluorometric measurements based on an enzyme-coupled reaction that detects both free cholesterol (membrane) and cholesteryl esters (stored in lipid droplets), revealed that oocytes and cumulus cells present different levels of cholesterol depending on the seasonal period. Variations at membrane cholesterol level of oocytes were enough to account for the differences found in total cholesterol. Differences found in total cholesterol of cumulus cells were explained by the differences found in both the content of membrane cholesterol and of cholesterol esters. Cholesterol was incorporated into the oocyte plasma membrane as evidenced by comparative labeling of a fluorescent cholesterol. Oocytes and cumulus cells increased membrane cholesterol after incubation with MβCD/cholesterol and recovered their original level after cholesterol removal, regardless of the season. Finally, we evaluated the effect of vitrification on the putative raft molecule GM1. Cholesterol modulation also preserved membrane organization by maintaining ganglioside level at the plasma membrane. Results suggest a distinctive cholesterol metabolic status of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) among seasons and a dynamic organizational structure of cholesterol homeostasis within the COC. Modulation of membrane cholesterol by MβCD improved survival of bovine oocytes and preserved integrity of GM1-related rafts after vitrification. PMID:28686720
New controlled environment vitrification system for preparing wet samples for cryo-SEM.

PubMed

Ge, H; Suszynski, W J; Davis, H T; Scriven, L E

2008-01-01

A new controlled environment vitrification system (CEVS) has been designed and constructed to facilitate examination by cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM) of initial suspension state and of microstructure development in latex, latex-composite and other coatings while they still contain solvent. The new system has a main chamber with provisions for coating as well as drying, and for well-controlled plunging into cryogen. An added subsidiary chamber holds samples for drying or annealing over minutes to days before they are returned to the main chamber and plunged from it. In the main chamber, samples are blade-coated on 5 x 7 mm pieces of silicon wafer and held at selected temperature and humidity for successively longer times, either there or after transfer along a rail into the subsidiary chamber. They are then placed in the sample holder mounted on the plunge rod, so as to permit adjustment of the sample's attitude when it plunges, at controlled speed, into liquid ethane at its freezing point, to a chosen depth, in order to solidify the sample without significant shear or freezing artifacts. The entries of plunging samples and related sample holders into liquid ethane were recorded with a high-speed, high-resolution Photron digital camera. The data were interpreted with a new hypothesis about the width of the band of extremely rapid cooling by deeply subcooled nucleate boiling below the line of entry. Complementary cryo-SEM images revealed that the freezing rate and surface shearing of a sample need to be balanced by adjusting the plunging attitude.
Transfer of Materials from Water to Solid Surfaces Using Liquid Marbles.

PubMed

Kawashima, Hisato; Paven, Maxime; Mayama, Hiroyuki; Butt, Hans-Jürgen; Nakamura, Yoshinobu; Fujii, Syuji

2017-09-27

Remotely controlling the movement of small objects is desirable, especially for the transportation and selection of materials. Transfer of objects between liquid and solid surfaces and triggering their release would allow for development of novel material transportation technology. Here, we describe the remote transport of a material from a water film surface to a solid surface using quasispherical liquid marbles (LMs). A light-induced Marangoni flow or an air stream is used to propel the LMs on water. As the LMs approach the rim of the water film, gravity forces them to slide down the water rim and roll onto the solid surface. Through this method, LMs can be efficiently moved on water and placed on a solid surface. The materials encapsulated within LMs can be released at a specific time by an external stimulus. We analyzed the velocity, acceleration, and force of the LMs on the liquid and solid surfaces. On water, the sliding friction due to the drag force resists the movement of the LMs. On a solid surface, the rolling distance is affected by the surface roughness of the LMs.
High Level Waste Remote Handling Equipment in the Melter Cave Support Handling System at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bardal, M.A.; Darwen, N.J.

2008-07-01

Cold war plutonium production led to extensive amounts of radioactive waste stored in tanks at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Hanford site. Bechtel National, Inc. is building the largest nuclear Waste Treatment Plant in the world located at the Department of Energy's Hanford site to immobilize the millions of gallons of radioactive waste. The site comprises five main facilities; Pretreatment, High Level Waste vitrification, Low Active Waste vitrification, an Analytical Lab and the Balance of Facilities. The pretreatment facilities will separate the high and low level waste. The high level waste will then proceed to the HLW facility for vitrification.more » Vitrification is a process of utilizing a melter to mix molten glass with radioactive waste to form a stable product for storage. The melter cave is designated as the High Level Waste Melter Cave Support Handling System (HSH). There are several key processes that occur in the HSH cell that are necessary for vitrification and include: feed preparation, mixing, pouring, cooling and all maintenance and repair of the process equipment. Due to the cell's high level radiation, remote handling equipment provided by PaR Systems, Inc. is required to install and remove all equipment in the HSH cell. The remote handling crane is composed of a bridge and trolley. The trolley supports a telescoping tube set that rigidly deploys a TR 4350 manipulator arm with seven degrees of freedom. A rotating, extending, and retracting slewing hoist is mounted to the bottom of the trolley and is centered about the telescoping tube set. Both the manipulator and slewer are unique to this cell. The slewer can reach into corners and the manipulator's cross pivoting wrist provides better operational dexterity and camera viewing angles at the end of the arm. Since the crane functions will be operated remotely, the entire cell and crane have been modeled with 3-D software. Model simulations have been used to confirm operational and maintenance functional and timing studies throughout the design process. Since no humans can go in or out of the cell, there are several recovery options that have been designed into the system including jack-down wheels for the bridge and trolley, recovery drums for the manipulator hoist, and a wire rope cable cutter for the slewer jib hoist. If the entire crane fails in cell, the large diameter cable reel that provides power, signal, and control to the crane can be used to retrieve the crane from the cell into the crane maintenance area. (authors)« less
Hanford's Supplemental Treatment Project: Full-Scale Integrated Testing of In-Container-Vitrification and a 10,000-Liter Dryer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Witwer, K.S.; Dysland, E.J.; Garfield, J.S.

2008-07-01

The GeoMelt{sup R} In-Container Vitrification{sup TM} (ICV{sup TM}) process was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 2004 for further evaluation as the supplemental treatment technology for Hanford's low-activity waste (LAW). Also referred to as 'bulk vitrification', this process combines glass forming minerals, LAW, and chemical amendments; dries the mixture; and then vitrifies the material in a refractory-lined steel container. AMEC Nuclear Ltd. (AMEC) is adapting its GeoMelt ICV{sup TM} technology for this application with technical and analytical support from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). The DVBS project is funded by the DOE Office of River Protection andmore » administered by CH2M HILL Hanford Group, Inc. The Demonstration Bulk Vitrification Project (DBVS) was initiated to engineer, construct, and operate a full-scale bulk vitrification pilot-plant to treat up to 750,000 liters of LAW from Waste Tank 241-S-109 at the DOE Hanford Site. Since the beginning of the DBVS project in 2004, testing has used laboratory, crucible-scale, and engineering-scale equipment to help establish process limitations of selected glass formulations and identify operational issues. Full-scale testing has provided critical design verification of the ICV{sup TM} process before operating the Hanford pilot-plant. In 2007, the project's fifth full-scale test, called FS-38D, (also known as the Integrated Dryer Melter Test, or IDMT,) was performed. This test had three primary objectives: 1) Demonstrate the simultaneous and integrated operation of the ICV{sup TM} melter with a 10,000- liter dryer, 2) Demonstrate the effectiveness of a new feed reformulation and change in process methodology towards reducing the production and migration of molten ionic salts (MIS), and, 3) Demonstrate that an acceptable glass product is produced under these conditions. Testing was performed from August 8 to 17, 2007. Process and analytical results demonstrated that the primary test objectives, along with a dozen supporting objectives, were successfully met. Glass performance exceeded all disposal performance criteria. A previous issue with MIS containment was successfully resolved in FS-38D, and the ICV{sup TM} melter was integrated with a full-scale, 10,000-liter dryer. This paper describes the rationale for performing the test, the purpose and outcome of scale-up tests preceding it, and the performance and outcome of FS-38D. (authors)« less
The effects of solid rocket motor effluents on selected surfaces and solid particle size, distribution, and composition for simulated shuttle booster separation motors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jex, D. W.; Linton, R. C.; Russell, W. M.; Trenkle, J. J.; Wilkes, D. R.

1976-01-01

A series of three tests was conducted using solid rocket propellants to determine the effects a solid rocket plume would have on thermal protective surfaces (TPS). The surfaces tested were those which are baselined for the shuttle vehicle. The propellants used were to simulate the separation solid rocket motors (SSRM) that separate the solid rocket boosters (SRB) from the shuttle launch vehicle. Data cover: (1) the optical effects of the plume environment on spacecraft related surfaces, and (2) the solid particle size, distribution, and composition at TPS sample locations.
Effects of antifreeze proteins on the vitrification of mouse oocytes: comparison of three different antifreeze proteins.

PubMed

Lee, Hyang Heun; Lee, Hee Jun; Kim, Hak Jun; Lee, Jun Hyuck; Ko, Yong; Kim, Sun Mie; Lee, Jung Ryeol; Suh, Chang Suk; Kim, Seok Hyun

2015-09-01

Can antifreeze proteins (AFPs) from three different sources improve the efficacy of mouse oocyte vitrification? Treatment with AFPs can improve both murine oocyte quality and embryo development, and reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in vitrified-warmed oocytes. A previous study discovered that vitrification of immature oocytes and 2-cell stage embryos of mice augmented with antifreeze glycoproteins at 40 mg/ml dramatically improved the morphological integrity of the samples, suggesting that AFPs have the ability to inhibit ice formation and stabilize the plasma membrane. Metaphase II oocytes were obtained from 4-week-old BD-F1 mice. AFPs from bacteria (Flavobacterium frigoris ice-binding protein (FfIBP)), yeast (Glaciozyma sp. ice-binding protein (LeIBP)) and fish (Type III AFP) were added to the vitrification and warming solutions individually. Survival and development, meiotic spindle organization, intracellular ROS, mitochondrial activity, DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and repair of damaged DNA were analyzed. Vitrification of oocytes was performed with the CryoTop (equilibration solution: 7.5% ethylene glycol (EG) and 7.5% 1,2-propandiol (PROH) for 5 min; vitrification solution: 15% EG, 15% PROH and 0.5 M sucrose for 1 min). Warming was performed in three steps with decreasing concentrations of sucrose (1.0, 0.5 and 0.25 M sucrose). AFP treatment can improve murine oocyte quality and embryo development. Survival rates, cleavage rates and blastocyst rates (blastocyst per cleaved and per survived oocytes) of oocytes in AFP-treated groups were significantly higher than those in the control group [75.0, 89.0, 90.0 and 85.0% for survival rate (P = 0.012); 58.7, 89.0, 87.8 and 81.2% for cleavage rate (P = 0.003); 52.3, 87.7, 78.5 and 76.8% for blastocyst per cleaved oocytes (P < 0.01); 30.7, 78.0, 68.9 and 62.4% for blastocyst per survived oocytes (P < 0.01) in control, FfIBP, LeIBP and Type III AFP-treated groups, respectively]. The mean (±SD) number of apoptotic blastomeres per blastocyst was significantly lower in AFP-treated groups than in the control group (9.1 ± 1.0, 2.0 ± 1.7, 2.3 ± 1.2 and 2.7 ± 2.4 in control, FfIBP, LeIBP and Type III AFP-treated groups, respectively, P = 0.040). FfIBP treatment was the most effective in maintaining normal meiotic spindle organization and chromosome alignment (52.0, 92.0, 80.0 and 83.0% in control, FfIBP, LeIBP and Type III AFP-treated groups, respectively, P < 0.01). Intracellular ROS levels (mean ± SD) significantly decreased in the AFP-treated groups (17.0 ± 11.2, 8.4 ± 8.2, 10.3 ± 6.4 and 11.6 ± 12.3 in control, FfIBP, LeIBP and Type III AFP-treated groups, respectively, P < 0.01), and the FfIBP and LeIBP groups had significantly lower DNA DSBs, compared with controls (65.2, 30.8, 44.4 and 55.8% in control, FfIBP, LeIBP and Type III AFP-treated groups, respectively, P < 0.01). The origins of FfIBP and LeIBP were bacteria and yeast, respectively. Therefore, treatment of human oocytes and embryos with these AFPs should be tested before clinical application. After further research, AFPs can potentially be applied to human oocyte cryopreservation to improve the efficacy of vitrification. This study was supported by a grant of the Korea Healthcare technology R&D Project, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (HI12C0055). The authors have no conflict of interest to declare. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Reactive solid surface morphology variation via ionic diffusion.

PubMed

Sun, Zhenchao; Zhou, Qiang; Fan, Liang-Shih

2012-08-14

In gas-solid reactions, one of the most important factors that determine the overall reaction rate is the solid morphology, which can be characterized by a combination of smooth, convex and concave structures. Generally, the solid surface structure varies in the course of reactions, which is classically noted as being attributed to one or more of the following three mechanisms: mechanical interaction, molar volume change, and sintering. Here we show that if a gas-solid reaction involves the outward ionic diffusion of a solid-phase reactant then this outward ionic diffusion could eventually smooth the surface with an initial concave and/or convex structure. Specifically, the concave surface is filled via a larger outward diffusing surface pointing to the concave valley, whereas the height of the convex surface decreases via a lower outward diffusion flux in the vertical direction. A quantitative 2-D continuum diffusion model is established to analyze these two morphological variation processes, which shows consistent results with the experiments. This surface morphology variation by solid-phase ionic diffusion serves to provide a fourth mechanism that supplements the traditionally acknowledged solid morphology variation or, in general, porosity variation mechanisms in gas-solid reactions.
Solid state division progress report, period ending February 29, 1980

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1980-09-01

Research is reported concerning theoretical solid state physics; surface and near-surface properties of solids; defects in solids; transport properties of solids; neutron scattering; crystal growth and characterization; and isotope research materials.
Critical Dipole Length for the Wetting Transition Due to Collective Water-dipoles Interactions

PubMed Central

Wang, Chunlei; Zhou, Bo; Tu, Yusong; Duan, Manyi; Xiu, Peng; Li, Jingye; Fang, Haiping

2012-01-01

The wetting behavior of water on the solid surfaces is fundamental to various physical, chemical and biological processes. Conventionally, the surface with charges or charge dipoles is hydrophilic, whereas the non-polar surface is hydrophobic though some exceptions were recently reported. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we show that there is a critical length of the charge dipoles on the solid surface. The solid surface still exhibited hydrophobic behavior when the dipole length was less than the critical value, indicating that the water molecules on the solid surface seemed not “feel” attractive interactions from the charge dipoles on the solid surface. Those unexpected observations result from the collective interactions between the water molecules and charge dipoles on the solid surface, where the steric exclusion effect between water molecules greatly reduces the water-dipole interactions. Remarkably, the steric exclusion effect is also important for surfaces with charge dipole lengths greater than this critical length. PMID:22496954
Direct Observation on Spin-Coating Process of PS- b -P2VP Thin Films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ogawa, Hiroki; Takenaka, Mikihito; Miyazaki, Tsukasa

We studied the structural development of symmetric poly(styrene-b-2-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P2VP) block copolymers during spin-coating using in situ grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) measurements. During the spin-coating process, after the formation of the micelles in dilute solution, the selective solvent induced two kinds of the morphological transition. Firstly, the disordered spherical micelles were transformed into a BCC lattice of spheres of which the (110) plane was oriented perpendicularly to the substrate surface. Secondly, further evaporation induced a transition from spheres on the BCC lattice into cylindrical structures. The orientation of the cylinders perpendicular to the substrate surface was induced bymore » solvent convection perpendicular to the substrate, which occurs during rapid solvent evaporation. After this transition, vitrification of PS and P2VP prevented any further transition from cylinders to the more thermodynamically stable lamellar structures, as are generally observed as the bulk equilibrium state.« less
Solid-State Division progress report for period ending March 31, 1983

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Green, P.H.; Watson, D.M.

1983-09-01

Progress and activities are reported on: theoretical solid-state physics (surfaces; electronic, vibrational, and magnetic properties; particle-solid interactions; laser annealing), surface and near-surface properties of solids (surface, plasma-material interactions, ion implantation and ion-beam mixing, pulsed-laser and thermal processing), defects in solids (radiation effects, fracture, impurities and defects, semiconductor physics and photovoltaic conversion), transport properties of solids (fast-ion conductors, superconductivity, mass and charge transport in materials), neutron scattering (small-angle scattering, lattice dynamics, magnetic properties, structure and instrumentation), and preparation and characterization of research materials (growth and preparative methods, nuclear waste forms, special materials). (DLC)
Apparatus for in situ heating and vitrification

DOEpatents

Buelt, James L.; Oma, Kenton H.; Eschbach, Eugene A.

1994-01-01

An apparatus for decontaminating ground areas where toxic chemicals are buried includes a plurality of spaced electrodes located in the ground and to which a voltage is applied for bringing about current flow. Power delivered to the ground volatilizes the chemicals that are then collected and directed to a gas treatment system. A preferred form of the invention employs high voltage arc discharge between the electrodes for heating a ground region to relatively high temperatures at relatively low power levels. Electrodes according to the present invention are provided with preferentially active lower portions between which current flows for the purpose of soil heating or for soil melting and vitrification. Promoting current flow below ground level avoids predominantly superficial treatment and increases electrode life.
Tc removal from the waste treatment and immobilization plant low-activity waste vitrification off-gas recycle

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Taylor-Pashow, Kathryn M. L.; McCabe, Daniel J.; Nash, Charles A.

Vitrification of Low Activity Waste in the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant generates a condensate stream from the off-gas processes. Components in this stream are partially volatile and accumulate to high concentrations through recycling, which impacts the waste glass loading and facility throughput. The primary radionuclide that vaporizes and accumulates in the stream is 99Tc. This program is investigating Tc removal via reductive precipitation with stannous chloride to examine the potential for diverting this stream to an alternate disposition path. As a result, research has shown stannous chloride to be effective, and this paper describes results of recent experimentsmore » performed to further mature the technology.« less
Apparatus for in situ heating and vitrification

DOEpatents

Buelt, J.L.; Oma, K.H.; Eschbach, E.A.

1994-05-31

An apparatus for decontaminating ground areas where toxic chemicals are buried includes a plurality of spaced electrodes located in the ground and to which a voltage is applied for bringing about current flow. Power delivered to the ground volatilizes the chemicals that are then collected and directed to a gas treatment system. A preferred form of the invention employs high voltage arc discharge between the electrodes for heating a ground region to relatively high temperatures at relatively low power levels. Electrodes according to the present invention are provided with preferentially active lower portions between which current flows for the purpose of soil heating or for soil melting and vitrification. Promoting current flow below ground level avoids predominantly superficial treatment and increases electrode life. 15 figs.
Tc removal from the waste treatment and immobilization plant low-activity waste vitrification off-gas recycle

DOE PAGES

Taylor-Pashow, Kathryn M. L.; McCabe, Daniel J.; Nash, Charles A.

2017-03-16

Vitrification of Low Activity Waste in the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant generates a condensate stream from the off-gas processes. Components in this stream are partially volatile and accumulate to high concentrations through recycling, which impacts the waste glass loading and facility throughput. The primary radionuclide that vaporizes and accumulates in the stream is 99Tc. This program is investigating Tc removal via reductive precipitation with stannous chloride to examine the potential for diverting this stream to an alternate disposition path. As a result, research has shown stannous chloride to be effective, and this paper describes results of recent experimentsmore » performed to further mature the technology.« less
KrioBlast TM as a New Technology of Hyper-fast Cryopreservation of Cells and Tissues. Part I. Thermodynamic Aspects and Potential Applications in Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine.

PubMed

Katkov, I I; Bolyukh, V F; Sukhikh, G T

2018-03-01

Kinetic (dynamic) vitrification is a promising trend in cryopreservation of biological materials because it allows avoiding the formation of lethal intracellular ice and minimizes harmful effects of highly toxic penetrating cryoprotectants. A uniform cooling protocol and the same instruments can be used for practically all types of cells. In modern technologies, the rate of cooling is essentially limited by the Leidenfrost effect. We describe a novel platform for kinetic vitrification of biological materials KrioBlast TM that realizes hyper-fast cooling and allows overcoming the Leidenfrost effect. This opens prospects for creation of a novel technology of cell cryopreservation for reproductive and regenerative medicine.
Tunable, self-powered integrated arc plasma-melter vitrification system for waste treatment and resource recovery

DOEpatents

Titus, Charles H.; Cohn, Daniel R.; Surma, Jeffrey E.

1998-01-01

The present invention provides a relatively compact self-powered, tunable waste conversion system and apparatus which has the advantage of highly robust operation which provides complete or substantially complete conversion of a wide range of waste streams into useful gas and a stable, nonleachable solid product at a single location with greatly reduced air pollution to meet air quality standards. The system provides the capability for highly efficient conversion of waste into high quality combustible gas and for high efficiency conversion of the gas into electricity by utilizing a high efficiency gas turbine or by an internal combustion engine. The solid product can be suitable for various commercial applications. Alternatively, the solid product stream, which is a safe, stable material, may be disposed of without special considerations as hazardous material. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the arc plasma furnace and joule heated melter are formed as a fully integrated unit with a common melt pool having circuit arrangements for the simultaneous independently controllable operation of both the arc plasma and the joule heated portions of the unit without interference with one another. The preferred configuration of this embodiment of the invention utilizes two arc plasma electrodes with an elongated chamber for the molten pool such that the molten pool is capable of providing conducting paths between electrodes. The apparatus may additionally be employed with reduced or without further use of the gases generated by the conversion process. The apparatus may be employed as a self-powered or net electricity producing unit where use of an auxiliary fuel provides the required level of electricity production.
Thermochemistry of amorphous and crystalline zirconium and hafnium silicates.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ushakov, S.; Brown, C. E.; Navrotsky, Alexandra; Boatner, L. A.; Demkov, A. A.; Wang, C.; Nguyen, B.-Y.

2003-03-01

Calorimetric investigation of amorphous and crystalline zirconium and hafnium silicates was performed as part of a research program on thermochemistry of alternative gate dielectrics. Amorphous hafnium and zirconium silicates with varying SiO2 content were synthesized by a sol-gel process. Crystalline zirconium and hafnium silicates (zircon and hafnon) were synthesized by solid state reaction at 1450 °C from amorphous gels and grown as single crystals from flux. High temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry in lead borate (2PbO.B2O3) solvent at 800 oC was used to measure drop solution enthalpies for amorphous and crystalline zirconium and hafnium silicates and corresponding oxides. Applying appropriate thermochemical cycles, formation enthalpy of crystalline ZrSiO4 (zircon) from binary oxides (baddeleite and quartz) at 298 K was calculated as -23 +/-2 kJ/mol and enthalpy difference between amorphous and crystalline zirconium silicate (vitrification enthalpy) was found to be 61 +/-3 kJ/mol. Crystallization onset temperatures of amorphous zirconium and hafnium silicates, as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), increased with silica content. The resulting crystalline phases, as characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), were tetragonal HfO2 and ZrO2. Critical crystallite size for tetragonal to monoclinic transformation of HfO2 in the gel was estimated as 6 +/-2 nm from XRD data Crystallization enthalpies per mole of hafnia and zirconia in gels decrease slightly together with crystallite size with increasing silica content, for example from -22 to -15 +/-1 kJ per mol of HfO2 crystallized at 740 and 1006 °C from silicates with 10 and 70 mol Applications of thermal analyses and solution calorimetry techniques together with first-principles density functional calculations to estimate interface and surface energies are discussed.
Surface films and metallurgy related to lubrication and wear. Ph.D. Thesis - Tokyo Inst. of Technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buckley, D. H.

1981-01-01

The nature of the tribological surface is identified and characterized with respect to adhesion, friction, wear, and lubricating properties. Surface analysis is used to identify the role of environmental constituents on tribological behavior. The effect of solid to solid interactions for metals in contact with metals, ceramics, semiconductors, carbons, and polymers is discussed. The data presented indicate that the tribological surface is markedly different than an ideal solid surface. The environment is shown to affect strongly the behavior of two solids in contact. Results also show that small amounts of alloying elements in base metals can alter markedly adhesion, friction, and wear by segregating to the solid surface.

Distinct ice patterns on solid surfaces with various wettabilities

PubMed Central

Liu, Jie; Zhu, Chongqin; Liu, Kai; Jiang, Ying; Song, Yanlin; Francisco, Joseph S.; Zeng, Xiao Cheng; Wang, Jianjun

2017-01-01

No relationship has been established between surface wettability and ice growth patterns, although ice often forms on top of solid surfaces. Here, we report experimental observations obtained using a process specially designed to avoid the influence of nucleation and describe the wettability-dependent ice morphology on solid surfaces under atmospheric conditions and the discovery of two growth modes of ice crystals: along-surface and off-surface growth modes. Using atomistic molecular dynamics simulation analysis, we show that these distinct ice growth phenomena are attributable to the presence (or absence) of bilayer ice on solid surfaces with different wettability; that is, the formation of bilayer ice on hydrophilic surface can dictate the along-surface growth mode due to the structural match between the bilayer hexagonal ice and the basal face of hexagonal ice (ice Ih), thereby promoting rapid growth of nonbasal faces along the hydrophilic surface. The dramatically different growth patterns of ice on solid surfaces are of crucial relevance to ice repellency surfaces. PMID:29073045
Distinct ice patterns on solid surfaces with various wettabilities.

PubMed

Liu, Jie; Zhu, Chongqin; Liu, Kai; Jiang, Ying; Song, Yanlin; Francisco, Joseph S; Zeng, Xiao Cheng; Wang, Jianjun

2017-10-24

No relationship has been established between surface wettability and ice growth patterns, although ice often forms on top of solid surfaces. Here, we report experimental observations obtained using a process specially designed to avoid the influence of nucleation and describe the wettability-dependent ice morphology on solid surfaces under atmospheric conditions and the discovery of two growth modes of ice crystals: along-surface and off-surface growth modes. Using atomistic molecular dynamics simulation analysis, we show that these distinct ice growth phenomena are attributable to the presence (or absence) of bilayer ice on solid surfaces with different wettability; that is, the formation of bilayer ice on hydrophilic surface can dictate the along-surface growth mode due to the structural match between the bilayer hexagonal ice and the basal face of hexagonal ice (ice I h ), thereby promoting rapid growth of nonbasal faces along the hydrophilic surface. The dramatically different growth patterns of ice on solid surfaces are of crucial relevance to ice repellency surfaces. Published under the PNAS license.
How Properties of Solid Surfaces Modulate the Nucleation of Gas Hydrate

PubMed Central

Bai, Dongsheng; Chen, Guangjin; Zhang, Xianren; Sum, Amadeu K.; Wang, Wenchuan

2015-01-01

Molecular dynamics simulations were performed for CO2 dissolved in water near silica surfaces to investigate how the hydrophilicity and crystallinity of solid surfaces modulate the local structure of adjacent molecules and the nucleation of CO2 hydrates. Our simulations reveal that the hydrophilicity of solid surfaces can change the local structure of water molecules and gas distribution near liquid-solid interfaces, and thus alter the mechanism and dynamics of gas hydrate nucleation. Interestingly, we find that hydrate nucleation tends to occur more easily on relatively less hydrophilic surfaces. Different from surface hydrophilicity, surface crystallinity shows a weak effect on the local structure of adjacent water molecules and on gas hydrate nucleation. At the initial stage of gas hydrate growth, however, the structuring of molecules induced by crystalline surfaces are more ordered than that induced by amorphous solid surfaces. PMID:26227239
The potential for modification in cloning and vitrification technology to enhance genetic progress in beef cattle in Northern Australia.

PubMed

Taylor-Robinson, Andrew W; Walton, Simon; Swain, David L; Walsh, Kerry B; Vajta, Gábor

2014-08-01

Recent advances in embryology and related research offer considerable possibilities to accelerate genetic improvement in cattle breeding. Such progress includes optimization and standardization of laboratory embryo production (in vitro fertilization - IVF), introduction of a highly efficient method for cryopreservation (vitrification), and dramatic improvement in the efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transfer (cloning) in terms of required effort, cost, and overall outcome. Handmade cloning (HMC), a simplified version of somatic cell nuclear transfer, offers the potential for relatively easy and low-cost production of clones. A potentially modified method of vitrification used at a centrally located laboratory facility could result in cloned offspring that are economically competitive with elite animals produced by more traditional means. Apart from routine legal and intellectual property issues, the main obstacle that hampers rapid uptake of these technologies by the beef cattle industry is a lack of confidence from scientific and commercial sources. Once stakeholder support is increased, the combined application of these methods makes a rapid advance toward desirable traits (rapid growth, high-quality beef, optimized reproductive performance) a realistic goal. The potential impact of these technologies on genetic advancement in beef cattle herds in which improvement of stock is sought, such as in northern Australia, is hard to overestimate. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Positive effect of resveratrol against preantral follicles degeneration after ovarian tissue vitrification.

PubMed

Rocha, Carina Diniz; Soares, Mayara Mafra; de Cássia Antonino, Deize; Júnior, Jairo Melo; Freitas Mohallem, Renata Ferreira; Ribeiro Rodrigues, Ana Paula; Figueiredo, José Ricardo; Beletti, Marcelo Emílio; Jacomini, José Octavio; Alves, Benner Geraldo; Alves, Kele Amaral

2018-07-01

This study aimed to evaluate whether the addition of resveratrol to vitrification/thawing medium improves the cryotolerance of preantral follicles enclosed in bovine ovarian fragments. Ovarian fragments were obtained from bovine fetuses and distributed to the following groups: fresh ovarian fragments (control), vitrified (VIT), and vitrified with resveratrol (VIT + RESV). Overall, the mean percentage of normal follicles was greater (P < 0.05) in the VIT + RESV compared to the VIT group. Moreover, the probability of finding normal follicles was 2.5 greater (P < 0.05) in the VIT + RESV group. In class comparison, the primordial and transitional follicles have ∼3.0 times (P < 0.05) greater odds of being normal after vitrification compared to the secondary follicles. Additionally, a negative association (P < 0.05) was observed between the proportion of viable follicles and the stage of follicular development. ROS levels were similar (P > 0.05) between the VIT and VIT + RESV groups, and both were lower (P < 0.05) than the control group. The tissue viability in the VIT + RESV group was similar (P > 0.05) to the control group. In summary, the resveratrol provided greater ovarian tissue viability and has a positive effect against degeneration of preantral follicles enclosed in ovarian fragments. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From fresh heterologous oocyte donation to autologous oocyte banking.

PubMed

Stoop, D

2012-01-01

Today, oocyte donation has become well established, giving rise to thousands of children born worldwide annually. The introduction of oocyte cryopreservation through vitrification allows the introduction of egg banking, improving the efficiency and comfort of oocyte donation. Moreover, the vitrification technique can now enable autologous donation of oocytes to prevent future infertility. We evaluated fresh heterologous oocyte donation in terms of obstetrical and perinatal outcome as well as of the reproductive outcome of past donors. We then evaluated the efficiency of a closed vitrification device and its clinical applications within ART. Thirdly, we evaluated the opinion of women with regard to preventive egg freezing and the efficiency of a human oocyte in relation to age. Oocyte donation is associated with an increased risk of first trimester bleeding and pregnancy induced hypertension. Donating oocytes does not seem to increase the likelihood for a later need of fertility treatment. The chance of an oocyte to result in live birth (utilization rate) in women <37 years old remains constant with a mean of 4.47%. A significant proportion of young women would consider safeguarding their reproductive potential through egg freezing or are at least open to the idea. The introduction of efficient oocyte cryopreservation has revolutionized oocyte donation through the establishment of eggbank donation. The technique also enables women to perform autologous donation after preventive oocyte storage in order to circumvent their biological clock.
Cryopreservation of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled primordial germ cells with GFP fused to the 3' untranslated region of the nanos gene by vitrification of Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) somite stage embryos.

PubMed

Kawakami, Y; Ishihara, M; Saito, T; Fujimoto, T; Adachi, S; Arai, K; Yamaha, E

2012-12-01

Primordial germ cells (PGC) are the only cell type in developing embryos with the potential to transmit genetic information to the next generation. In this study, PGC of Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) were visualized by injection of mRNA synthesized from a construct carrying the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene fused to the 3' untranslated region of the Japanese eel nanos gene. We investigated the feasibility of cryopreserving Japanese eel PGC by vitrification of dechorionated whole somite stage embryos. The GFP-labeled PGC were rapidly cooled using liquid nitrogen after exposure to a pretreatment solution containing 1.5 M cryoprotectant (methanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, and glycerol for 10 min and ethylene glycol for 10, 20, and 30 min) and a vitrification solution containing 3 M cryoprotectant and 0.5 M sucrose for 1, 5, and 10 min. Ethylene glycerol is an effective cryoprotectant for embryonic cells and shows no evidence of ice formation after thawing. Vitrified and thawed PGC were transplanted into blastula stage embryos from zebrafish (Danio rerio). The GFP-labeled PGC migrated toward the host gonadal ridge, suggesting maintenance of their normal migration motility. These techniques may assist in achieving inter- and intraspecies germ-line chimers using donor Japanese eel PGC.
Effect of Nanoparticles on the Survival and Development of Vitrified Porcine GV Oocytes.

PubMed

Li, W J; Zhou, X L; Liu, B L; Dai, J J; Song, P; Teng, Y

BACKGROUND: Some mammalian oocytes have been successfully cryopreserved by vitrification. However, the survival and developmental rate of vitrified oocytes is still low. The incorporation of nanoparticles into cryoprotectant (CPA) may improve the efficiency of vitrification by changing the properties of solutions. The toxicity of different concentrations of hydroxy apatite (HA), silica dioxide (SO 2 ), aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) and titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles (20 nm in diameter) to oocytes was tested and the toxicity threshold value of each nanoparticle was determined. Porcine GV oocytes were vitrified in optimized nano-CPA, and effects of diameter and concentration of nanoparticles on the survival rate and developmental rate of porcine GV oocytes were compared. HA nanoparticles have demonstrated the least toxicity among four nanoparticles and the developmental rate of GV-stage porcine oocytes was 100% when its concentration was lower than 0.5%. By adding 0.1% HA into VS, the developmental rate of GV-stage porcine oocytes (22%) was significantly higher than other groups. The effect of vitrification in nano-CPA on oocytes was related to the concentration of HA nanoparticles rather than their size. By adding 0.05% HA nanoparticles (60nm in diameter), the developmental rate increased dramatically from 14.7% to 30.4%. Nano-cryopreservation offers a new way to improve the effect of survival and development of oocytes, but the limitation of this technology shall not be ignored.
Vitrification of organics-containing wastes

DOEpatents

Bickford, D.F.

1995-01-01

A process for stabilizing organics-containing waste materials and recovery metals therefrom, and a waste glass product made according to the process are described. Vitrification of wastes such as organic ion exchange resins, electronic components and the like can be accomplished by mixing at least one transition metal oxide with the wastes, and, if needed, glass formers to compensate for a shortage of silicates or other glass formers in the wastes. The transition metal oxide increases the rate of oxidation of organic materials in the wastes to improve the composition of the glass-forming mixture: at low temperatures, the oxide catalyzes oxidation of a portion of the organics in the waste; at higher temperatures, the oxide dissolves and the resulting oxygen ions oxidize more of the organics; and at vitrification temperatures, the metal ions conduct oxygen into the melt to oxidize the remaining organics. In addition, the transition metal oxide buffers the redox potential of the glass melt so that metals such as Au, Pt, Ag, and Cu separate form the melt in the metallic state and can be recovered. After the metals are recovered, the remainder of the melt is allowed to cool and may subsequently be disposed of. The product has good leaching resistance and can be disposed of in an ordinary landfill, or, alternatively, used as a filler in materials such as concrete, asphalt, brick and tile.
Vitrification of organics-containing wastes

DOEpatents

Bickford, Dennis F.

1997-01-01

A process for stabilizing organics-containing waste materials and recovering metals therefrom, and a waste glass product made according to the process. Vitrification of wastes such as organic ion exchange resins, electronic components and the like can be accomplished by mixing at least one transition metal oxide with the wastes, and, if needed, glass formers to compensate for a shortage of silicates or other glass formers in the wastes. The transition metal oxide increases the rate of oxidation of organic materials in the wastes to improve the composition of the glass-forming mixture: at low temperatures, the oxide catalyzes oxidation of a portion of the organics in the waste; at higher temperatures, the oxide dissolves and the resulting oxygen ions oxidize more of the organics; and at vitrification temperatures, the metal ions conduct oxygen into the melt to oxidize the remaining organics. In addition, the transition metal oxide buffers the redox potential of the glass melt so that metals such as Au, Pt, Ag, and Cu separate from the melt in the metallic state and can be recovered. After the metals are recovered, the remainder of the melt is allowed to cool and may subsequently be disposed of. The product has good leaching resistance and can be disposed of in an ordinary landfill, or, alternatively, used as a filler in materials such as concrete, asphalt, brick and tile.
Vitrification of organics-containing wastes

DOEpatents

Bickford, D.F.

1997-09-02

A process is described for stabilizing organics-containing waste materials and recovering metals therefrom, and a waste glass product made according to the process is also disclosed. Vitrification of wastes such as organic ion exchange resins, electronic components and the like can be accomplished by mixing at least one transition metal oxide with the wastes, and, if needed, glass formers to compensate for a shortage of silicates or other glass formers in the wastes. The transition metal oxide increases the rate of oxidation of organic materials in the wastes to improve the composition of the glass-forming mixture: at low temperatures, the oxide catalyzes oxidation of a portion of the organics in the waste; at higher temperatures, the oxide dissolves and the resulting oxygen ions oxidize more of the organics; and at vitrification temperatures, the metal ions conduct oxygen into the melt to oxidize the remaining organics. In addition, the transition metal oxide buffers the redox potential of the glass melt so that metals such as Au, Pt, Ag, and Cu separate from the melt in the metallic state and can be recovered. After the metals are recovered, the remainder of the melt is allowed to cool and may subsequently be disposed of. The product has good leaching resistance and can be disposed of in an ordinary landfill, or, alternatively, used as a filler in materials such as concrete, asphalt, brick and tile. 1 fig.
Effect of seminal plasma on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) sperm vitrification.

PubMed

Figueroa, E; Merino, O; Risopatrón, J; Isachenko, V; Sánchez, R; Effer, B; Isachenko, E; Farias, J G; Valdebenito, I

2015-01-15

This study was designed to test a vitrification method in Atlantic salmon spermatozoa and determine the capacity of seminal plasma (SP) to protect these cells from cryoinjuries. The vitrification medium consisted of a standard buffer for fish spermatozoa (Cortland medium) + 10% DMSO + 2% BSA + 0.13-M sucrose + SP at concentrations of 30% (G30), 40% (G40), or 50% (G50). Fresh sperm was used as a control. To freeze the samples, 30-μL suspensions of spermatozoa from each group were dropped directly into liquid nitrogen. The resulting spheres were placed in cryotubes for storage in liquid nitrogen. The cryotubes with the vitrified spermatozoa were thawed by placing them in a water bath at 37 °C for 45 seconds. After thawing, the following sperm quality parameters were determined by flow cytometry: DNA fragmentation (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling), plasma membrane integrity (SYBR-14/PI, staining technique), and mitochondrial membrane potential (JC-1 staining). An optical microscope was used to assess subjectively sperm motility, whereas fertility was determined by the presence of neurulation using five replicates per treatment in a sample of 30 eggs. Spermatozoa quality variables were preserved best when the highest concentration of SP (50%) was used (DNA fragmentation, 9.2%; plasma membrane integrity, 98.6%; mitochondrial membrane integrity, 47.2%; motility, 44.1%; and fertility, 46.2%). Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Solid surface dependent layering of self-arranged structures with fibril-like assemblies of alpha-synuclein

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bukauskas, V.; Šetkus, A.; Šimkienė, I.; Tumėnas, S.; Kašalynas, I.; Rėza, A.; Babonas, J.; Časaitė, V.; Povilonienė, S.; Meškys, R.

2012-03-01

In present work the formation of hybrid constructions composed of alpha-synuclein-based colloidal solutions on various solid surfaces (silica coated Si, mica, CaF2 and KBr) is investigated by scanning probe microscopy, spectrocopic ellipsometry, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy and vibrational circular dichroism. Prior to the modification of the solids, the proteins were intentionally fibrilled under special conditions. It is proved that the multi-component coatings are self-arranged on the solid substrates. Depending on the substrate material, the interface films consisting of individual biomolecules can be detected on the solid surfaces. The coatings with fibril-like alpha-synuclein objects can be obtained on solid surfaces with negligible or comparatively thick interface films. The results are interpreted in terms of the charged surface-controlled electrostatic interaction between the substrate and the biomolecules. Solubility of solids is considered in this interpretation.
Breaking Good

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pierce, Eric M.; Shaw, Wendy J.; Plata, Charity

2011-01-01

This article tells in images and chunky captions the story of a study into the durability of four component glass. The information from this study is of interest to vitrification experts and geochemists.
Tribology of thin wetting films between bubble and moving solid surface.

PubMed

Karakashev, Stoyan I; Stöckelhuber, Klaus W; Tsekov, Roumen; Phan, Chi M; Heinrich, Gert

2014-08-01

This work shows a successful example of coupling of theory and experiment to study the tribology of bubble rubbing on solid surface. Such kind of investigation is reported for the first time in the literature. A theory about wetting film intercalated between bubble and moving solid surface was developed, thus deriving the non-linear evolution differential equation which accounted for the friction slip coefficient at the solid surface. The stationary 3D film thickness profile, which appears to be a solution of the differential equation, for each particular speed of motion of the solid surface was derived by means of special procedure and unique interferometric experimental setup. This allowed us to determine the 3D map of the lift pressure within the wetting film, the friction force per unit area and the friction coefficient of rubbing at different speeds of motion of the solid surface. Thus, we observed interesting tribological details about the rubbing of the bubble on the solid surface like for example: 1. A regime of mixed friction between dry and lubricated friction exists in the range of 6-170 μm/s, beyond which the rubbing between the bubble and solid becomes completely lubricated and passes through the maximum; 2. The friction coefficient of rubbing has high values at very small speeds of solid's motion and reduces substantially with the increase of the speed of the solid motion until reaching small values, which change insignificantly with the further increase of the speed of the solid. Despite the numerous studies on the motion of bubble/droplet in close proximity to solid wall in the literature, the present investigation appears to be a step ahead in this area as far as we were able to derive 3D maps of the bubble close to the solid surface, which makes the investigation more profound. © 2013.
An effect of surface properties on detachment of adhered solid to cooling surface for formation of clathrate hydrate slurry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daitoku, Tadafumi; Utaka, Yoshio

In air-conditioning systems, it is desirable that the liquid-solid phase change temperature of a cool energy storage material is approximately 10 °C from the perspective of improving coefficient of performance (COP). Moreover, a thermal storage material that forms slurry can realize large heat capacity of working fluids. Since the solid that adheres to the heat transfer surface forms a thermal resistance layer and remarkably reduces the rate of cold storage, it is important to avoid the adhesion of a thick solid layer on the surface so as to realize efficient energy storage. Considering a harvest type cooling unit, the force required for removing the solid phase from the heat transfer surface was studied. Tetra-n-butylammonium Bromide (TBAB) clathrate hydrate was used as a cold storage material. The effect of the heat transfer surface properties on the scraping force for detachment of adhered solid of TBAB hydrate to the heat transfer surface was examined experimentally.
Free energy landscape theory of glass transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Odagaki, Takashi

2010-03-01

I first present a free energy landscape (FEL) description of statistical mechanics, which is an exact reformulation of statistical mechanics and can be applied to non-equilibrium systems. Then, I discuss thermodynamic and dynamic properties of the vitrification process on the basis of the FEL formalism. I show that thermodynamic and dynamic anomalies at the glass transition, including the cooling rate dependence, can be understood in a unified manner which has not been achieved by any other theories of the glass transition. Namely, I show that the vitrification is a transition from annealed to quenched averages in the FEL and that the fast beta, the JG and the slow alpha relaxations are attributed to stochastic dynamics within a basin of FEL, jumping motion among locally connected basins and diffusive dynamics over barriers of the FEL.
The Use of Basalt, Basalt Fibers and Modified Graphite for Nuclear Waste Repository - 12150

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gulik, V.I.; Biland, A.B.

2012-07-01

New materials enhancing the isolation of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel are continuously being developed.. Our research suggests that basalt-based materials, including basalt roving chopped basalt fiber strands, basalt composite rebar and materials based on modified graphite, could be used for enhancing radioactive waste isolation during the storage and disposal phases and maintaining it during a significant portion of the post-closure phase. The basalt vitrification process of nuclear waste is a viable alternative to glass vitrification. Basalt roving, chopped basalt fiber strands and basalt composite rebars can significantly increase the strength and safety characteristics of nuclear waste and spentmore » nuclear fuel storages. Materials based on MG are optimal waterproofing materials for nuclear waste containers. (authors)« less
High level radioactive waste vitrification process equipment component testing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siemens, D. H.; Health, W. C.; Larson, D. E.; Craig, S. N.; Berger, D. N.; Goles, R. W.

1985-04-01

Remote operability and maintainability of vitrification equipment were assessment under shielded cell conditions. The equipment tested will be applied to immobilize high level and transuranic liquid waste slurries that resulted from plutonium production for defense weapons. Equipment tested included: a turntable for handling waste canisters under the melter; a removable discharge cone in the melter overflow section; a thermocouple jumper that extends into a shielded cell; remote instrument and electrical connectors; remote, mechanical, and heat transfer aspects of the melter glass overflow section; a reamer to clean out plugged nozzles in the melter top; a closed circuit camera to view the melter interior; and a device to retrieve samples of the glass product. A test was also conduucted to evaluate liquid metals for use in a liquid metal sealing system.
Cost-Benefit Analysis on Countermeasures for Health Risk by Exposure to Asbestos in Japan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujinaga, Aiichiro; Hihara, Hidemi; Tatsuno, Makoto

This study examines asbestos mitigation countermeasures by predicting air concentrations of asbestos, and then cost-benefit analyses is performed. A comparative study was conducted on three cases as follows; case one, demolition by machine & landfill, case two, demolition by hand & landfill, and case three demolition by hand & vitrification treatment. The results showed that if demolition by machine is continued, the risk is greater than 10-4 of upper acceptable risk for 2020. However, if demolition is conducted by hand, the risk is under 10-4 for 2010. And also, the risk will be less than 10-5 of the safety level for environmental standards until 2030. The results show that vitrification deletes the risk on future management at a landfill site, however at a higher cost.

Thermal treatment of solid residues from WtE units: a review.

PubMed

Lindberg, Daniel; Molin, Camilla; Hupa, Mikko

2015-03-01

Thermal treatment methods of bottom ash, fly ash and various types of APC (air pollution control) residues from waste-to-energy plants can be used to obtain environmentally stable material. The thermal treatment processes are meant to reduce the leachability of harmful residue constituents, destroy toxic organic compounds, reduce residue volume, and produce material suitable for utilization. Fly ash and APC residues often have high levels of soluble salts, particularly chlorides, metals such as cadmium, lead, copper and zinc, and trace levels of organic pollutants such as dioxins and furans. Different thermal treatment methods can be used to either decompose or stabilize harmful elements and compounds in the ash, or separate them from the ash to get a material that can be safely stored or used as products or raw materials. In the present paper, thermal treatment methods, such as sintering, vitrification, and melting have been reviewed. In addition to a review of the scientific literature, a survey has been made of the extensive patent literature in the field. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Evaluation of crystallization behavior on the surface of nifedipine solid dispersion powder using inverse gas chromatography.

PubMed

Miyanishi, Hideo; Nemoto, Takayuki; Mizuno, Masayasu; Mimura, Hisashi; Kitamura, Satoshi; Iwao, Yasunori; Noguchi, Shuji; Itai, Shigeru

2013-02-01

To investigate crystallization behavior on the surface of amorphous solid dispersion powder using inverse gas chromatography (IGC) and to predict the physical stability at temperatures below the glass transition temperature (T (g)). Amorphous solid dispersion powder was prepared by melt-quenching of a mixture of crystalline nifedipine and polyvinylpyrrolidon (PVP) K-30. IGC was conducted by injecting undecane (probe gas) and methane (reference gas) repeatedly to the solid dispersion at temperatures below T (g). Surface crystallization was evaluated by the retention volume change of undecane based on the observation that the surface of the solid dispersion with crystallized nifedipine gives an increased retention volume. On applying the retention volume change to the Hancock-Sharp equation, surface crystallization was found to follow a two-dimensional growth of nuclei mechanism. Estimation of the crystallization rates at temperatures far below T (g) using the Avrami-Erofeev equation and Arrhenius equation showed that, to maintain its quality for at least three years, the solid dispersion should be stored at -20°C (T (g) - 65°C). IGC can be used to evaluate crystallization behavior on the surface of a solid dispersion powder, and, unlike traditional techniques, can also predict the stability of the solid dispersion based on the surface crystallization behavior.
Effect of adsorption on the surface tensions of solid-fluid interfaces.

PubMed

Ward, C A; Wu, Jiyu

2007-04-12

A method is proposed for determining the surface tensions of a solid in contact with either a liquid or a vapor. Only an equilibrium adsorption isotherm at the solid-vapor interface needs to be added to Gibbsian thermodynamics to obtain the expressions for the solid-vapor and the solid-liquid surface tensions, gamma[1](SV) and gamma[1](SL), respectively. An equilibrium adsorption isotherm relation is formulated that has the essential property of not predicting an infinite amount adsorbed when the pressure is equal to the saturation-vapor pressure. Five different solid-vapor systems from the literature are examined, and found to be well described by the new isotherm relation. The surface-tension expressions obtained from the isotherm relation are examined by determining the surface tension of the solid in the absence of adsorption, gamma[1](S0), a material property of a solid surface. The value of gamma[1](S0) can be determined by adsorbing different vapors on the same solid, determining the isotherm parameters in each case, and then from the expression for gamma[1](SV) taking the limit of the pressure vanishing to determine gamma[1](S0). From previously reported measurements of benzene and of n-hexane adsorbing on graphitized carbon, the same value of gamma[1](S0) is obtained.
Friction between footwear and floor covered with solid particles under dry and wet conditions.

PubMed

Li, Kai Way; Meng, Fanxing; Zhang, Wei

2014-01-01

Solid particles on the floor, both dry and wet, are common but their effects on the friction on the floor were seldom discussed in the literature. In this study, friction measurements were conducted to test the effects of particle size of solid contaminants on the friction coefficient on the floor under footwear, floor, and surface conditions. The results supported the hypothesis that particle size of solids affected the friction coefficient and the effects depended on footwear, floor, and surface conditions. On dry surfaces, solid particles resulted in friction loss when the Neolite footwear pad was used. On the other hand, solid particles provided additional friction when measured with the ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) footwear pad. On wet surfaces, introducing solid particles made the floors more slip-resistant and such effects depended on particle size. This study provides information for better understanding of the mechanism of slipping when solid contaminants are present.
Effect of vitrification solutions on survival rate of cryopreserved Epinephelus moara embryos.

PubMed

Tian, Y S; Zhang, J J; Li, Z T; Tang, J; Cheng, M L; Wu, Y P; Ma, W H; Pang, Z F; Li, W S; Zhai, J M; Li, B

2018-06-01

Embryo cryopreservation is important for long-term preservation of germplasm and assisted reproduction. However, it is still very difficult to obtain viable embryos from cryopreserved fish embryos. In this study, embryos of Epinephelus moara were used to investigate the effects of various cryopreservation methods. Embryos in stages 10 pairs somite (10S), 18 pairs somite (18S), 22 pairs somite (22S), tail-bud (TB), embryo twitching (ET) and pre-hatch (PH) were treated with five-step equilibrium penetration in 40% PMG3T vitrification solution, which contained 15.75% 1,2-propylene glycol, 10.50% Methanol, 8.75% Glycerol and 5.00% Trehalose. We found that 18S, 22S, TB and ET stage embryos had higher survival rates and were more tolerant to the vitrification solution. Five-step equilibrium treatments on the embryos at the tail-bud stage were performed using two vitrification solutions: 40% PMG3T and 40% PMG3S, which consisted of 15.75% 1,2-propylene glycol, 10.50% Methanol, 8.75% Glycerol and 5.00% Sucrose. The embryonic survival rate under PMG3S treatment (63.36%) was significantly higher than PMG3T treatment (43.93%) (P < 0.05). PMG3S and PMG3T with concentrations of 35%, 40% and 45% were tested on tail-bud stage embryos. Higher concentration of the vitrification solution led to significantly lower embryonic survival rate (P < 0.05). The survival rate was 36.79-72.05% in PMG3S, and 37.11-55.18% in PMG3T, and there were non-significant differences in embryonic development and malformation rates among the groups treated with different concentrations. The embryonic normal development rates in PMG3S and PMG3T were 21.27% and 11.04%, and the malformation rates were 36.13% and 31.04%, respectively. The optimum treatment condition was 40 min using 40% PMG3S on embryos at the tail-bud stage. Both PMG3S and PMG3T were used for cryopreserving embryos at 16 pairs somite, tail-bud and ET stage in liquid nitrogen, where we obtained 190 surviving embryos, and 44 fishes underwent normal development and hatched. The survival rate of cryopreserved embryos was 5.15%, the normal development rate was 1.31%, and the malformation rate was 3.66%. We found that PMG3S and PMG3T were effective for cryopreservation of Epinephelus moara embryos. The results provide a foundation for further explorations of fish embryo cryopreservation techniques. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Glasses for immobilization of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laverov, N. P.; Omel'yanenko, B. I.; Yudintsev, S. V.; Stefanovsky, S. V.; Nikonov, B. S.

2013-03-01

Reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) for recovery of fissionable elements is a precondition of long-term development of nuclear energetics. Solution of this problem is hindered by the production of a great amount of liquid waste; 99% of its volume is low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste (LILW). The volume of high-level radioactive waste (HLW), which is characterized by high heat release, does not exceed a fraction of a percent. Solubility of glasses at an elevated temperature makes them unfit for immobilization of HLW, the insulation of which is ensured only by mineral-like matrices. At the same time, glasses are a perfect matrix for LILW, which are distinguished by low heat release. The solubility of borosilicate glass at a low temperature is so low that even a glass with relatively low resistance enables them to retain safety of under-ground LILW depositories without additional engineering barriers. The optimal technology of liquid confinement is their concentration and immobilization in borosilicate glasses, which are disposed in shallow-seated geological repositories. The vitrification of 1 m3 liquid LILW with a salt concentration of ˜300 kg/m3 leaves behind only 0.2 m3 waste, that is, 4-6 times less than by bitumen impregnation and 10 times less than by cementation. Environmental and economic advantages of LILW vitrification result from (1) low solubility of the vitrified LILW in natural water; (2) significant reduction of LILW volume; (3) possibility to dispose the vitrified waste without additional engineering barriers under shallow conditions and in diverse geological media; (4) the strength of glass makes its transportation and storage possible; and finally (5) reliable longterm safety of repositories. When the composition of the glass matrix for LILW is being chosen, attention should be paid to the factors that ensure high technological and economic efficiency of vitrification. The study of vitrified LILW from the Kursk nuclear power plant with high-power channel reactors (HPCR; equivalent Russian acronym, RBMK) and the Kalinin nuclear power plant with pressurized water reactors (PWR; equivalent Russian acronym VVER) after their 14-yr storage in the shallow-seated repository at the MosNPO Radon testing ground has confirmed the safety of repositories ensured by confinement properties of borosilicate matrix. The most efficient vitrification technology is based on cold crucible induction melting. If the content of a chemical element in waste exceeds its solubility in glass, a crystalline phase is formed in the course of vitrification, so that the glass ceramics become a matrix for such waste. Vitrified waste with high Fe; Na and Al; Na, Fe, and Al; Na and B is characterized. The composition of frit and its proportion to waste depends on waste composition. This procedure requires careful laboratory testing.
Demonstration and Optimization of BNFL's Pulsed Jet Mixing and RFD Sampling Systems Using NCAW Simulant

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

JR Bontha; GR Golcar; N Hannigan

2000-08-29

The BNFL Inc. flowsheet for the pretreatment and vitrification of the Hanford High Level Tank waste includes the use of several hundred Reverse Flow Diverters (RFDs) for sampling and transferring the radioactive slurries and Pulsed Jet mixers to homogenize or suspend the tank contents. The Pulsed Jet mixing and the RFD sampling devices represent very simple and efficient methods to mix and sample slurries, respectively, using compressed air to achieve the desired operation. The equipment has no moving parts, which makes them very suitable for mixing and sampling highly radioactive wastes. However, the effectiveness of the mixing and sampling systemsmore » are yet to be demonstrated when dealing with Hanford slurries, which exhibit a wide range of physical and theological properties. This report describes the results of the testing of BNFL's Pulsed Jet mixing and RFD sampling systems in a 13-ft ID and 15-ft height dish-bottomed tank at Battelle's 336 building high-bay facility using AZ-101/102 simulants containing up to 36-wt% insoluble solids. The specific objectives of the work were to: Demonstrate the effectiveness of the Pulsed Jet mixing system to thoroughly homogenize Hanford-type slurries over a range of solids loading; Minimize/optimize air usage by changing sequencing of the Pulsed Jet mixers or by altering cycle times; and Demonstrate that the RFD sampler can obtain representative samples of the slurry up to the maximum RPP-WTP baseline concentration of 25-wt%.« less
Production of lightweight aggregates from mining residues, heavy metal sludge, and incinerator fly ash.

PubMed

Huang, Su-Chen; Chang, Fang-Chih; Lo, Shang-Lien; Lee, Ming-Yu; Wang, Chu-Fang; Lin, Jyh-Dong

2007-06-01

In this study, artificial lightweight aggregate (LWA) manufactured from recycled resources was investigated. Residues from mining, fly ash from an incinerator and heavy metal sludge from an electronic waste water plant were mixed into raw aggregate pellets and fed into a tunnel kiln to be sintered and finally cooled rapidly. Various feeding and sintering temperatures were employed to examine their impact on the extent of vitrification on the aggregate surface. Microstructural analysis and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) were also performed. The results show that the optimum condition of LWA fabrication is sintering at 1150 degrees C for 15 min with raw aggregate pellets fed at 750 degrees C. The rapidly vitrified surface envelops the gas produced with the increase in internal temperature and cooling by spraying water prevents the aggregates from binding together, thus forming LWA with specific gravity of 0.6. LWA produced by sintering in tunnel kiln shows good vitrified surface, low water absorption rate below 5%, and low cylindrical compressive strength of 4.3 MPa. In addition, only trace amounts of heavy metals were detected, making the LWA non-hazardous for construction use.
Structure/property relationships in methacrylate/dimethacrylate polymers for dental applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehlem, Jeremy John

Since its invention Bis-GMA or one of its analogs has been the main component of the polymer portion of composites for dental restorations. The need for dilution of Bis-GMA and its analogs to optimize its properties has long been recognized. Bis-GMA is a highly viscous monomer. This high viscosity leads to early vitrification, which limits conversion during cure. This viscosity also limits filler loading. Vitrification at low conversions leads to heterogeneous systems composed of low and high cross-link density phases. The low cross-link density phases behave as defects in the system; therefore, if the amount of low cross-link density phases in the system can be reduced and a more uniform network structure can be achieved, then the mechanical properties of the resin can be improved. Since the increase in viscosity during cure causes vitrification, it is logical that a system with a low initial viscosity will delay the onset of vitrification. Reactive diluents such as triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) are effective at lower levels. However, large amounts negatively affect matrix properties by increasing polymerization shrinkage and water sorption. Shrinkage has been cited as one of the main deficiencies in dental composites. The goal of this project is to improve upon standard viscosity modifying comonomers such as triethylene glycol dimethacrylate. The comonomers that were explored were phenyloxyethyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, and tert-butylcylcohexyl methacrylate. Multicomponent systems based on analogs of ethylene glycol dimethacrylates with different length ethyl glycol chains were also examined. The substitution of monomethacrylates for TEGDMA as a comonomer resulted in enhanced or negligible affects on the mechanical properties of Bis-MEPP based polymer systems while reducing polymerization shrinkage. 129Xenon NMR and TappingMode(TM) AFM were used to characterize the heterogeneity of dimethacrylates systems during their cure cycle as well as in their final state. Using these methods the size of the high and low cross-link density phase was examined and determined to be on the order of 50--150 nanometers. Model compounds based on phenylethyl methacrylate were formulated to determine how of nadic methyl anhydride and maleic anhydride incorporate into dimethacrylate resin systems.
Vitrification of erythrocytes, cryoprotective solutions and pure water by rapid solidification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schedgick, David J.

2003-06-01

Vitrification has been used successfully in the past to cryopreserve biologically active materials in the presence of high concentrations of cryoprotectants. Rapid cooling and rapid rewarming were investigated to reduce or eliminate the concentrations of cryoprotectant necessary for cryopreservation. Glycerol based cryoprotectants were unidirectionally quenched and rewarmed to determine the depth at which a glass could form upon quenching while also avoiding subsequent crystallization upon rewarming. It was determined that, at sufficient cooling rates, pure water could be vitrified in thicknesses of 700 microns by quenching on free standing diamond wafers, and that solutions of greater than 50% glycerol are required to vitrify thicknesses equivalent to that of a human kidney. This process has been adapted to cryopreserve erythrocytes resuspended in isotonic saline. The cell suspensions were either drawn into small diameter glass tubes (500 micron inner diameter), loaded between thin glass plates (130--170 micron plate thickness), or formed into thin discs by shearing a drop of the suspension on a diamond film. The tubes, plates and sheared droplets were then quenched by immersion into liquid nitrogen. Erythrocyte survival after rewarming was measured at up to 97% of the unfrozen controls. Additionally, erythrocyte intracellular 2,3-DPG, ATP, and K+ were measured for the quenched cells and compared to the unfrozen controls. 2,3-DPG levels dropped 17.9% +/- 16.3%, ATP decreased 46.8% +/- 13.4%, and 52.8% +/- 3.4% of intracellular K+ remained after cryopreservation. The changes in intracellular indicators were similar to the changes observed in erythrocytes cryopreserved using the conventional glycerolized cryopreservation technique. Glass formation in erythrocyte suspensions upon cooling has been confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DS). Samples quenched in tubes, plates and on diamond films showed glass transition endotherms and crystallization exotherms, which were completely absent in the slowly cooled sample, indicating a partially, if not totally, glassy as quenched structure. This dissertation marks the first successful vitrification of liquid water in volumes large enough to contain biologically active materials as well as the first time erythrocytes have been successfully cryopreserved by vitrification through conductive heat transfer without the aid of cryoprotectants.
The calculation of weakly non-spherical cavitation bubble impact on a solid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aganin, A. A.; Guseva, T. S.; Kosolapova, L. A.; Khismatullina, N. A.

2016-11-01

The effect of small spheroidal non-sphericity of a cavitation bubble touching a solid at the beginning of its collapse on its impact on the solid of a copper-nickel alloy is investigated. The impact on the solid is realized by means of a high-speed liquid jet arising at collapse on the bubble surface. The shape of the jet, its velocity and pressure are calculated by the boundary element method. The spatial and temporal characteristics of the pressure pulses on the solid surface are determined by the CIP-CUP method on dynamically adaptive grids without explicitly separating the gas-liquid interface. The solid surface layer dynamics is evaluated by the Godunov method. The results are analyzed in dimensionless variables obtained with using the water hammer pressure, the time moment and the jet-solid contact area radius at which the jet begins to spread on the solid surface. It is shown that in those dimensionless variables, the dependence of the spatial and temporal characteristics of the solid surface pressure pulses on the initial bubble shape non-sphericity is relatively small. The nonsphericity also slightly influences the main qualitative features of the dynamic processes inside the solid, whereas its effect on their quantitative characteristics can be significant.
Bacterial migration along solid surfaces.

PubMed Central

Harkes, G; Dankert, J; Feijen, J

1992-01-01

An in vitro system was developed to study the migration of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains. In this system an aqueous agar gel is placed against a solid surface, allowing the bacteria to migrate along the gel/solid surface interface. Bacterial strains as well as solid surfaces were characterized by means of water contact angle and zeta potential measurements. When glass was used as the solid surface, significantly different migration times for the strains investigated were observed. Relationships among the observed migration times of six strains, their contact angles, and their zeta potentials were found. Relatively hydrophobic strains exhibited migration times shorter than those of hydrophilic strains. For highly negatively charged strains shorter migration times were found than were found for less negatively charged strains. When the fastest-migrating strain with respect to glass was allowed to migrate along solid surfaces differing in hydrophobicity and charge, no differences in migration times were found. Our findings indicate that strategies to prevent catheter-associated bacteriuria should be based on inhibition of bacterial growth rather than on modifying the physicochemical character of the catheter surface. PMID:1622217
The dynamics of the water droplet impacting onto hot solid surfaces at medium Weber numbers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitrakusuma, Windy H.; Kamal, Samsul; Indarto; Dyan Susila, M.; Hermawan; Deendarlianto

2017-10-01

The effects of the wettability of a droplet impacting onto a hot solid surface under medium Weber numbers were studied experimentally. The Weber numbers used in the present experiment were 52.1, 57.6, and 63.1. Three kinds of solid surfaces with different wettability were used. These were normal stainless steel (NSS), TiO2 coated NSS, and TiO2 coated NSS radiated with ultraviolet rays. The surface temperatures were varied from 60 to 200 °C. The image of side the view and 30° from horizontal were taken to explain the spreading and the interfacial behavior of a single droplet during impact the hot solid surfaces. It was found that under medium Weber numbers, the surface wettability plays an important role on the droplet spreading and evaporation time during the impact on the hot solid surfaces. The higher the wettability, the larger the droplet spreading on the hot surface, and the lower the evaporation time.
Impact of surface chemistry

PubMed Central

Somorjai, Gabor A.; Li, Yimin

2011-01-01

The applications of molecular surface chemistry in heterogeneous catalyst technology, semiconductor-based technology, medical technology, anticorrosion and lubricant technology, and nanotechnology are highlighted in this perspective. The evolution of surface chemistry at the molecular level is reviewed, and the key roles of surface instrumentation developments for in situ studies of the gas–solid, liquid–solid, and solid–solid interfaces under reaction conditions are emphasized. PMID:20880833
Preparation and evaporation of Hanford Waste treatment plant direct feed low activity waste effluent management facility simulant

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Adamson, D.; Nash, C.; Howe, A.

The Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) Low Activity Waste (LAW) vitrification facility will generate an aqueous condensate recycle stream (LAW Melter Off-Gas Condensate, LMOGC) from the off-gas system. The baseline plan for disposition of this stream during full WTP operations is to send it to the WTP Pretreatment Facility, where it will be blended with LAW, concentrated by evaporation, and recycled to the LAW vitrification facility. However, during the Direct Feed LAW (DFLAW) scenario, planned disposition of this stream involves concentrating the condensate in a new evaporator at the Effluent Management Facility (EMF) and returning it to themore » LAW melter. The LMOGC stream will contain components, e.g. halides and sulfates, that are volatile at melter temperatures, have limited solubility in glass waste forms, and present a material corrosion concern. Because this stream will recycle within WTP, these components are expected to accumulate in the LMOGC stream, exacerbating their impact on the number of LAW glass containers that must be produced. Diverting the stream reduces the halides and sulfates in the glass and is a key objective of this program. In order to determine the disposition path, it is key to experimentally determine the fate of contaminants. To do this, testing is needed to account for the buffering chemistry of the components, determine the achievable evaporation end point, identify insoluble solids that form, determine the formation and distribution of key regulatoryimpacting constituents, and generate an aqueous stream that can be used in testing of the subsequent immobilization step. This overall program examines the potential treatment and immobilization of the LMOGC stream to enable alternative disposal. The objective of this task was to (1) prepare a simulant of the LAW Melter Off-gas Condensate expected during DFLAW operations, (2) demonstrate evaporation in order to predict the final composition of the effluents from the EMF evaporator to aid in planning for their disposition, and (3) generate concentrated evaporator bottoms for use in immobilization testing.« less
A new model for fluid velocity slip on a solid surface.

PubMed

Shu, Jian-Jun; Teo, Ji Bin Melvin; Chan, Weng Kong

2016-10-12

A general adsorption model is developed to describe the interactions between near-wall fluid molecules and solid surfaces. This model serves as a framework for the theoretical modelling of boundary slip phenomena. Based on this adsorption model, a new general model for the slip velocity of fluids on solid surfaces is introduced. The slip boundary condition at a fluid-solid interface has hitherto been considered separately for gases and liquids. In this paper, we show that the slip velocity in both gases and liquids may originate from dynamical adsorption processes at the interface. A unified analytical model that is valid for both gas-solid and liquid-solid slip boundary conditions is proposed based on surface science theory. The corroboration with the experimental data extracted from the literature shows that the proposed model provides an improved prediction compared to existing analytical models for gases at higher shear rates and close agreement for liquid-solid interfaces in general.
Apparatus and method for transient thermal infrared emission spectrometry

DOEpatents

McClelland, John F.; Jones, Roger W.

1991-12-24

A method and apparatus for enabling analysis of a solid material (16, 42) by applying energy from an energy source (20, 70) top a surface region of the solid material sufficient to cause transient heating in a thin surface layer portion of the solid material (16, 42) so as to enable transient thermal emission of infrared radiation from the thin surface layer portion, and by detecting with a spectrometer/detector (28, 58) substantially only the transient thermal emission of infrared radiation from the thin surface layer portion of the solid material. The detected transient thermal emission of infrared radiation is sufficiently free of self-absorption by the solid material of emitted infrared radiation, so as to be indicative of characteristics relating to molecular composition of the solid material.
Digestion of Crystalline Silicotitanate (CST)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

DARREL, WALKER

2004-11-04

Researchers tested methods for chemically dissolving crystalline silicotitanate (CST) as a substitute for mechanical grinding to reduce particle size before vitrification. Testing used the commercially available form of CST, UOP IONSIV(R) IE-911. Reduction of the particle size to a range similar to that of the glass frit used by the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) could reduce problems with coupling cesium ion exchange to the vitrification process. This study found that IONSIV(R) IE-911 dissolves completely using a combination of acid, hydrogen peroxide, and fluoride ion. Neutralization of the resulting acidic solution precipitates components of the IONSIV(R) IE-911. Digestion requires extremelymore » corrosive conditions. Also, large particles may reform during neutralization, and the initiation and rate of gas generation are unpredictable. Therefore, the method is not recommended as a substitute for mechanical grinding.« less
Environmental Management vitrification activities

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Krumrine, P.H.

1996-05-01

Both the Mixed Waste and Landfill Stabilization Focus Areas as part of the Office of Technology Development efforts within the Department of Energy`s (DOE) Environmental Management (EM) Division have been developing various vitrification technologies as a treatment approach for the large quantities of transuranic (TRU), TRU mixed and Mixed Low Level Wastes that are stored in either landfills or above ground storage facilities. The technologies being developed include joule heated, plasma torch, plasma arc, induction, microwave, combustion, molten metal, and in situ methods. There are related efforts going into development glass, ceramic, and slag waste form windows of opportunity formore » the diverse quantities of heterogeneous wastes needing treatment. These studies look at both processing parameters, and long term performance parameters as a function of composition to assure that developed technologies have the right chemistry for success.« less
Vitrification of radioactive contaminated soil by means of microwave energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Xun; Qing, Qi; Zhang, Shuai; Lu, Xirui

2017-03-01

Simulated radioactive contaminated soil was successfully vitrified by microwave sintering technology and the solidified body were systematically studied by Raman, XRD and SEM-EDX. The Raman results show that the solidified body transformed to amorphous structure better at higher temperature (1200 °C). The XRD results show that the metamictization has been significantly enhanced by the prolonged holding time at 1200 °C by microwave sintering, while by conventional sintering technology other crystal diffraction peaks, besides of silica at 2θ = 27.830°, still exist after being treated at 1200 °C for much longer time. The SEM-EDX discloses the micro-morphology of the sample and the uniform distribution of Nd element. All the results show that microwave technology performs vitrification better than the conventional sintering method in solidifying radioactive contaminated soil.

The Alpha consensus meeting on cryopreservation key performance indicators and benchmarks: proceedings of an expert meeting.

PubMed

2012-08-01

This proceedings report presents the outcomes from an international workshop designed to establish consensus on: definitions for key performance indicators (KPIs) for oocyte and embryo cryopreservation, using either slow freezing or vitrification; minimum performance level values for each KPI, representing basic competency; and aspirational benchmark values for each KPI, representing best practice goals. This report includes general presentations about current practice and factors for consideration in the development of KPIs. A total of 14 KPIs were recommended and benchmarks for each are presented. No recommendations were made regarding specific cryopreservation techniques or devices, or whether vitrification is 'better' than slow freezing, or vice versa, for any particular stage or application, as this was considered to be outside the scope of this workshop. Copyright © 2012 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Birth of cloned calves from vitrified-warmed zona-free buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) embryos produced by hand-made cloning.

PubMed

Saha, Ambikaprasanna; Panda, Sudeepta K; Chauhan, Manmohan S; Manik, Radhey S; Palta, Prabhat; Singla, Suresh K

2013-01-01

The availability of techniques for the vitrification of cloned blastocysts can improve their effective use. The present study compared the developmental competence of buffalo cloned embryos derived from adult (BAF), newborn (BNF) and fetal fibroblast (BFF) before and after vitrification. Despite similar cleavage rates among the three groups, the blastocyst rate was lower for BAF- than BNF- and BFF-derived embryos (30.2±2.2% vs 41.7±1.7% and 39.1±2.1%, respectively; P<0.01). The total cell number of BNF-derived blastocysts was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that of BFF-derived blastocysts, which, in turn, was higher (P<0.01) than that of BAF-derived blastocysts. Following transfer of vitrified-warmed blastocysts to recipients, no pregnancy was obtained with fresh (n=8) or vitrified-warmed (n=18) BAF-derived blastocysts, whereas transfer of fresh BNF- (n=53) and BFF-derived (n=32) blastocysts resulted in four and three pregnancies, respectively, which aborted within 90 days of gestation. The transfer of vitrified-warmed BNF-derived blastocysts (n=39) resulted in the live birth of a calf weighing 41kg, which is now 23 months old and has no apparent abnormality, whereas the transfer of vitrified-warmed BFF-derived blastocysts (n=18) resulted in one live birth of a calf that died within 6h. These results demonstrate that cloned buffalo embryos cryopreserved by vitrification can be used to obtain live offspring.
Minimal volume vitrification of epididymal spermatozoa results in successful in vitro fertilization and embryo development in mice

PubMed Central

Horta, Fabrizzio; Alzobi, Hamida; Jitanantawittaya, Sutthipat; Catt, Sally; Chen, Penny; Pangestu, Mulyoto; Temple-Smith, Peter

2017-01-01

This study compared three cryopreservation protocols on sperm functions, IVF outcomes, and embryo development. Epididymal spermatozoa cryopreserved using slow-cooling (18% w/v raffinose, RS-C) were compared with spermatozoa vitrified using 0.25 M sucrose (SV) or 18% w/v raffinose (RV). The motility, vitality, and DNA damage (TUNEL assay) of fresh control (FC) spermatozoa were compared with post-thawed or warmed RS-C, RV, and SV samples. Mouse oocytes (n = 267) were randomly assigned into three groups for insemination: RV (n = 102), RS-C (n = 86), and FC (n = 79). The number and the proportion of two-cell embryos and blastocysts from each treatment were assessed. Sperm motility (P < 0.01) and vitality (P < 0.05) were significantly reduced after vitrification compared with slow-cooled spermatozoa. However, DNA fragmentation was significantly reduced in spermatozoa vitrified using sucrose (15 ± 1.8% [SV] vs 26 ± 2.8% [RV] and 27 ± 1.2% [RS-C]; P < 0.01). Although the number of two-cell embryos produced by RS-C, RV, and FC spermatozoa was not significantly different, the number of blastocysts produced from two-cell embryos using RV spermatozoa was significantly higher than FC spermatozoa (P = 0.0053). This simple, small volume vitrification protocol and standard insemination method allows successful embryo production from small numbers of epididymal spermatozoa and may be applied clinically to circumvent the need for ICSI, which has the disadvantage of bypassing sperm selection. PMID:27427551
From fresh heterologous oocyte donation to autologous oocyte banking

PubMed Central

Stoop, D.

2012-01-01

Introduction: Today, oocyte donation has become well established, giving rise to thousands of children born worldwide annually. The introduction of oocyte cryopreservation through vitrification allows the introduction of egg banking, improving the efficiency and comfort of oocyte donation. Moreover, the vitrification technique can now enable autologous donation of oocytes to prevent future infertility. Methods: We evaluated fresh heterologous oocyte donation in terms of obstetrical and perinatal outcome as well as of the reproductive outcome of past donors. We then evaluated the efficiency of a closed vitrification device and its clinical applications within ART. Thirdly, we evaluated the opinion of women with regard to preventive egg freezing and the efficiency of a human oocyte in relation to age. Results: Oocyte donation is associated with an increased risk of first trimester bleeding and pregnancy induced hypertension. Donating oocytes does not seem to increase the likelihood for a later need of fertility treatment. The chance of an oocyte to result in live birth (utilization rate) in women <37 years old remains constant with a mean of 4.47%. A significant proportion of young women would consider safeguarding their reproductive potential through egg freezing or are at least open to the idea. Discussion and Conclusion: The introduction of efficient oocyte cryopreservation has revolutionized oocyte donation through the establishment of eggbank donation. The technique also enables women to perform autologous donation after preventive oocyte storage in order to circumvent their biological clock. PMID:24753920
Vitrified-warmed embryo transfer is associated with mean higher singleton birth weight compared to fresh embryo transfer.

PubMed

Beyer, Daniel Alexander; Griesinger, Georg

2016-08-01

To test for differences in birth weight between singletons born after IVF with fresh embryo transfer vs. vitrified-warmed 2PN embryo transfer (vitrification protocol). Retrospective analysis of 464 singleton live births after IVF or ICSI during a 12 year period. University hospital. Fresh embryo transfer, vitrified-warmed 2PN embryo transfer (vitrification protocol). Birth weight standardized as a z-score, adjusting for gestational week at delivery and fetal sex. As a reference, birth weight means from regular deliveries from the same hospital were used. Multivariate regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between the dependent variable z-score (fetal birth weight) and the independent predictor variables maternal age, weight, height, body mass index, RDS prophylaxis, transfer protocol, number of embryos transferred, indication for IVF treatment and sperm quality. The mean z-score was significantly lower after fresh transfer (-0.11±92) as compared to vitrification transfer (0.72±83) (p<0.001). Multivariate regression analysis indicated that only maternal height and maternal body mass index, but not type of cryopreservation protocol, was a significant predictor of birth weight. In this analysis focusing on 2PN oocytes, vitrified-warmed embryo transfer is associated with mean higher birth weight compared to fresh embryo transfer. Maternal height and body mass index are significant confounders of fetal birth weight and need to be taken into account when studying birth weight differences between ART protocols. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Wistar rats immature testicular tissue vitrification and heterotopic grafting.

PubMed

Benvenutti, Larissa; Salvador, Rafael Alonso; Til, David; Senn, Alfred Paul; Tames, David Rivero; Amaral, Nicole Louise Lângaro; Amaral, Vera Lúcia Lângaro

2018-04-25

To evaluate the efficiency of two vitrification protocols for rat immature testicular tissue and heterotopic transplantation. Twenty-four pre-pubertal Wistar rats were divided into three groups (n=8). After orchiectomy, testicular fragments (3mm) from Groups 1 and 2 were vitrified with different cryoprotectant concentration solutions, using sterile inoculation loops as support. After warming up, the fragments were submitted to cell viability assessment by Trypan blue and histological evaluation. Vitrified (Groups 1 and 2) and fresh (Group 3) fragments were grafted to the animals periauricular region. After 8 weeks of grafting, the implant site was histologically analyzed. The viability recovery rate from Group 1 (72.09%) was higher (p=0.02) than that from Group 2 (59.19%). Histological analysis showed similar tubular integrity between fresh fragments from Groups 1 and 3. Group 2 samples presented lower tubular integrity. We ran histological analyses in the grafts from the Groups. In all groups, it was possible to see the implant site, however, no fragment of testicular tissue or signs of inflammation were histologically found in most samples from Groups 1 and 3. In one sample from Group 2, we found degenerated seminiferous tubules with necrosis and signs of an inflammatory process. In another sample from Group 2, we found seminiferous tubules in the implant site. The vitrification of pre-pubertal testicular tissue of rats showed little damage to cell viability through histological analysis when we used cryoprotectants in a lower concentration. Heterotopic transplantation could not preserve the structural organization of the testicular tissue.
Glass Development for Treatment of LANL Evaporator Bottoms Waste

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

DE Smith; GF Piepel; GW Veazey

1998-11-20

Vitrification is an attractive treatment option for meeting the stabilization and final disposal requirements of many plutonium (Pu) bearing materials and wastes at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) TA-55 facility, Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site (RFETS), Hanford, and other Department of Energy (DOE) sites. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared that vitrification is the "best demonstrated available technology" for high- level radioactive wastes (HLW) (Federal Register 1990) and has produced a handbook of vitriilcation technologies for treatment of hazardous and radioactive waste (US EPA, 1992). This technology has been demonstrated to convert Pu-containing materials (Kormanos, 1997) into durablemore » (Lutze, 1988) and accountable (Forsberg, 1995) waste. forms with reduced need for safeguarding (McCulhun, 1996). The composition of the Evaporator Bottoms Waste (EVB) at LANL, like that of many other I%-bearing materials, varies widely and is generally unpredictable. The goal of this study is to optimize the composition of glass for EVB waste at LANL, and present the basic techniques and tools for developing optimized glass compositions for other Pu-bearing materials in the complex. This report outlines an approach for glass formulation with fixed property restrictions, using glass property-composition databases. This approach is applicable to waste glass formulation for many variable waste streams and vitrification technologies.. Also reported are the preliminary property data for simulated evaporator bottom glasses, including glass viscosity and glass leach resistance using the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP).« less
Ovarian injury during cryopreservation and transplantation in mice: a comparative study between cryoinjury and ischemic injury.

PubMed

Lee, Jaewang; Kong, Hyun Sun; Kim, Eun Jung; Youm, Hye Won; Lee, Jung Ryeol; Suh, Chang Suk; Kim, Seok Hyun

2016-08-01

What is the main cause of ovarian injury during cryopreservation and transplantation in mice: cryoinjury or ischemic injury? Post-transplantation ischemia is the main cause of ovarian injury during cryopreservation and transplantation for restoring ovarian function. During cryopreservation and the transplantation of ovaries, cryoinjury and ischemic injury inevitably occur, which has a detrimental effect on ovarian quality and reserve. A total of 80 B6D2F1 female mice were randomly allocated to 2 control and 6 experimental groups according to the presence or the absence of transplantation (n = 10/group). The control groups consisted of fresh or vitrified-warmed controls that had the whole ovary fixed without transplantation (fresh and vitri-con, respectively). The experimental groups were further divided according to the presence of vitrification (fresh or vitrified-warmed) and the transplantation period (2 [D2], 7 [D7] or 21 [D21] days). In the control groups, fresh and vitrified-warmed ovaries were immediately fixed after the collection (fresh) and the vitrification-warming process (vitrification control, vitri-con), respectively. Of those experimental groups, three were auto-transplanted with fresh whole ovary (FrOT; FrOT-D2, FrOT-D7 and FrOT-D21). For the other three groups, the ovaries were harvested and stored in liquid nitrogen for 1 week after vitrification and then warmed to auto-transplant the vitrified whole ovaries (vitrified ovary [VtOT]; VtOT-D2, VtOT-D7 and VtOT-D21). After 2, 7 or 21 days of grafting, the grafts and blood sera were collected for analysis by hematoxylin-eosin staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay, CD31 immunohistochemistry and follicle-stimulating hormone enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The vitrification-warming procedure decreased the proportion of intact follicles (Grade 1, G1) (vitri-con 50.3% versus fresh 64.2%) but there was a larger decrease due to ischemic injury after transplantation (FrOT-D2: 42.5%). The percentage of apoptotic follicles was significantly increased in the vitrified-warmed ovary group compared with the fresh control, but it increased more after transplantation without vitrification (fresh: 0.9%, vitri-con: 6.0% and FrOT-D2: 26.8%). The mean number of follicles per section and percentage of CD31-positive area significantly decreased after vitrification but decreased to a larger extent after transplantation (number of follicles, fresh: 30.3 ± 3.6, vitri-con: 20.6 ± 2.9, FrOT-D2: 17.9 ± 2.1; CD31-positive area, fresh: 10.6 ± 1.3%, vitri-con: 5.7 ± 0.9% and FrOT-D2: 4.2 ± 0.4%). Regarding the G1 follicle ratio and CD31-positive area per graft, only the FrOT groups significantly recovered with time after transplantation (G1 follicle ratio, FrOT-D2: 42.5%, FrOT-D7: 56.1% and FrOT-D21: 70.7%; CD31-positive area, FrOT-D2: 4.2 ± 0.4%, FrOT-D7: 5.4 ± 0.6% and FrOT-D21: 7.5 ± 0.8%). Although there was no significant difference between the two transplantation groups at each evaluation, the serum follicle-stimulating hormone level of both groups significantly decreased over time. It is unclear how far these results can be extrapolated from mice to the human ovary. Minimizing ischemic injury should be the first priority rather than preventing cryoinjury alone, and decreasing the combination of cryoinjury and ischemic injury is necessary to improve ovarian quality after cryopreservation and transplantation. This study was supported by a grant of the Korea Healthcare Technology R&D Project, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (HI12C0055). The authors have no conflict of interest to declare. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.
The Vapor Deposition Model of Space Weathering: A Strawman Paradigm for the Moon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hapke, Bruce W.

1998-01-01

Understanding space weathering on the lunar surface is essential to solving a number of major problems, including correctly interpreting lunar remote-sensing observations, understanding physical and chemical processes in the lunar regolith, and extrapolating to other bodies, especially Mercury, the asteroids, and the parent bodies of the ordinary chondrites. Hence, it is of great importance to correctly identify the process or processes that dominate lunar space weathering. The vapor deposition model postulates that lunar space weathering occurs as a result of the production of submicrscopic metallic iron (SMFe, also called superparamagnetic iron and nanophase iron) particles in the regolith by the intrinsic differentiation that accompanies the deposition of silicate vapor produced by both solar wind sputtering and micrometeorite impacts. This is the only process that has been demonstrated repeatedly by laboratory experiments to be capable of selectively producing SMFe. Hence, at present, it must be regarded as the leading contender for the correct model of lunar space weathering. This paper reviews the features of the vapor deposition model. The basic mechanism of the model relies on the fact that the porous microrelief of the lunar regolith allows most of the vapor produced by sputtering and impacts to be retained in the soil, rather than escaping from the Moon. As the individual vapor atoms impact the soil grain surfaces, they are first weakly bound by physical adsorption processes, and so have a finite probability of desorbing and escaping. Since the O is the most volatile, it escapes preferentially. The remaining atoms become chemically bound and form amorphous coatings on lunar soil grains. Because Fe is the most easily reduced of the major cations in the soil, the O deficiency manifests itself in the form of interstitial Fe0 in the glass deposits. Subsequent heating by impacts allows the Feo atoms to congregate together by solid-state diffusion to form SMFe grains. The impacts dislodge some of the coatings, which form an additional component of the soil, and also shock-weld the mineral grains, impact-vitrified glass, and vapor-deposited glass into agglutinates. Glass generated by impact vitrification probably plays a negligible role in lunar optical properties.
Application of interface waves for near surface damage detection in hybrid structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jahanbin, M.; Santhanam, S.; Ihn, J.-B.; Cox, A.

2017-04-01

Guided waves are acoustic waves that are guided by boundaries. Depending on the structural geometry, guided waves can either propagate between boundaries, known as plate waves, or propagate on the surface of the objects. Many different types of surface waves exist based on the material property of the boundary. For example Rayleigh wave in solid - air, Scholte wave in solid - liquid, Stoneley in solid - solid interface and many other different forms like Love wave on inhomogeneous surfaces, creeping waves, etc. This research work is demonstrating the application of surface and interface waves for detection of interfacial damages in hybrid bonded structures.
2011 Dynamics at Surfaces Gordon Research Conference (August 7-12, 2011, Salve Regina University, Newport, Rhode Island)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Greg Sitz

2011-08-12

The 2011 Gordon Conference on Dynamics at Surfaces is the 32nd anniversary of a meeting held every two years that is attended by leading researchers in the area of experimental and theoretical dynamics at liquid and solid surfaces. The conference focuses on the dynamics of the interaction of molecules with either liquid or solid surfaces, the dynamics of the outermost layer of liquid and solid surfaces and the dynamics at the liquid-solid interface. Specific topics that are featured include state-to-state scattering dynamics, chemical reaction dynamics, non-adiabatic effects in reactive and inelastic scattering of molecules from surfaces, single molecule dynamics atmore » surfaces, surface photochemistry, ultrafast dynamics at surfaces, and dynamics at water interfaces. The conference brings together investigators from a variety of scientific disciplines including chemistry, physics, materials science, geology, biophysics, and astronomy.« less
Solid State Division progress report, September 30, 1981

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1982-04-01

Progress made during the 19 months from March 1, 1980, through September 30, 1981, is reported in the following areas: theoretical solid state physics (surfaces, electronic and magnetic properties, particle-solid interactions, and laser annealing); surface and near-surface properties of solids (plasma materials interactions, ion-solid interactions, pulsed laser annealing, and semiconductor physics and photovoltaic conversion); defects in solids (radiation effects, fracture, and defects and impurities in insulating crystals); transport properties of solids (fast-ion conductors, superconductivity, and physical properties of insulating materials); neutron scattering (small-angle scattering, lattice dynamics, and magnetic properties); crystal growth and characterization (nuclear waste forms, ferroelectric mateirals, high-temperature materials,more » and special materials); and isotope research materials. Publications and papers are listed. (WHK)« less
Atomistic modelling of evaporation and explosive boiling of thin film liquid argon over internally recessed nanostructured surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasan, Mohammad Nasim; Shavik, Sheikh Mohammad; Rabbi, Kazi Fazle; Haque, Mominul

2016-07-01

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been carried out to investigate evaporation and explosive boiling phenomena of thin film liquid argon on nanostructured solid surface with emphasis on the effect of solid-liquid interfacial wettability. The nanostructured surface considered herein consists of trapezoidal internal recesses of the solid platinum wall. The wetting conditions of the solid surface were assumed such that it covers both the hydrophilic and hydrophobic conditions and hence effect of interfacial wettability on resulting evaporation and boiling phenomena was the main focus of this study. The initial configuration of the simulation domain comprised of a three phase system (solid platinum, liquid argon and vapor argon) on which equilibrium molecular dynamics (EMD) was performed to reach equilibrium state at 90 K. After equilibrium of the three-phase system was established, the wall was set to different temperatures (130 K and 250 K for the case of evaporation and explosive boiling respectively) to perform non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD). The variation of temperature and density as well as the variation of system pressure with respect to time were closely monitored for each case. The heat flux normal to the solid surface was also calculated to illustrate the effectiveness of heat transfer for hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces in cases of both nanostructured surface and flat surface. The results obtained show that both the wetting condition of the surface and the presence of internal recesses have significant effect on normal evaporation and explosive boiling of the thin liquid film. The heat transfer from solid to liquid in cases of surface with recesses are higher compared to flat surface without recesses. Also the surface with higher wettability (hydrophilic) provides more favorable conditions for boiling than the low-wetting surface (hydrophobic) and therefore, liquid argon responds quickly and shifts from liquid to vapor phase faster in case of hydrophilic surface. The heat transfer rate is also much higher in case of hydrophilic surface.
One-dimensional cold cap model for melters with bubblers

DOE PAGES

Pokorny, Richard; Hilliard, Zachary J.; Dixon, Derek R.; ...

2015-07-28

The rate of glass production during vitrification in an all-electrical melter greatly impacts the cost and schedule of nuclear waste treatment and immobilization. The feed is charged to the melter on the top of the molten glass, where it forms a layer of reacting and melting material, called the cold cap. During the final stages of the batch-to-glass conversion process, gases evolved from reactions produce primary foam, the growth and collapse of which controls the glass production rate. The mathematical model of the cold cap was revised to include functional representation of primary foam behavior and to account for themore » dry cold cap surface. The melting rate is computed as a response to the dependence of the primary foam collapse temperature on the heating rate and melter operating conditions, including the effect of bubbling on the cold cap bottom and top surface temperatures. The simulation results are in good agreement with experimental data from laboratory-scale and pilot-scale melter studies. Lastly, the cold cap model will become part of the full three-dimensional mathematical model of the waste glass melter.« less
Electrode systems for in situ vitrification

DOEpatents

Buelt, James L.; Carter, John G.; Eschbach, Eugene A.; FitzPatrick, Vincent F.; Koehmstedt, Paul L.; Morgan, William C.; Oma, Kenton H.; Timmerman, Craig L.

1990-01-01

An electrode comprising a molybdenum rod is received within a conductive collar formed of graphite. The molybdenum rod and the graphite collar may be physically joined at the bottom. A pair of such electrodes are placed in soil containing buried waste material and an electric current is passed therebetween for vitrifying the soil. The graphite collar enhances the thermal conductivity of the combination, bringing heat to the surface, and preventing formation of a cold cap of material above the ground surface. The annulus between the molybdenum rod electrode and the graphite collar is suitably filled with a conductive ceramic powder that sinters upon the molybdenum rod, protecting the same from oxidation as graphite material is consumed, or a metal powder which liquefies at operating temperatures. The center of the molybdenum rod, used with a collar of separately, can be hollow and filled with a powdered metal, such as copper, which liquefies at operating temperatures. Connection to electrodes can be provided below ground level to avoid open circuit due to electrode deterioration, or sacrificial electrodes may be employed when operation is started. Outboard electrodes cna be utilized to square up a vitrified area.
Turning nuclear waste into glass

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pegg, Ian L.

2015-02-15

Vitrification has emerged as the treatment option of choice for the most dangerous radioactive waste. But dealing with the nuclear waste legacy of the Cold War will require state-of-the-art facilities and advanced glass formulations.
The Interaction of Water with Solid Surfaces: Fundamental Aspects Revisited

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Henderson, Michael A.

2002-05-01

Water is perhaps the most important and most pervasive chemical on our planet. The influence of water permeates virtually all areas of biochemical, chemical and physical importance, and is especially evident in phenomena occurring at the interfaces of solid surfaces. Since 1987, when Thiel and Madey (TM) published their review titled "The Interaction of Water with Solid Surfaces: Fundamental Aspects" in Surface Science Reports, there has been considerable progress made in further understanding the fundamental interactions of water with solid surfaces. In the decade and a half, the increased capability of surface scientists to probe at the molecular-level has resultedmore » in more detailed information of the properties of water on progressively more complicated materials and under more stringent conditions. This progress in understanding the properties of water on solid surfaces is evident both in areas for which surface science methodology has traditionally been strong (catalysis and electronic materials) and also in new areas not traditionally studied by surface scientists, such as electrochemistry, photoconversion, mineralogy, adhesion, sensors, atmospheric chemistry, and tribology. Researchers in all these fields grapple with very basic questions regarding the interactions of water with solid surfaces, such as how is water adsorbed, what are the chemical and electrostatic forces that constitute the adsorbed layer, how is water thermally or non-thermally activated, and how do coadsorbates influence these properties of water. The attention paid to these and other fundamental questions in the past decade and a half has been immense. In this review, experimental studies published since the TM review are assimilated with those covered by TM to provide a current picture of the fundamental interactions of water with solid surfaces.« less
Applying the Coupled-Cluster Ansatz to Solids and Surfaces in the Thermodynamic Limit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gruber, Thomas; Liao, Ke; Tsatsoulis, Theodoros; Hummel, Felix; Grüneis, Andreas

2018-04-01

Modern electronic structure theories can predict and simulate a wealth of phenomena in surface science and solid-state physics. In order to allow for a direct comparison with experiment, such ab initio predictions have to be made in the thermodynamic limit, substantially increasing the computational cost of many-electron wave-function theories. Here, we present a method that achieves thermodynamic limit results for solids and surfaces using the "gold standard" coupled cluster ansatz of quantum chemistry with unprecedented efficiency. We study the energy difference between carbon diamond and graphite crystals, adsorption energies of water on h -BN, as well as the cohesive energy of the Ne solid, demonstrating the increased efficiency and accuracy of coupled cluster theory for solids and surfaces.
The Effects of 3D-Representation Instruction on Composite-Solid Surface-Area Learning for Elementary School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sung, Yao-Ting; Shih, Pao-Chen; Chang, Kuo-En

2015-01-01

Providing instruction on spatial geometry, specifically how to calculate the surface areas of composite solids, challenges many elementary school teachers. Determining the surface areas of composite solids involves complex calculations and advanced spatial concepts. The goals of this study were to build on students' learning processes for…
Investigation of surface charge density on solid-liquid interfaces by modulating the electrical double layer.

PubMed

Moon, Jong Kyun; Song, Myung Won; Pak, Hyuk Kyu

2015-05-20

A solid surface in contact with water or aqueous solution usually carries specific electric charges. These surface charges attract counter ions from the liquid side. Since the geometry of opposite charge distribution parallel to the solid-liquid interface is similar to that of a capacitor, it is called an electrical double layer capacitor (EDLC). Therefore, there is an electrical potential difference across an EDLC in equilibrium. When a liquid bridge is formed between two conducting plates, the system behaves as two serially connected EDLCs. In this work, we propose a new method for investigating the surface charge density on solid-liquid interfaces. By mechanically modulating the electrical double layers and simultaneously applying a dc bias voltage across the plates, an ac electric current can be generated. By measuring the voltage drop across a load resistor as a function of bias voltage, we can study the surface charge density on solid-liquid interfaces. Our experimental results agree very well with the simple equivalent electrical circuit model proposed here. Furthermore, using this method, one can determine the polarity of the adsorbed state on the solid surface depending on the material used. We expect this method to aid in the study of electrical phenomena on solid-liquid interfaces.

Effect of solid surface charge on the binding behaviour of a metal-binding peptide

PubMed Central

Donatan, Senem; Sarikaya, Mehmet; Tamerler, Candan; Urgen, Mustafa

2012-01-01

Over the last decade, solid-binding peptides have been increasingly used as molecular building blocks coupling bio- and nanotechnology. Despite considerable research being invested in this field, the effects of many surface-related parameters that define the binding of peptide to solids are still unknown. In the quest to control biological molecules at solid interfaces and, thereby, tailoring the binding characteristics of the peptides, the use of surface charge of the solid surface may probably play an important role, which then can be used as a potential tuning parameter of peptide adsorption. Here, we report quantitative investigation on the viscoelastic properties and binding kinetics of an engineered gold-binding peptide, 3RGBP1, adsorbed onto the gold surface at different surface charge densities. The experiments were performed in aqueous solutions using an electrochemical dissipative quartz crystal microbalance system. Hydrodynamic mass, hydration state and surface coverage of the adsorbed peptide films were determined as a function of surface charge density of the gold metal substrate. Under each charged condition, binding of 3rGBP1 displayed quantitative differences in terms of adsorbed peptide amount, surface coverage ratio and hydration state. Based on the intrinsically disordered structure of the peptide, we propose a possible mechanism for binding of the peptide that can be used for tuning surface adsorption in further studies. Controlled alteration of peptide binding on solid surfaces, as shown here, may provide novel methods for surface functionalization used for bioenabled processing and fabrication of future micro- and nanodevices. PMID:22491974
Gravity settling

DOEpatents

Davis, Hyman R.; Long, R. H.; Simone, A. A.

1979-01-01

Solids are separated from a liquid in a gravity settler provided with inclined solid intercepting surfaces to intercept the solid settling path to coalesce the solids and increase the settling rate. The intercepting surfaces are inverted V-shaped plates, each formed from first and second downwardly inclined upwardly curved intersecting conical sections having their apices at the vessel wall.
Experimental study of interaction between a vortex ring and a solid surface for a wide range of ring velocities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikulin, V. V.

2014-12-01

Experiments were carried out for interaction of water-travelling vortex ring with a solid surface with the normal impingement to the surface; the vortex velocity was varied by factor of 30 and the Reynolds number had 60-times span. Laminar and turbulent vortex rings have been studied. The ratio of the vortex diameter at the moment of rebound from the surface to the vortex diameter before impingement is almost independent of the vortex velocity and Reynolds number. Within the experimental accuracy, the diameter of the vortex ring after rebound equals the footprint of the vortex on the solid surface. This brings assumption that the previously observed restrictions on the trace were related to the vortex rebound from the solid surface.
Solid Surface Combustion Experiment

NASA Image and Video Library

1994-09-12

STS064-10-011 (12 Sept. 1994) --- The Solid Surface Combustion Experiment (SSCE), designed to supply information on flame spread over solid fuel surfaces in the reduced-gravity environment of space, is pictured during flight day four operations. The middeck experiment measured the rate of spreading, the solid-phase temperature, and the gas-phase temperature of flames spreading over rectangular fuel beds. STS-64 marked the seventh trip into space for the Lewis Research Center experiment. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Hydroxypropyl cellulose supplementation in vitrification solutions: a prospective study with donor oocytes.

PubMed

Gallardo, Miguel; Hebles, María; Migueles, Beatriz; Dorado, Mónica; Aguilera, Laura; González, Mercedes; Piqueras, Paloma; Lucas, Alejandro; Montero, Lorena; Sánchez-Martín, Pascual; Sánchez-Martín, Fernando; Risco, Ramón

2017-03-01

Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), a polysaccharide that forms a viscous gel under low temperatures, is a promising substitute of the blood-derived macromolecules traditionally used in cryopreservation solutions. The performance of a protein-free, fully synthetic set of vitrification and warming solutions was assessed in a matched pair analysis with donor oocytes. A prospective study including 219 donor MII oocytes was carried out, comparing the laboratory outcomes of oocytes vitrified with HPC-based solutions and their fresh counterparts. The primary performance endpoint was the fertilization rate. Secondary parameters assessed were embryo quality on days 2 and 3. 70/73 (95.9%) vitrified MII oocytes exhibited morphologic survival 2 h post-warming, with 49 (70.0%) presented normal fertilization, compared to 105 of 146 (71.9%) MII fresh oocytes. Similar embryo quality was observed in both groups. A total of 18 embryos implanted, out of 38 embryos transferred (47.3%), resulting in 13 newborns.
Stability of Proteins in Carbohydrates and Other Additives during Freezing: The Human Growth Hormone as a Case Study.

PubMed

Arsiccio, Andrea; Pisano, Roberto

2017-09-21

Molecular dynamics is here used to elucidate the mechanism of protein stabilization by carbohydrates and other additives during freezing. More specifically, we used molecular dynamics simulations to obtain a quantitative estimation of the capability of various cryoprotectants to preserve a model protein, the human growth hormone, against freezing stresses. Three mechanisms were investigated, preferential exclusion, water replacement, and vitrification. Model simulations were finally validated upon experimental data in terms of the ability of excipients to prevent protein aggregation. Overall, we found that the preferential exclusion and vitrification mechanisms are important during the whole freezing process, while water replacement becomes dominant only toward the end of the cryoconcentration phase. The disaccharides were found to be the most efficient excipients, in regard to both preferential exclusion and water replacement. Moreover, sugars were in general more efficient than other excipients, such as glycine or sorbitol.
Supplemental Immobilization Cast Stone Technology Development and Waste Form Qualification Testing Plan

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Westsik, Joseph H.; Serne, R. Jeffrey; Pierce, Eric M.

2013-05-31

The Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) is being constructed to treat the 56 million gallons of radioactive waste stored in 177 underground tanks at the Hanford Site. The WTP includes a pretreatment facility to separate the wastes into high-level waste (HLW) and low-activity waste (LAW) fractions for vitrification and disposal. The LAW will be converted to glass for final disposal at the Integrated Disposal Facility (IDF). The pretreatment facility will have the capacity to separate all of the tank wastes into the HLW and LAW fractions, and the HLW Vitrification Facility will have the capacity to vitrifymore » all of the HLW. However, a second immobilization facility will be needed for the expected volume of LAW requiring immobilization. A number of alternatives, including Cast Stone—a cementitious waste form—are being considered to provide the additional LAW immobilization capacity.« less
Sodalite as a vehicle to increase Re retention in waste glass simulant during vitrification

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Luksic, Steven A.; Riley, Brian J.; Parker, Kent E.

Technetium retention during Hanford waste vitrification can be increased by inhibiting technetium volatility from the waste glass melter. Incorporating technetium into a mineral phase, such as sodalite, is one way to achieve this. Rhenium-bearing sodalite was tested as a vehicle to transport perrhenate (ReO4-), a nonradioactive surrogate for pertechnetate (TcO4-), into high-level (HLW) and low-activity waste (LAW) glasses. After melting feeds of these two glasses, the retention of rhenium was measured and compared with the rhenium retention in glass prepared from a feed containing Re2O7 as a standard. The rhenium retention was 21% higher for HLW glass and 85% highermore » for LAW glass when added to samples in the form of sodalite as opposed to when it was added as Re2O7, demonstrating the efficacy of this type of an approach.« less
Measurement of Surface Tension of Solid Cu by Improved Multiphase Equilibrium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakamoto, Masashi; Liukkonen, Matti; Friman, Michael; Heikinheimo, Erkki; Hämäläinen, Marko; Holappa, Lauri

2008-08-01

The surface tension of solid Cu was measured with the multiphase equilibrium (MPE) method in a Pb-Cu system at 700 °C, 800 °C, and 900 °C. A special focus was on the measurement of angles involved in MPE. First, the effect of reading error in each angle measurement on the final result of surface tension of solid was simulated. It was found that the two groove measurements under atmosphere conditions are the primary sources of error in the surface tension of solid in the present system. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was applied to these angle measurements as a new method with high accuracy. The obtained surface-tension values of solid Cu in the present work were 1587, 1610, and 1521 mN/m at 700 °C, 800 °C, and 900 °C, respectively, representing reasonable temperature dependence.
Reprogrammable Assembly of Molecular Motor on Solid Surfaces via Dynamic Bonds.

PubMed

Yu, Li; Sun, Jian; Wang, Qian; Guan, Yan; Zhou, Le; Zhang, Jingxuan; Zhang, Lanying; Yang, Huai

2017-06-01

Controllable assembly of molecular motors on solid surfaces is a fundamental issue for providing them to perform physical tasks. However, it can hardly be achieved by most previous methods due to their inherent limitations. Here, a general strategy is designed for the reprogrammable assembly of molecular motors on solid surfaces based on dynamic bonds. In this method, molecular motors with disulfide bonds can be remotely, reversibly, and precisely attached to solid surfaces with disulfide bonds, regardless of their chemical composition and microstructure. More importantly, it not only allows encoding geometric information referring to a pattern of molecular motors, but also enables erasing and re-encoding of geometric information via hemolytic photocleavage and recombination of disulfide bonds. Thus, solid surfaces can be regarded as "computer hardware", where molecular motors can be reformatted and reprogramed as geometric information. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
Solid State Division progress report for period ending September 30, 1984

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Green, P.H.; Watson, D.M.

1985-03-01

During the reporting period, relatively minor changes have occurred in the research areas of interest to the Division. Nearly all the research of the Division can be classified broadly as mission-oriented basic research. Topics covered include: theoretical solid state physics; surface and near-surface properties of solids; defects in solids; transport properties of solids; neutron scattering; and preparation and characterization of research materials. (GHT)
An Investigation of the Effects of Self-Assembled Monolayers on Protein Crystallisation

PubMed Central

Zhang, Chen-Yan; Shen, He-Fang; Wang, Qian-Jin; Guo, Yun-Zhu; He, Jin; Cao, Hui-Ling; Liu, Yong-Ming; Shang, Peng; Yin, Da-Chuan

2013-01-01

Most protein crystallisation begins from heterogeneous nucleation; in practice, crystallisation typically occurs in the presence of a solid surface in the solution. The solid surface provides a nucleation site such that the energy barrier for nucleation is lower on the surface than in the bulk solution. Different types of solid surfaces exhibit different surface energies, and the nucleation barriers depend on the characteristics of the solid surfaces. Therefore, treatment of the solid surface may alter the surface properties to increase the chance to obtain protein crystals. In this paper, we propose a method to modify the glass cover slip using a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of functional groups (methyl, sulfydryl and amino), and we investigated the effect of each SAM on protein crystallisation. The results indicated that both crystallisation success rate in a reproducibility study, and crystallisation hits in a crystallisation screening study, were increased using the SAMs, among which, the methyl-modified SAM demonstrated the most significant improvement. These results illustrated that directly modifying the crystallisation plates or glass cover slips to create surfaces that favour heterogeneous nucleation can be potentially useful in practical protein crystallisation, and the utilisation of a SAM containing a functional group can be considered a promising technique for the treatment of the surfaces that will directly contact the crystallisation solution. PMID:23749116
Solid surface vs. liquid surface: nanoarchitectonics, molecular machines, and DNA origami.

PubMed

Ariga, Katsuhiko; Mori, Taizo; Nakanishi, Waka; Hill, Jonathan P

2017-09-13

The investigation of molecules and materials at interfaces is critical for the accumulation of new scientific insights and technological advances in the chemical and physical sciences. Immobilization on solid surfaces permits the investigation of different properties of functional molecules or materials with high sensitivity and high spatial resolution. Liquid surfaces also present important media for physicochemical innovation and insight based on their great flexibility and dynamicity, rapid diffusion of molecular components for mixing and rearrangements, as well as drastic spatial variation in the prevailing dielectric environment. Therefore, a comparative discussion of the relative merits of the properties of materials when positioned at solid or liquid surfaces would be informative regarding present-to-future developments of surface-based technologies. In this perspective article, recent research examples of nanoarchitectonics, molecular machines, DNA nanotechnology, and DNA origami are compared with respect to the type of surface used, i.e. solid surfaces vs. liquid surfaces, for future perspectives of interfacial physics and chemistry.
Stack configurations for tubular solid oxide fuel cells

DOEpatents

Armstrong, Timothy R.; Trammell, Michael P.; Marasco, Joseph A.

2010-08-31

A fuel cell unit includes an array of solid oxide fuel cell tubes having porous metallic exterior surfaces, interior fuel cell layers, and interior surfaces, each of the tubes having at least one open end; and, at least one header in operable communication with the array of solid oxide fuel cell tubes for directing a first reactive gas into contact with the porous metallic exterior surfaces and for directing a second reactive gas into contact with the interior surfaces, the header further including at least one busbar disposed in electrical contact with at least one surface selected from the group consisting of the porous metallic exterior surfaces and the interior surfaces.
Surface Premelting Coupled with Bulk Phase Transitions in Colloidal Crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Bo; Wang, Feng; Zhou, Di; Cao, Xin; Peng, Yi; Ni, Ran; Liao, Maijia; Han, Yilong

2015-03-01

Colloids have been used as outstanding model systems for the studies of various phase transitions in bulk, but not at interface yet. Here we obtained equilibrium crystal-vapor interfaces using tunable attractive colloidal spheres and studied the surface premelting at the single-particle level by video microscopy. We found that monolayer crystals exhibit a bulk isostructural solid-solid transition which triggers the surface premelting. The premelting is incomplete due to the interruption of a mechanical-instability-induced bulk melting. By contrast, two- or multilayer crystals do not have the solid-solid transition and the mechanical instability, hence they exhibit complete premelting with divergent surface-liquid thickness. These novel interplays between bulk and surface phase transitions cast new lights for both types of transitions.
Theoretical Foundation of Zisman's Empirical Equation for Wetting of Liquids on Solid Surfaces

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhu, Ruzeng; Cui, Shuwen; Wang, Xiaosong

2010-01-01

Theories of wetting of liquids on solid surfaces under the condition that van der Waals force is dominant are briefly reviewed. We show theoretically that Zisman's empirical equation for wetting of liquids on solid surfaces is a linear approximation of the Young-van der Waals equation in the wetting region, and we express the two parameters in…
Wear and interfacial transport of material

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buckley, D. H.

1975-01-01

Bonding across the interface for two solids in contact and the subsequent transfer of material from one surface to another is a direct result of the interfacial bonds being stronger than the cohesive bonds in either of the two solids. Surface tools such as LEED, Auger emission spectroscopy, field ion microscopy, and the atom probe are used to examine adhesive contacts and to determine the direction, nature, quantity of material transfer and properties of the solids which effect transfer and wear. The electronic nature, cohesive binding energies, surface structure, lattice disregistry and distribution of species in surface layers are all found to effect adhesion and transfer or transport for clean surfaces in solid state contact. The influence of adsorbed and reacted surface films from fractions of a monolayer to multilayer reactive films are considered. It is shown that even fractions of a monolayer of surface active species such as oxygen and sulfur can markedly inhibit adhesion and transport.
Surface Defects Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic H2 Production for Zn-Cd-S Solid Solution.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaoyan; Zhao, Zhao; Zhang, Wanwan; Zhang, Guoqiang; Qu, Dan; Miao, Xiang; Sun, Shaorui; Sun, Zaicheng

2016-02-10

In order to investigate the defect effect on photocatalytic performance of the visible light photocatalyst, Zn-Cd-S solid solution with surface defects is prepared in the hydrazine hydrate. X-ray photoelectron spectra and photoluminescence results confirm the existence of defects, such as sulfur vacancies, interstitial metal, and Zn and Cd in the low valence state on the top surface of solid solutions. The surface defects can be effectively removed by treating with sulfur vapor. The solid solution with surface defect exhibits a narrower band gap, wider light absorption range, and better photocatalytic perfomance. The optimized solid solution with defects exhibits 571 μmol h(-1) for 50 mg photocatalyst without loading Pt as cocatalyst under visible light irradiation, which is fourfold better than that of sulfur vapor treated samples. The wavelength dependence of photocatalytic activity discloses that the enhancement happens at each wavelength within the whole absorption range. The theoretical calculation shows that the surface defects induce the conduction band minimum and valence band maximum shift downward and upward, respectively. This constructs a type I junction between bulk and surface of solid solution, which promotes the migration of photogenerated charges toward the surface of nanostructure and leads to enhanced photocatalytic activity. Thus a new method to construct highly efficient visible light photocatalysts is opened. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
Amorphization and thermal stability of aluminum-based nanoparticles prepared from the rapid cooling of nanodroplets: effect of iron addition.

PubMed

Xiao, Shifang; Li, Xiaofan; Deng, Huiqiu; Deng, Lei; Hu, Wangyu

2015-03-07

Despite an intensive investigation on bimetallic nanoparticles, little attention has been paid to their amorphization in the past few decades. The study of amorphization on a nanoscale is of considerable significance for the preparation of amorphous nanoparticles and bulk metallic glass. Herein, we pursue the amorphization process of Al-based nanoparticles with classic molecular dynamics simulations and local structural analysis techniques. By a comparative study of the amorphization of pure Al and Fe-doped Al-based nanodroplets in the course of rapid cooling, we find that Fe addition plays a very important role in the vitrification of Al-based nanodroplets. Owing to the subsurface segregated Fe atoms with their nearest neighbors tending to form relatively stable icosahedral (ICO) clusters, the Fe-centred cluster network near the surface effectively suppresses the crystallization of droplets from surface nucleation and growth as the concentration of Fe attains a certain value. The glass formation ability of nanodroplets is suggested to be enhanced by the high intrinsic inner pressure as a result of small size and surface tension, combined with the dopant-inhibited surface nucleation. In addition, the effect of the size and the added concentration of nanoparticles on amorphization and the thermal stability of the amorphous nanoparticles are discussed. Our findings reveal the amorphization mechanism in Fe-doped Al-based nanoparticles and provide a theoretical guidance for the design of amorphous materials.
The mechanical problems on additive manufacturing of viscoelastic solids with integral conditions on a surface increasing in the growth process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parshin, D. A.; Manzhirov, A. V.

2018-04-01

Quasistatic mechanical problems on additive manufacturing aging viscoelastic solids are investigated. The processes of piecewise-continuous accretion of such solids are considered. The consideration is carried out in the framework of linear mechanics of growing solids. A theorem about commutativity of the integration over an arbitrary surface increasing in the solid growing process and the time-derived integral operator of viscoelasticity with a limit depending on the solid point is proved. This theorem provides an efficient way to construct on the basis of Saint-Venant principle solutions of nonclassical boundary-value problems for describing the mechanical behaviour of additively formed solids with integral satisfaction of boundary conditions on the surfaces expanding due to the additional material influx to the formed solid. The constructed solutions will retrace the evolution of the stress-strain state of the solids under consideration during and after the processes of their additive formation. An example of applying the proved theorem is given.

Solids-based concentrated solar power receiver

DOEpatents

None

2018-04-10

A concentrated solar power (CSP) system includes channels arranged to convey a flowing solids medium descending under gravity. The channels form a light-absorbing surface configured to absorb solar flux from a heliostat field. The channels may be independently supported, for example by suspension, and gaps between the channels are sized to accommodate thermal expansion. The light absorbing surface may be sloped so that the inside surfaces of the channels proximate to the light absorbing surface define downward-slanting channel floors, and the flowing solids medium flows along these floors. Baffles may be disposed inside the channels and oriented across the direction of descent of the flowing solids medium. The channels may include wedge-shaped walls forming the light-absorbing surface and defining multiple-reflection light paths for solar flux from the heliostat field incident on the light-absorbing surface.
Cryoprotectants and their components induce plasmolytic responses in sweet potato suspension cells

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Plant genebanks often use cryopreservation to securely conserve clonally propagated collections. Shoot tip cryopreservation procedures may employ vitrification techniques whereby highly concentrated solutions remove water and prevent ice crystallization, ensuring survival after liquid nitrogen expos...
SITE - DEMONSTRATION BULLETIN - MINERGY GLASS FURNACE TECHNOLOGY - MINERGY CORPORATION

EPA Science Inventory

The Glass Furnace Technology (GFT) was developed by Minergy Corporation (Minergy), of Waukesha, Wisconsin. Minergy originally developed vitrification technologies to process wastewater sludge into glass aggregate that could be sold as a commercial product. Minergy modified a st...
Slanted baffle mist eliminator

DOEpatents

Vance, Richard F.

1995-11-07

An apparatus for the elimination of mist from off-gas during vitrification f nuclear waste, where baffles are installed on a slant toward the flow of the off-gasses eliminating the need to expand the cross-sectional area of the duct size.
Effects of Different Maturation Systems on Bovine Oocyte Quality, Plasma Membrane Phospholipid Composition and Resistance to Vitrification and Warming.

PubMed

Sprícigo, José F W; Diógenes, Mateus N; Leme, Ligiane O; Guimarães, Ana L; Muterlle, Carolle V; Silva, Bianca Damiani Marques; Solà-Oriol, David; Pivato, Ivo; Silva, Luciano Paulino; Dode, Margot A N

2015-01-01

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different maturation systems on oocyte resistance after vitrification and on the phospholipid profile of the oocyte plasma membrane (PM). Four different maturation systems were tested: 1) in vitro maturation using immature oocytes aspirated from slaughterhouse ovaries (CONT; n = 136); 2) in vitro maturation using immature oocytes obtained by ovum pick-up (OPU) from unstimulated heifers (IMA; n = 433); 3) in vitro maturation using immature oocytes obtained by OPU from stimulated heifers (FSH; n = 444); and 4) in vivo maturation using oocytes obtained from heifers stimulated 24 hours prior by an injection of GnRH (MII; n = 658). A sample of matured oocytes from each fresh group was analyzed by matrix associated laser desorption-ionization (MALDI-TOF) to determine their PM composition. Then, half of the matured oocytes from each group were vitrified/warmed (CONT VIT, IMA VIT, FSH VIT and MII VIT), while the other half were used as fresh controls. Afterwards, the eight groups underwent IVF and IVC, and blastocyst development was assessed at D2, D7 and D8. A chi-square test was used to compare embryo development between the groups. Corresponding phospholipid ion intensity was expressed in arbitrary units, and following principal components analyses (PCA) the data were distributed on a 3D graph. Oocytes obtained from superstimulated animals showed a greater rate of developmental (P<0.05) at D7 (MII = 62.4±17.5% and FSH = 58.8±16.1%) compared to those obtained from unstimulated animals (CONT = 37.9±8.5% and IMA = 50.6±14.4%). However, the maturation system did not affect the resistance of oocytes to vitrification because the blastocyst rate at D7 was similar (P>0.05) for all groups (CONT VIT = 2.8±3.5%, IMA VIT = 2.9±4.0%, FSH VIT = 4.3±7.2% and MII VIT = 3.6±7.2%). MALDI-TOF revealed that oocytes from all maturation groups had similar phospholipid contents, except for 760.6 ([PC (34:1) + H]+), which was more highly expressed in MII compared to FSH (P<0.05). The results suggest that although maturation systems improve embryonic development, they do not change the PM composition nor the resistance of bovine oocytes to vitrification.
Effects of Different Maturation Systems on Bovine Oocyte Quality, Plasma Membrane Phospholipid Composition and Resistance to Vitrification and Warming

PubMed Central

Sprícigo, José F. W.; Diógenes, Mateus N.; Leme, Ligiane O.; Guimarães, Ana L.; Muterlle, Carolle V.; Silva, Bianca Damiani Marques; Solà-Oriol, David; Pivato, Ivo; Silva, Luciano Paulino; Dode, Margot A. N.

2015-01-01

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different maturation systems on oocyte resistance after vitrification and on the phospholipid profile of the oocyte plasma membrane (PM). Four different maturation systems were tested: 1) in vitro maturation using immature oocytes aspirated from slaughterhouse ovaries (CONT; n = 136); 2) in vitro maturation using immature oocytes obtained by ovum pick-up (OPU) from unstimulated heifers (IMA; n = 433); 3) in vitro maturation using immature oocytes obtained by OPU from stimulated heifers (FSH; n = 444); and 4) in vivo maturation using oocytes obtained from heifers stimulated 24 hours prior by an injection of GnRH (MII; n = 658). A sample of matured oocytes from each fresh group was analyzed by matrix associated laser desorption-ionization (MALDI-TOF) to determine their PM composition. Then, half of the matured oocytes from each group were vitrified/warmed (CONT VIT, IMA VIT, FSH VIT and MII VIT), while the other half were used as fresh controls. Afterwards, the eight groups underwent IVF and IVC, and blastocyst development was assessed at D2, D7 and D8. A chi-square test was used to compare embryo development between the groups. Corresponding phospholipid ion intensity was expressed in arbitrary units, and following principal components analyses (PCA) the data were distributed on a 3D graph. Oocytes obtained from superstimulated animals showed a greater rate of developmental (P<0.05) at D7 (MII = 62.4±17.5% and FSH = 58.8±16.1%) compared to those obtained from unstimulated animals (CONT = 37.9±8.5% and IMA = 50.6±14.4%). However, the maturation system did not affect the resistance of oocytes to vitrification because the blastocyst rate at D7 was similar (P>0.05) for all groups (CONT VIT = 2.8±3.5%, IMA VIT = 2.9±4.0%, FSH VIT = 4.3±7.2% and MII VIT = 3.6±7.2%). MALDI-TOF revealed that oocytes from all maturation groups had similar phospholipid contents, except for 760.6 ([PC (34:1) + H]+), which was more highly expressed in MII compared to FSH (P<0.05). The results suggest that although maturation systems improve embryonic development, they do not change the PM composition nor the resistance of bovine oocytes to vitrification. PMID:26107169
Developmental competence of mature yak vitrified-warmed oocytes is enhanced by IGF-I via modulation of CIRP during in vitro maturation.

PubMed

Pan, Yangyang; Cui, Yan; He, Honghong; Baloch, Abdul Rasheed; Fan, Jiangfeng; Xu, Gengquan; He, Junfeng; Yang, Kun; Li, Guyue; Yu, Sijiu

2015-12-01

The objective of this study was to investigate whether developmental competence of mature vitrified-warmed yak (Bos grunniens) oocytes can be enhanced by supplemented insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) during in vitro maturation (IVM), and its relationship with the expression of cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP). In experiment 1, immature yak oocytes were divided into four groups, and IVM supplemented with 0, 50, 100 and 200 ng/mL IGF-1 was evaluated; the mRNA and protein expression levels of CIRP in mature oocytes in the four groups were evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting analyses. In experiment 2, the mature yak oocytes in the four groups were cryopreserved using the Cryotop (CT) method, followed by chemical activation and in vitro culture for two days and eight days to determine cleavage, blastocyst rates, and total cell number in the blastocysts. Mature yak oocytes without vitrification served as a control group. The outcomes were as following: (1) the expression of CIRP in the matured oocytes was up-regulated in the IGF-1 groups and was highest expression was observed in the 100 ng/mL IGF-1 treatment group. (2) In the vitrified-warmed groups, the rates of cleavage and blastocyst were also highest in the 100 ng/mL IGF-1 treatment group (81.04 ± 1.06%% and 32.16 ± 1.01%), which were close to the rates observed in groups without vitrification (83.25 ± 0.85% and 32.54 ± 0.34%). The rates of cleavage and blastocyst in the other vitrified-warmed groups were 70.92 ± 1.32% and 27.33 ± 1.31% (0 ng/mL); 72.73 ± 0.74% and 29.41 ± 0.84% (50 ng/mL); 72.43 ± 0.61% and 27.61 ± 0.59% (200 ng/mL), respectively. There was no significant difference in the total cell number per blastocysts between the vitrified-warmed groups and group without vitrification. Thus, we conclude that the enhancement in developmental competence of mature yak vitrified-warmed oocytes after the addition of IGF-1 during IVM might result from the regulation of CIRP expression in mature yak oocytes prior to vitrification. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Hanford’s Supplemental Treatment Project: Full-Scale Integrated Testing of In-Container-Vitrification and a 10,000-Liter Dryer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Witwer, Keith S.; Dysland, Eric J.; Garfield, J. S.

2008-02-22

The GeoMelt® In-Container Vitrification™ (ICV™) process was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 2004 for further evaluation as the supplemental treatment technology for Hanford’s low-activity waste (LAW). Also referred to as “bulk vitrification,” this process combines glass forming minerals, LAW, and chemical amendments; dries the mixture; and then vitrifies the material in a refractory-lined steel container. AMEC Nuclear Ltd. (AMEC) is adapting its GeoMelt ICV™ technology for this application with technical and analytical support from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). The DVBS project is funded by the DOE Office of River Protection and administered by CH2M HILLmore » Hanford Group, Inc. The Demonstration Bulk Vitrification Project (DBVS) was initiated to engineer, construct, and operate a full-scale bulk vitrification pilot-plant to treat up to 750,000 liters of LAW from Waste Tank 241-S-109 at the DOE Hanford Site. Since the beginning of the DBVS project in 2004, testing has used laboratory, crucible-scale, and engineering-scale equipment to help establish process limitations of selected glass formulations and identify operational issues. Full-scale testing has provided critical design verification of the ICV™ process before operating the Hanford pilot-plant. In 2007, the project’s fifth full-scale test, called FS-38D, (also known as the Integrated Dryer Melter Test, or IDMT,) was performed. This test had three primary objectives: 1) Demonstrate the simultaneous and integrated operation of the ICV™ melter with a 10,000-liter dryer, 2) Demonstrate the effectiveness of a new feed reformulation and change in process methodology towards reducing the production and migration of molten ionic salts (MIS), and, 3) Demonstrate that an acceptable glass product is produced under these conditions. Testing was performed from August 8 to 17, 2007. Process and analytical results demonstrated that the primary test objectives, along with a dozen supporting objectives, were successfully met. Glass performance exceeded all disposal performance criteria. A previous issue with MIS containment was successfully resolved in FS-38D, and the ICV™ melter was integrated with a full-scale, 10,000-liter dryer. This paper describes the rationale for performing the test, the purpose and outcome of scale-up tests preceding it, and the performance and outcome of FS-38D.« less
Homogeneity testing and quantitative analysis of manganese (Mn) in vitrified Mn-doped glasses by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Unnikrishnan, V. K.; Nayak, Rajesh; Kartha, V. B.

2014-09-15

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), an atomic emission spectroscopy method, has rapidly grown as one of the best elemental analysis techniques over the past two decades. Homogeneity testing and quantitative analysis of manganese (Mn) in manganese-doped glasses have been carried out using an optimized LIBS system employing a nanosecond ultraviolet Nd:YAG laser as the source of excitation. The glass samples have been prepared using conventional vitrification methods. The laser pulse irradiance on the surface of the glass samples placed in air at atmospheric pressure was about 1.7×10{sup 9} W/cm{sup 2}. The spatially integrated plasma emission was collected and imaged on tomore » the spectrograph slit using an optical-fiber-based collection system. Homogeneity was checked by recording LIBS spectra from different sites on the sample surface and analyzing the elemental emission intensities for concentration determination. Validation of the observed LIBS results was done by comparison with scanning electron microscope- energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) surface elemental mapping. The analytical performance of the LIBS system has been evaluated through the correlation of the LIBS determined concentrations of Mn with its certified values. The results are found to be in very good agreement with the certified concentrations.« less
System Description for Tank 241-AZ-101 Waste Retrieval Data Acquisition System

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

ROMERO, S.G.

2000-02-14

The proposed activity provides the description of the Data Acquisition System for Tank 241-AZ-101. This description is documented in HNF-5572, Tank 241-AZ-101 Waste Retrieval Data Acquisition System (DAS). This activity supports the planned mixer pump tests for Tank 241-AZ-101. Tank 241-AZ-101 has been selected for the first full-scale demonstration of a mixer pump system. The tank currently holds over 960,000 gallons of neutralized current acid waste, including approximately 12.7 inches of settling solids (sludge) at the bottom of the tank. As described in Addendum 4 of the FSAR (LMHC 2000a), two 300 HP mixer pumps with associated measurement and monitoringmore » equipment have been installed in Tank 241-AZ-101. The purpose of the Tank 241-AZ-101 retrieval system Data Acquisition System (DAS) is to provide monitoring and data acquisition of key parameters in order to confirm the effectiveness of the mixer pumps utilized for suspending solids in the tank. The suspension of solids in Tank 241-AZ-101 is necessary for pretreatment of the neutralized current acid waste and eventual disposal as glass via the Hanford Waste Vitrification Plant. HNF-5572 provides a basic description of the Tank 241-AZ-101 retrieval system DAS, including the field instrumentation and application software. The DAS is provided to fulfill requirements for data collection and monitoring. This document is not an operations procedure or is it intended to describe the mixing operation. This USQ screening provides evaluation of HNF-5572 (Revision 1) including the changes as documented on ECN 654001. The changes include (1) add information on historical trending and data backup, (2) modify DAS I/O list in Appendix E to reflect actual conditions in the field, and (3) delete IP address in Appendix F per Lockheed Martin Services, Inc. request.« less
Tunable molten oxide pool assisted plasma-melter vitrification systems

DOEpatents

Titus, Charles H.; Cohn, Daniel R.; Surma, Jeffrey E.

1998-01-01

The present invention provides tunable waste conversion systems and apparatus which have the advantage of highly robust operation and which provide complete or substantially complete conversion of a wide range of waste streams into useful gas and a stable, nonleachable solid product at a single location with greatly reduced air pollution to meet air quality standards. The systems provide the capability for highly efficient conversion of waste into high quality combustible gas and for high efficiency conversion of the gas into electricity by utilizing a high efficiency gas turbine or an internal combustion engine. The solid product can be suitable for various commercial applications. Alternatively, the solid product stream, which is a safe, stable material, may be disposed of without special considerations as hazardous material. In the preferred embodiment, the arc plasma furnace and joule heated melter are formed as a fully integrated unit with a common melt pool having circuit arrangements for the simultaneous independently controllable operation of both the arc plasma and the joule heated portions of the unit without interference with one another. The preferred configuration of this embodiment of the invention utilizes two arc plasma electrodes with an elongated chamber for the molten pool such that the molten pool is capable of providing conducting paths between electrodes. The apparatus may additionally be employed with reduced use or without further use of the gases generated by the conversion process. The apparatus may be employed as a net energy or net electricity producing unit where use of an auxiliary fuel provides the required level of electricity production. Methods and apparatus for converting metals, non-glass forming waste streams and low-ash producing inorganics into a useful gas are also provided. The methods and apparatus for such conversion include the use of a molten oxide pool having predetermined electrical, thermal and physical characteristics capable of maintaining optimal joule heating and glass forming properties during the conversion process.
PHOTONICS AND NANOTECHNOLOGY Laser generation of nanostructures on the surface and in the bulk of solids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bityurin, N. M.

2010-12-01

This paper considers nanostructuring of solid surfaces by nano-optical techniques, primarily by laser particle nanolithography. Threshold processes are examined that can be used for laser structuring of solid surfaces, with particular attention to laser swelling of materials. Fundamental spatial resolution issues in three-dimensional (3D) laser nanostructuring are analysed with application to laser nanopolymerisation and 3D optical information recording. The formation of nanostructures in the bulk of solids due to their structural instability under irradiation is exemplified by photoinduced formation of nanocomposites.
Cryopreservation of rabbit semen: comparing the effects of different cryoprotectants, cryoprotectant-free vitrification, and the use of albumin plus osmoprotectants on sperm survival and fertility after standard vapor freezing and vitrification.

PubMed

Rosato, Maria Pina; Iaffaldano, Nicolaia

2013-02-01

This study was designed to improve current freezing protocols for rabbit sperm by examining: (1) the toxicity of different permeable cryoprotectants (CPAs) used for standard vapor freezing (conventional freezing); (2) the feasibility of ultrarapid nonequilibrium freezing (vitrification) of sperm in the absence of permeating CPAs; and (3), the addition of bovine serum albumin (BSA), alone or with sucrose or trehalose as osmoprotectants. First, we evaluated the effects on sperm motility of the incubation time (5 to 60 minutes) with different final concentrations (5% to 20%) of glycerol, N-N-dimethylacetamide, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and methanol. N-N-dimethylacetamide (5%) and DMSO (5% and 10%) showed the least toxic effects; the use of 10% DMSO producing the best postthaw sperm motility and membrane integrity results (P < 0.05) after conventional freezing. For vitrification, semen was diluted in the absence of permeable CPAs and frozen by dropping semen directly in liquid nitrogen. However, this led to the low or null cryosurvival of sperm postvitrification (0.16 ± 0.4%, 1.8 ± 1.6%, and 94.5 ± 1.4% of motile, membrane-, and DNA-intact sperm cells, respectively). To assess the effects of albumin and osmoprotectants on sperm cryosurvival, sperm was conventionally frozen with 10% DMSO or vitrified in the absence of permeable CPAs without or with 0.5% BSA alone or combined with sucrose or trehalose (range, 0-0.25 M). In the conventional freezing procedure, the addition of BSA alone failed to improve sperm cryosurvival, however, in the presence of BSA plus either sucrose or trehalose, the postthaw motility (using 0.1 M sucrose or trehalose) and DNA integrity (using all additive concentrations) of sperm were significantly better (P < 0.05) than control. Higher numbers of motile and membrane-intact cells were observed when semen was vitrified with BSA alone or with BSA and sucrose (0.1 and 0.25 M) or BSA and trehalose (0.25 M) and a best recovery of DNA-intact sperm was recorded for BSA plus sucrose compared with semen vitrified without osmoprotectants (P < 0.05). Finally, the cryodiluent combinations BSA/sucrose and BSA/trehalose were compared in an insemination trial. Rabbit does were inseminated with fresh semen (N = 56), semen conventionally cryopreserved in the BSA-based cryodiluents containing 0.1 M sucrose or trehalose (N = 56 per group), or semen vitrified in the presence of 0.25 M sucrose or trehalose (N = 8 per group). Fertility rates and live born kids were similar for semen cryopreserved with BSA/sucrose (77% and 7.6) compared with fresh semen (84% and 8.1) and significantly higher than the figures recorded for the conventionally frozen semen in the BSA/trehalose group (52% and 6.1; P ≤ 0.05). In contrast, only one doe inseminated with semen vitrified in the presence of BSA/sucrose became pregnant, though no kids were delivered. The conclusions to be drawn from our study are: (1) incubation times and concentration toxicities established for the main permeable CPAs used for conventional freezing of rabbit sperm indicated that DMSO 10% was the least damaging; (2) CPA-free vitrification of rabbit semen led to a low or null sperm cryosurvival; and (3) enriching the freezing medium with BSA plus adequate amounts of sucrose or trehalose can improve the cryosurvival of rabbit sperm after conventional freezing or vitrification. In our working conditions, BSA/sucrose was more effective than BSA/trehalose at preserving the in vivo fertilization capacity of rabbit sperm cryopreserved using the standard procedure. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Tribology experiment in zero gravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pan, C. H. T.; Gause, R. L.; Whitaker, A. F.

1984-01-01

A tribology experiment in zero gravity was performed during the orbital flight of Spacelab 1 to study the motion of liquid lubricants over solid surfaces. The absence of a significant gravitational force facilitates studies of the motion of liquid lubricants over solid surfaces as controlled by interfacial and capillary forces. Observations were made of phenomena associated with the liquid on one solid surface and also with the liquid between a pair of closely spaced surfaces. Typical photographic records obtained on Spacelab 1 are described.
Enhanced 99Tc retention in glass waste form using Tc(IV)-incorporated Fe minerals

DOE PAGES

Um, Wooyong; Luksic, Steven A.; Wang, Guohui; ...

2017-09-07

We present that technetium ( 99Tc) immobilization by doping into iron oxide mineral phases may alleviate the problems with Tc volatility during vitrification of nuclear waste. Because reduced Tc, Tc(IV), substitutes for Fe(III) in the crystal structure by a process of Tc reduction from Tc(VII) to Tc(IV) followed by co-precipitation of Fe oxide minerals, two Tc-incorporated Fe minerals (Tc-goethite and Tc-magnetite/maghemite) were prepared and tested for Tc retention in glass melt samples at temperatures between 600 and 1000 °C. After being cooled, the solid glass specimens prepared at different temperatures at 600, 800, and 1000 °C were analyzed for Tcmore » oxidation state using Tc K-edge XANES. In most samples, Tc was partially (<60%) oxidized from Tc(IV) to Tc(VII) as the melt temperature increased up to 600 °C. However, most of Tc(IV) was completely (>95%) oxidized to Tc(VII) at temperature above 800 °C. Tc retention in glass melt samples prepared using Tc-incorporated Fe minerals were slightly higher (~10%) than in glass prepared using KTcO4 because of limited and delayed Tc volatilization.« less
Enhanced 99Tc retention in glass waste form using Tc(IV)-incorporated Fe minerals

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Um, Wooyong; Luksic, Steven A.; Wang, Guohui

We present that technetium ( 99Tc) immobilization by doping into iron oxide mineral phases may alleviate the problems with Tc volatility during vitrification of nuclear waste. Because reduced Tc, Tc(IV), substitutes for Fe(III) in the crystal structure by a process of Tc reduction from Tc(VII) to Tc(IV) followed by co-precipitation of Fe oxide minerals, two Tc-incorporated Fe minerals (Tc-goethite and Tc-magnetite/maghemite) were prepared and tested for Tc retention in glass melt samples at temperatures between 600 and 1000 °C. After being cooled, the solid glass specimens prepared at different temperatures at 600, 800, and 1000 °C were analyzed for Tcmore » oxidation state using Tc K-edge XANES. In most samples, Tc was partially (<60%) oxidized from Tc(IV) to Tc(VII) as the melt temperature increased up to 600 °C. However, most of Tc(IV) was completely (>95%) oxidized to Tc(VII) at temperature above 800 °C. Tc retention in glass melt samples prepared using Tc-incorporated Fe minerals were slightly higher (~10%) than in glass prepared using KTcO4 because of limited and delayed Tc volatilization.« less
High temperature lubricating process

DOEpatents

Taylor, R.W.; Shell, T.E.

1979-10-04

It has been difficult to provide adequate lubrication for load bearing, engine components when such engines are operating in excess of about 475/sup 0/C. The present invention is a process for providing a solid lubricant on a load bearing, solid surface, such as in an engine being operated at temperatures in excess of about 475/sup 0/C. The process comprises contacting and maintaining the following steps: a gas phase is provided which includes at least one component reactable in a temperature dependent reaction to form a solid lubricant; the gas phase is contacted with the load bearing surface; the load bearing surface is maintained at a temperature which causes reaction of the gas phase component and the formation of the solid lubricant; and the solid lubricant is formed directly on the load bearing surface. The method is particularly suitable for use with ceramic engines.
High temperature lubricating process

DOEpatents

Taylor, Robert W.; Shell, Thomas E.

1982-01-01

It has been difficult to provide adaquate lubrication for load bearing, engine components when such engines are operating in excess of about 475.degree. C. The present invention is a process for providing a solid lubricant on a load bearing, solid surface (14), such as in an engine (10) being operated at temperatures in excess of about 475.degree. C. The process comprises contacting and maintaining steps. A gas phase (42) is provided which includes at least one component reactable in a temperature dependent reaction to form a solid lubricant. The gas phase is contacted with the load bearing surface. The load bearing surface is maintained at a temperature which causes reaction of the gas phase component and the formation of the solid lubricant. The solid lubricant is formed directly on the load bearing surface. The method is particularly suitable for use with ceramic engines.
Solid and liquid Equation of state for initially porous aluminum where specific heat is constant

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Forbes, Jerry W.; Lemar, E. R.; Brown, Mary

2011-06-01

A porous solid's initial state is off the thermodynamic surface of the non-porous solid to start with but when pressure is high enough to cause total pore collapse or crush up, then the final states are on the condensed matter thermodynamic surfaces. The Hugoniot for the fully compacted solid is above the Principle Hugoniot with pressure, temperature and internal energy increased at a given v. There are a number of ways to define this hotter Hugoniot, which can be referenced to other thermodynamic paths on this thermodynamic surface. The choice here was to use the Vinet isotherm to define a consistent thermodynamic surface for the solid and melt phase of 6061 aluminum where specific heat is constant for the P-v-T space of interest. Analytical equations are developed for PH and TH.
2013 Chemical reactions at surfaces. Surfaces in Energy and the Environment. Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Seminar (April 28 - May 3, 2013 - Les Diablerets, Switzerland)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stair, Peter C.

presentations on chemistry at solid and liquid surfaces of relevance to catalysis, synthesis, photochemistry, environmental science, and tribology. Topics include: Fundamental Surface Chemistry; Catalysis; Solid Liquid and Aerosol Interfaces; Surface Photochemistry; Synthesis of Surfaces; Environmental Interfaces; Hot Topics in Surface Chemical Reactions; Tribology; Gas-Surface Scattering and Reactions; Novel Materials and Environments.

Atomistic modelling of evaporation and explosive boiling of thin film liquid argon over internally recessed nanostructured surface

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hasan, Mohammad Nasim, E-mail: nasim@me.buet.ac.bd.com; Shavik, Sheikh Mohammad, E-mail: shavik@me.buet.ac.bd.com; Rabbi, Kazi Fazle, E-mail: rabbi35.me10@gmail.com

2016-07-12

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been carried out to investigate evaporation and explosive boiling phenomena of thin film liquid argon on nanostructured solid surface with emphasis on the effect of solid-liquid interfacial wettability. The nanostructured surface considered herein consists of trapezoidal internal recesses of the solid platinum wall. The wetting conditions of the solid surface were assumed such that it covers both the hydrophilic and hydrophobic conditions and hence effect of interfacial wettability on resulting evaporation and boiling phenomena was the main focus of this study. The initial configuration of the simulation domain comprised of a three phase system (solidmore » platinum, liquid argon and vapor argon) on which equilibrium molecular dynamics (EMD) was performed to reach equilibrium state at 90 K. After equilibrium of the three-phase system was established, the wall was set to different temperatures (130 K and 250 K for the case of evaporation and explosive boiling respectively) to perform non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD). The variation of temperature and density as well as the variation of system pressure with respect to time were closely monitored for each case. The heat flux normal to the solid surface was also calculated to illustrate the effectiveness of heat transfer for hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces in cases of both nanostructured surface and flat surface. The results obtained show that both the wetting condition of the surface and the presence of internal recesses have significant effect on normal evaporation and explosive boiling of the thin liquid film. The heat transfer from solid to liquid in cases of surface with recesses are higher compared to flat surface without recesses. Also the surface with higher wettability (hydrophilic) provides more favorable conditions for boiling than the low-wetting surface (hydrophobic) and therefore, liquid argon responds quickly and shifts from liquid to vapor phase faster in case of hydrophilic surface. The heat transfer rate is also much higher in case of hydrophilic surface.« less
Effect of large deformation and surface stiffening on the transmission of a line load on a neo-Hookean half space.

PubMed

Wu, Haibin; Liu, Zezhou; Jagota, Anand; Hui, Chung-Yuen

2018-03-07

A line force acting on a soft elastic solid, say due to the surface tension of a liquid drop, can cause significant deformation and the formation of a kink close to the point of force application. Analysis based on linearized elasticity theory shows that sufficiently close to its point of application, the force is borne entirely by the surface stress, not by the elasticity of the substrate; this local balance of three forces is called Neumann's triangle. However, it is not difficult to imagine realistic properties for which this force balance cannot be satisfied. For example, if the line force corresponds to surface tension of water, the numerical values of (unstretched) solid-vapor and solid-liquid surface stresses can easily be such that their sum is insufficient to balance the applied force. In such cases conventional (or naïve) Neumann's triangle of surface forces must break down. Here we study how force balance is rescued from the breakdown of naïve Neumann's triangle by a combination of (a) large hyperelastic deformations of the underlying bulk solid, and (b) increase in surface stress due to surface elasticity (surface stiffening). For a surface with constant surface stress (no surface stiffening), we show that the linearized theory remains accurate if the applied force is less than about 1.3 times the solid surface stress. For a surface in which the surface stress increases linearly with the surface stretch, we find that the Neumann's triangle construction works well as long as we replace the constant surface stress in the naïve Neumann triangle by the actual surface stress underneath the line load.
APPLICATIONS ANALYSIS REPORT: BABCOCK AND WILCOX CYCLONE FURNACE

EPA Science Inventory

This document is an evaluation of the performance of the Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) Cyclone Furnace Vitrification Technology and its applicability as a treatment technique for soils contaminated with heavy metals, radionuclides, and organics. oth the technical and economic aspects of...
The role of surface ligands in determining the electronic properties of quantum dot solids and their impact on photovoltaic figure of merits.

PubMed

Goswami, Prasenjit N; Mandal, Debranjan; Rath, Arup K

2018-01-18

Surface chemistry plays a crucial role in determining the electronic properties of quantum dot solids and may well be the key to mitigate loss processes involved in quantum dot solar cells. Surface ligands help to maintain the shape and size of the individual dots in solid films, to preserve the clean energy band gap of the individual particles and to control charge carrier conduction across solid films, in turn regulating their performance in photovoltaic applications. In this report, we show that the changes in size, shape and functional groups of small chain organic ligands enable us to modulate mobility, dielectric constant and carrier doping density of lead sulfide quantum dot solids. Furthermore, we correlate these results with performance, stability and recombination processes in the respective photovoltaic devices. Our results highlight the critical role of surface chemistry in the electronic properties of quantum dots. The role of the size, functionality and the surface coverage of the ligands in determining charge transport properties and the stability of quantum dot solids have been discussed. Our findings, when applied in designing new ligands with higher mobility and improved passivation of quantum dot solids, can have important implications for the development of high-performance quantum dot solar cells.
Phase transition detection by surface photo charge effect in liquid crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ivanov, O.; Petrov, M.; Naradikian, H.; Perez-Diaz, J. L.

2018-05-01

The surface photo charge effect (SPCE) was applied for the first time at structure and phase transitions study of hydrogen bonded in dimer liquid crystals (HBDLCs). Due to the high sensitivity of this method, besides first-order phase transitions, characteristic for the p,n-octyloxibenzoic acids (8OBA), an order transition was definitely detected within the nematic range. We state that the SPCE, arising at the solid-HBDLCs interface due to the double electrical layer, is invariably concomitant with solid surface-liquid interfaces, and indicates that the changes of the characteristics of this layer, under incident optical irradiation, induce surface charge rearrangement and alternating potential difference. A mechanism of induction of the SPCE at the interface of solid surface-anisotropic liquids is proposed. We also indicate that this mechanism can be adapted for solid surface-isotropic liquid interface, including colloids (milk) and fog (aerosols)-condensed medium.
Effect of Arsenic on the Formation and Adsorption Property of Ferric Hydroxide Precipitates in ZVI Treatment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Peng, Xing; Xi, Beidou; Zhao, Ying

Treatment of arsenic by zerovalent iron (ZVI) has been studied extensively. However, the effect of arsenic on the formation of ferric hydroxide precipitates in the ZVI treatment has not been investigated. We discovered that the specific surface area (ca. 187 m2/g) and arsenic content (ca. 67 mg/g) of the suspended solids (As-containing solids) generated in the ZVI treatment of arsenic solutions were much higher than the specific surface area (ca. 37 m2/g) and adsorption capacity (ca.12 mg/g) of the suspended solids (As-free solids) generated in the arsenic-free solutions. Arsenic in the As-containing solids was much more stable than the adsorbedmore » arsenic in As-free solids. XRD, SEM, TEM, and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) analyses showed that the As-containing solids consisted of amorphous nanoparticles, while the As-free solids were composed of micron particles with weak crystallinity. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis determined that As(V) was adsorbed on the As-containing suspended solids and magnetic solid surfaces through bidentate binuclear complexation; and As(V) formed a mononuclear complex on the As-free suspended solids. The formation of the surface As(V) complexes retarded the bonding of free FeO6 octahedra to the oxygen sites on FeO6 octahedral clusters and prevented the growth of the clusters and their development into 3-dimensional crystalline phases.« less
Molecular-level understanding of protein adsorption at the interface between water and a strongly interacting uncharged solid surface.

PubMed

Penna, Matthew J; Mijajlovic, Milan; Biggs, Mark J

2014-04-09

Although protein adsorption on solids is of immense relevance, experimental limitations mean there is still a remarkable lack of understanding of the adsorption mechanism, particularly at a molecular level. By subjecting 240+ molecular dynamics simulations of two peptide/water/solid surface systems to statistical analysis, a generalized molecular level mechanism for peptide adsorption has been identified for uncharged surfaces that interact strongly with the solution phase. This mechanism is composed of three phases: (1) biased diffusion of the peptide from the bulk phase toward the surface; (2) anchoring of the peptide to the water/solid interface via interaction of a hydrophilic group with the water adjacent to the surface or a strongly interacting hydrophobic group with the surface; and (3) lockdown of the peptide on the surface via a slow, stepwise and largely sequential adsorption of its residues, which we term 'statistical zippering'. The adsorption mechanism is dictated by the existence of water layers adjacent to the solid and orientational ordering therein. By extending the solid into the solution by ~8 Å and endowing it with a charged character, the water layers ensure the peptide feels the effect of the solid at a range well beyond the dispersion force that arises from it, thus inducing biased diffusion from afar. The charging of the interface also facilitates anchoring of the peptide near the surface via one of its hydrophilic groups, allowing it time it would otherwise not have to rearrange and lockdown. Finally, the slowness of the lockdown process is dictated by the need for the peptide groups to replace adjacent tightly bound interfacial water.
The solid angle (geometry factor) for a spherical surface source and an arbitrary detector aperture

DOE PAGES

Favorite, Jeffrey A.

2016-01-13

It is proven that the solid angle (or geometry factor, also called the geometrical efficiency) for a spherically symmetric outward-directed surface source with an arbitrary radius and polar angle distribution and an arbitrary detector aperture is equal to the solid angle for an isotropic point source located at the center of the spherical surface source and the same detector aperture.
Effect of various electrokinetic treatment regimes on solids surface properties and thermal behavior of oil sediments.

PubMed

Kariminezhad, Esmaeel; Elektorowicz, Maria

2018-04-10

The electrokinetic process has shown its ability to separate the different material phases. However, not much is known about the effect of the electric fields on the surface properties of solids in the oil sediments and their behavior under different electrical regimes. In this study, the effect of four different types of electrical current on the surface properties of oil sediments was investigated, namely constant direct current (CDC), pulsed direct current (PDC), incremental direct current (IDC) and decremental direct current (DDC). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses showed a decrease in the concentration of carbon from 99% in centrifuged samples to 63% on the surface of the solids in the PDC-treated oil sediment. Wettability alteration and contact angle studies showed an enhance in hydrophilicity of the solids following electrokinetic treatment. A significant change in carbon and oxygen-containing functionalities at the surface solids of the DDC-treated sediment was also observed. Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) confirmed the ability of electrokinetic treatment in separating the phases by shifting the thermogram profiles towards lower temperatures. The findings showed that the electrokinetic process exerts its effect by altering the surface properties of the sediment solids and destabilizing water-in-oil emulsions to facilitate phase separation of this complex waste. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The sensitivity of biological finite element models to the resolution of surface geometry: a case study of crocodilian crania

PubMed Central

Evans, Alistair R.; McHenry, Colin R.

2015-01-01

The reliability of finite element analysis (FEA) in biomechanical investigations depends upon understanding the influence of model assumptions. In producing finite element models, surface mesh resolution is influenced by the resolution of input geometry, and influences the resolution of the ensuing solid mesh used for numerical analysis. Despite a large number of studies incorporating sensitivity studies of the effects of solid mesh resolution there has not yet been any investigation into the effect of surface mesh resolution upon results in a comparative context. Here we use a dataset of crocodile crania to examine the effects of surface resolution on FEA results in a comparative context. Seven high-resolution surface meshes were each down-sampled to varying degrees while keeping the resulting number of solid elements constant. These models were then subjected to bite and shake load cases using finite element analysis. The results show that incremental decreases in surface resolution can result in fluctuations in strain magnitudes, but that it is possible to obtain stable results using lower resolution surface in a comparative FEA study. As surface mesh resolution links input geometry with the resulting solid mesh, the implication of these results is that low resolution input geometry and solid meshes may provide valid results in a comparative context. PMID:26056620
Multivalent-Counterion-Induced Surfactant Multilayer Formation at Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Solid-Solution Interfaces.

PubMed

Penfold, Jeffrey; Thomas, Robert K; Li, Peixun; Xu, Hui; Tucker, Ian M; Petkov, Jordan T; Sivia, Devinderjit S

2015-06-23

Surface multilayer formation from the anionic-nonionic surfactant mixture of sodium dodecyl dioxyethylene sulfate, SLES, and monododecyl dodecaethylene glycol, C12E12, by the addition of multivalent Al(3+) counterions at the solid-solution interface is observed and characterized by neutron reflectivity, NR. The ability to form surface multilayer structures on hydrophobic and hydrophilic silica and cellulose surfaces is demonstrated. The surface multilayer formation is more pronounced and more well developed on the hydrophilic and hydrophobic silica surfaces than on the hydrophilic and hydrophobic cellulose surfaces. The less well developed multilayer formation on the cellulose surfaces is attributed to the greater surface inhomogeneities of the cellulose surface which partially inhibit lateral coherence and growth of the multilayer domains at the surface. The surface multilayer formation is associated with extreme wetting properties and offers the potential for the manipulation of the solid surfaces for enhanced adsorption and control of the wetting behavior.
Stability analysis of nanoscale surface patterns in stressed solids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kostyrko, Sergey A.; Shuvalov, Gleb M.

2018-05-01

Here, we use the theory of surface elasticity to extend the morphological instability analysis of stressed solids developed in the works of Asaro, Tiller, Grinfeld, Srolovitz and many others. Within the framework of Gurtin-Murdoch model, the surface phase is assumed to be a negligibly thin layer with the elastic properties which differ from those of the bulk material. We consider the mass transport mechanism driven by the variation of surface and bulk energy along undulated surface of stressed solid. The linearized surface evolution equation is derived in the case of plane strain conditions and describes the amplitude change of surface perturbations with time. A parametric analysis of this equation leads to the definition of critical conditions which depend on undulation wavelength, residual surface stress, applied loading, surface and bulk elastic constants and predict the surface morphological stability.
Cryo-survival, fertilization and early embryonic development of vitrified oocytes derived from mice of different reproductive age

PubMed Central

Yan, Jie; Suzuki, Joao; Yu, Xiaomin; Kan, Frederick W. K.

2010-01-01

Purpose To evaluate the effect of female reproductive age on oocyte cryo-survival, fertilization and the subsequent embryonic development following vitrification using the mouse model in order to address the question of how maternal reproductive age is related to fertility preservation. Methods Oocytes were collected from mice of different reproductive age: (1) 8–10 weeks, (2) 16–20 weeks, (3) 32–36 weeks, and (4) 44–48 weeks. Following vitrification and warming, the oocytes in each group were assessed for cryo-survival, fertilization and embryonic development as well as for the quality of blastocysts. Fresh oocytes without undergoing vitrification were used in each age group as controls. Results The mean number of oocytes retrieved following superovulation was found to reduce significantly (P < 0.05) in mice from 32–36 weeks of age (18.1 ± 8.5) compared with 8–10 weeks of age (26.8 ± 9.8) and 16–20 weeks of age (23.9 ± 4.2) respectively. The cryo-survival rate of oocytes was reduced significantly (P < 0.05) in mice of 44–48 weeks of age (90.4% ± 7.9) compared with the other 3 groups (98.8% ± 2.1, 98.0% ± 3.3 and 98.5% ± 2.2, respectively). The cleavage rate of vitrified oocytes declined significantly following the increase in maternal age in mice of 32–36 weeks of age (69.7% ± 20.8) forward (63.6% ± 9.2). However, no significant difference in the cleavage rate was found among the control groups of different maternal ages. The rate of embryo development to the blastocyst stage in the vitrified oocytes also significantly declined following the increase in maternal age (71.8% ± 8.8, 66.4% ± 10.7, 64.2% ± 17.4 and 4.1% ± 8.3 respectively). There were no such differences in the rates of embryo development to the blastocyst stage among the control groups following the increase in maternal age (75.9% ± 12.2, 79.5% ± 28.9, 70.2% ± 17.4 and 69.3% ± 19.0 respectively). However, the quality of blastocysts produced from 32–36 weeks and 44–48 weeks of ages was significantly poor in term of total cell numbers and the ratio of inner cell mass(ICM) / trophectoderm (TE) compared to younger age in both vitrified and control groups Conclusions Cryo-survival of oocytes following vitrification and warming procedures is associated with female reproductive age. There is a more negative impact on the oocytes following vitrification and warming with the increase of maternal age. PMID:20640502
Nature of the Surface and Its Effect on Solid-state Interactions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Georges, J. M.

1984-01-01

An important aspect of the friction and wear of solids is the nature and the mechanical behavior of the surface films. A description of the mechanical, physical, and chemical behavior of surface films is achieved by an investigation of boundary lubrication. Two major points are demonstrated. First, the sliding of two solid surfaces under boundary lubricating conditions creates third bodies in the interface. Second, the nature and the evolution of the interface are dictated by the colloidal behavior of the products generated. To illustrate these two propositions, some recent work is presented.
Positron beam studies of solids and surfaces: A summary

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coleman, P. G.

2006-02-01

A personal overview is given of the advances in positron beam studies of solids and surfaces presented at the 10th International Workshop on Positron Beams, held in Doha, Qatar, in March 2005. Solids studied include semiconductors, metals, alloys and insulators, as well as biophysical systems. Surface studies focussed on positron annihilation-induced Auger electron spectroscopy (PAES), but interesting applications of positron-surface interactions in fields as diverse as semiconductor technology and studies of the interstellar medium serve to illustrate once again the breadth of scientific endeavour covered by slow positron beam investigations.
Strategies for improved efficiency when implementing plant vitrification techniques

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Cryopreservation technologies allow vegetatively propagated genetic resources to be preserved for extended lengths of time. Once successful methods have been established, there is a significant time investment to cryopreserve gene bank collections. Our research seeks to identify methods that could i...
Observation of a new surface mode on a fluid-saturated permeable solid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagy, Peter B.

1992-06-01

Almost ten years ago, S. Feng and D. L. Johnson predicted the presence of a new surface mode on a fluid/fluid-saturated porous solid interface with closed surface pores [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 74, 906 (1983)]. We found that, due to surface tension, practically closed-pore boundary conditions can prevail at an interface between a nonwetting fluid (e.g., air) and a porous solid saturated with a wetting fluid (e.g., water or alcohol). Surface wave velocity and attenuation measurements were made on alcohol-saturated porous sintered glass at 100 kHz. The experimental results show clear evidence of the new ``slow'' surface mode predicted by Feng and Johnson.
Study of silicon crystal surface formation based on molecular dynamics simulation results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barinovs, G.; Sabanskis, A.; Muiznieks, A.

2014-04-01

The equilibrium shape of <110>-oriented single crystal silicon nanowire, 8 nm in cross-section, was found from molecular dynamics simulations using LAMMPS molecular dynamics package. The calculated shape agrees well to the shape predicted from experimental observations of nanocavities in silicon crystals. By parametrization of the shape and scaling to a known value of {111} surface energy, Wulff form for solid-vapor interface was obtained. The Wulff form for solid-liquid interface was constructed using the same model of the shape as for the solid-vapor interface. The parameters describing solid-liquid interface shape were found using values of surface energies in low-index directions known from published molecular dynamics simulations. Using an experimental value of the liquid-vapor interface energy for silicon and graphical solution of Herring's equation, we constructed angular diagram showing relative equilibrium orientation of solid-liquid, liquid-vapor and solid-vapor interfaces at the triple phase line. The diagram gives quantitative predictions about growth angles for different growth directions and formation of facets on the solid-liquid and solid-vapor interfaces. The diagram can be used to describe growth ridges appearing on the crystal surface grown from a melt. Qualitative comparison to the ridges of a Float zone silicon crystal cone is given.
Measuring Long-Range 13C– 13C Correlations on a Surface under Natural Abundance Using Dynamic Nuclear Polarization-Enhanced Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance [Measuring Long Range 13C– 13C Correlations on Surface under Natural Abundance Using DNP-enhanced Solid-state NMR

DOE PAGES

Kobayashi, Takeshi; Slowing, Igor I.; Pruski, Marek

2017-10-13

Here, we report that spatial (<1 nm) proximity between different molecules in solid bulk materials and, for the first time, different moieties on the surface of a catalyst, can be established without isotope enrichment by means of homonuclear CHHC solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance experiment. This 13C– 13C correlation measurement, which hitherto was not possible for natural-abundance solids, was enabled by the use of dynamic nuclear polarization. Importantly, it allows the study of long-range correlations in a variety of materials with high resolution.
Measuring Long-Range 13C– 13C Correlations on a Surface under Natural Abundance Using Dynamic Nuclear Polarization-Enhanced Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance [Measuring Long Range 13C– 13C Correlations on Surface under Natural Abundance Using DNP-enhanced Solid-state NMR

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kobayashi, Takeshi; Slowing, Igor I.; Pruski, Marek

Here, we report that spatial (<1 nm) proximity between different molecules in solid bulk materials and, for the first time, different moieties on the surface of a catalyst, can be established without isotope enrichment by means of homonuclear CHHC solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance experiment. This 13C– 13C correlation measurement, which hitherto was not possible for natural-abundance solids, was enabled by the use of dynamic nuclear polarization. Importantly, it allows the study of long-range correlations in a variety of materials with high resolution.

Laboratory Evaporation Testing Of Hanford Waste Treatment Plant Low Activity Waste Off-Gas Condensate Simulant

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Adamson, Duane J.; Nash, Charles A.; McCabe, Daniel J.

2014-01-01

The Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) Low Activity Waste (LAW) vitrification facility will generate an aqueous condensate recycle stream, LAW Off-Gas Condensate, from the off-gas system. The baseline plan for disposition of this stream is to send it to the WTP Pretreatment Facility, where it will be blended with LAW, concentrated by evaporation and recycled to the LAW vitrification facility again. Alternate disposition of this stream would eliminate recycling of problematic components, and would enable de-coupled operation of the LAW melter and the Pretreatment Facilities. Eliminating this stream from recycling within WTP would also decrease the LAW vitrificationmore » mission duration and quantity of canistered glass waste forms. This LAW Off-Gas Condensate stream contains components that are volatile at melter temperatures and are problematic for the glass waste form. Because this stream recycles within WTP, these components accumulate in the Condensate stream, exacerbating their impact on the number of LAW glass containers that must be produced. Approximately 32% of the sodium in Supplemental LAW comes from glass formers used to make the extra glass to dilute the halides to be within acceptable concentration ranges in the LAW glass. Diverting the stream reduces the halides in the recycled Condensate and is a key outcome of this work. Additionally, under possible scenarios where the LAW vitrification facility commences operation prior to the WTP Pretreatment facility, identifying a disposition path becomes vitally important. This task examines the impact of potential future disposition of this stream in the Hanford tank farms, and investigates auxiliary evaporation to enable another disposition path. Unless an auxiliary evaporator is used, returning the stream to the tank farms would require evaporation in the 242-A evaporator. This stream is expected to be unusual because it will be very high in corrosive species that are volatile in the melter (chloride, fluoride, sulfur), will have high ammonia, and will contain carryover particulates of glass-former chemicals. These species have potential to cause corrosion of tanks and equipment, precipitation of solids, release of ammonia gas vapors, and scale in the tank farm evaporator. Routing this stream to the tank farms does not permanently divert it from recycling into the WTP, only temporarily stores it prior to reprocessing. Testing is normally performed to demonstrate acceptable conditions and limits for these compounds in wastes sent to the tank farms. The primary parameter of this phase of the test program was measuring the formation of solids during evaporation in order to assess the compatibility of the stream with the evaporator and transfer and storage equipment. The origin of this LAW Off-Gas Condensate stream will be the liquids from the Submerged Bed Scrubber (SBS) and the Wet Electrostatic Precipitator (WESP) from the LAW facility melter offgas system. The stream is expected to be a dilute salt solution with near neutral pH, and will likely contain some insoluble solids from melter carryover. The soluble components are expected to be mostly sodium and ammonium salts of nitrate, chloride, and fluoride. This stream has not been generated yet, and, thus, the composition will not be available until the WTP begins operation, but a simulant has been produced based on models, calculations, and comparison with pilot-scale tests. This report discusses results of evaporation testing of the simulant. Two conditions were tested, one with the simulant at near neutral pH, and a second at alkaline pH. The neutral pH test is comparable to the conditions in the Hanford Effluent Treatment Facility (ETF) evaporator, although that evaporator operates at near atmospheric pressure and tests were done under vacuum. For the alkaline test, the target pH was based on the tank farm corrosion control program requirements, and the test protocol and equipment was comparable to that used for routine evaluation of feed compatibility studies for the 242-A evaporator. One of the radionuclides that is volatile in the melter and expected to be in high concentration in this LAW Off-Gas Condensate stream is Technetium-99 (99Tc). Technetium will not be removed from the aqueous waste in the Hanford WTP, and will primarily end up immobilized in the LAW glass by repeated recycle of the off-gas condensate into the LAW melter. Other radionuclides that are also expected to be in appreciable concentrations in the LAW Off-Gas Condensate are 129I, 90Sr, 137Cs, and 241Am. The concentrations of these radionuclides in this stream will be much lower than in the LAW, but they will still be higher than limits for some of the other disposition pathways currently available. At this time, these scoping tests did not evaluate the partitioning of the radionuclides to the evaporator condensate, since ample data are available separately from other experience in the DOE complex. Results from the evaporation testing show that the neutral SBS simulant first forms turbidity at ~7.5X concentration, while the alkaline-adjusted simulant became turbid at ~3X concentration. The major solid in both cases was Kogarkoite, Na3FSO4. Sodium and lithium fluorides were also detected. Minimal solids were formed in the evaporator bottoms until a substantial fraction of liquid was removed, indicating that evaporation could minimize storage volume issues. Achievable concentration factors without significant insoluble solids were 17X at alkaline pH, and 23X at neutral pH. In both runs, significant ammonia carried over and was captured in the condenser with the water condensate. Results also indicate that with low insoluble solids formation in the initial testing at neutral pH, the use of Reverse Osmosis is a potential alternate method for concentrating the solution, although an evaluation is needed to identify equipment that can tolerate insoluble solids. Most of the ammonia remains in the evaporator bottoms during the neutral pH evaporation, but partitions to the condensate during alkaline evaporation. Disposition of both streams needs to consider the management of ammonia vapor and its release. Since this is an initial phase of testing, additional tasks related to evaporation methods are expected to be identified for development. These tasks likely include evaluation and testing of composition variability testing and evaluations, corrosion and erosion testing, slurry storage and immobilization investigations, and evaporator condensate disposition.« less
Enhanced LAW Glass Correlation - Phase 1

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Muller, Isabelle S.; Matlack, Keith S.; Pegg, Ian L.

About 50 million gallons of high-level mixed waste is currently stored in underground tanks at the United States Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Hanford site in the State of Washington. The Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) will provide DOE’s Office of River Protection (ORP) with a means of treating this waste by vitrification for subsequent disposal. The tank waste will be separated into low- and high-activity waste fractions, which will then be vitrified respectively into Immobilized Low Activity Waste (ILAW) and Immobilized High Level Waste (IHLW) products. The ILAW product will be disposed in an engineered facility onmore » the Hanford site while the IHLW product is designed for acceptance into a national deep geological disposal facility for high-level nuclear waste. The ILAW and IHLW products must meet a variety of requirements with respect to protection of the environment before they can be accepted for disposal. Acceptable glass formulations for vitrification of Hanford low activity waste (LAW) must meet a variety of product quality, processability, and waste loading requirements. To this end, The Vitreous State Laboratory (VSL) at The Catholic University of America (CUA) developed and tested a number of glass formulations during Part A, Part B1 and Part B2 of the WTP development program. The testing resulted in the selection of target glass compositions for the processing of eight of the Phase I LAW tanks. The selected glass compositions were tested at the crucible scale to confirm their compliance with ILAW performance requirements. Duramelter 100 (DM100) and LAW Pilot Melter tests were then conducted to demonstrate the viability of these glass compositions for LAW vitrification at high processing rates.« less
Thermodynamic Investigation of the Interaction between Polymer and Gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahmood, Syed Hassan

This thesis investigates the interaction between blowing agents and polymer matrix. Existing theoretical model was further developed to accommodate the polymer and blowing agent under study. The obtained results are not only useful for the optimization of the plastic foam fabrication process but also provides a different approach to usage of blowing agents. A magnetic suspension balance and an in-house visualizing dilatometer were used to obtain the sorption of blowing agents in polymer melts under elevated temperature and pressure. The proposed theoretical approach based on the thermodynamic model of SS-EOS is applied to understand the interaction of blowing agents with the polymer melt and one another (in the case of blend blowing agent). An in-depth study of the interaction of a blend of CO2 and DME with PS was conducted. Experimental volume swelling of the blend/PS mixture was measured and compared to the theoretical volume swelling obtained via ternary based SS-EOS, insuring the models validity. The effect of plasticization due to dissolution of DME on the solubility of CO2 in PS was then investigated by utilizing the aforementioned model. It was noted that the dissolution of DME increased the concentration of CO2 in PS and lowering the saturation pressure needed to dissolved a certain amount of CO2 in PS melt. The phenomenon of retrograde vitrification in PMMA induced due dissolution of CO2 was investigated in light of the thermodynamic properties resulting from the interaction of polymer and blowing agent. Solubility and volume swelling were measured in the pressure and temperature ranges promoting vitrification phenomenon, with relation being established between the thermodynamic properties and the vitrification process. Foaming of PMMA was conducted at various temperature values to investigate the application of this phenomenon.
Vitamins C and E improve regrowth and reduce lipid peroxidation of blackberry shoot tips following cryopreservation.

PubMed

Uchendu, Esther E; Leonard, Scott W; Traber, Maret G; Reed, Barbara M

2010-01-01

Oxidative processes involved in cryopreservation protocols may be responsible for the reduced viability of tissues after liquid nitrogen exposure. Antioxidants that counteract these reactions should improve recovery. This study focused on oxidative lipid injury and the effects of exogenous vitamin E (tocopherol, Vit E) and vitamin C (ascorbic acid, Vit C) treatments on regrowth at four critical steps of the plant vitrification solution number 2 (PVS2) vitrification cryopreservation technique; pretreatment, loading, rinsing, and regrowth. Initial experiments showed that Vit E at 11-15 mM significantly increased regrowth (P < 0.001) when added at any of the four steps. There was significantly more malondialdehyde (MDA), a lipid peroxidation product, at each of the steps than in fresh untreated shoot tips. Vit E uptake was assayed at each step and showed significantly more alpha- and gamma-tocopherols in treated shoots than those without Vit E. Vit E added at each step significantly reduced MDA formation and improved shoot regrowth. Vit C (0.14-0.58 mM) also significantly improved regrowth of shoot tips at each step compared to the controls. Regrowth medium with high iron concentrations and Vit C decreased recovery. However, in iron-free medium, Vit C significantly improved recovery. Treatments with Vit E (11 mM) and Vit C (0.14 mM) combined were not significantly better than Vit C alone. We recommend adding Vit C (0.28 mM) to the pretreatment medium, the loading solution or the rinse solution in the PVS2 vitrification protocol. This is the first report of the application of vitamins for improving cryopreservation of plant tissues by minimizing oxidative damage.
Rapid in vitro propagation, conservation and analysis of genetic stability of Viola pilosa.

PubMed

Soni, Madhvi; Kaur, Rajinder

2014-01-01

A protocol for in vitro propagation was developed for Viola pilosa, a plant of immense medicinal value. To start with in vitro propagation, the sterilized explants (buds) were cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with various concentrations of growth regulators. One of the medium compositions MS basal + 0.5 mg/l BA + 0.5 mg/l TDZ + 0.5 mg/l GA3 gave best results for in vitro shoot bud establishment. Although the problem of shoot vitrification occurred on this medium but this was overcome by transferring the vitrified shoots on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l BA and 0.25 mg/l Kn. The same medium was found to be the best medium for further in vitro shoot multiplication. 100 % root induction from in vitro grown shoots was obtained on half strength MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l IBA. In vitro formed plantlets were hardened and transferred to soil with 83 % survival. Additionally, conservation of in vitro multiplying shoots was also attempted using two different approaches namely slowing down the growth at low temperature and cryopreservation following vitrification. At low temperature retrieval rate was better at 10 °C than at 4 °C after conservation of in vitro multiplying shoots. In cryopreservation-vitrification studies, the vitrified shoot buds gave maximum retrieval of 41.66 % when they were precooled at 4 °C, while only 16.66 % vitrified shoots were retrieved from those precooled at 10 °C. Genetic stability of the in vitro grown plants was analysed by RAPD and ISSR markers which indicated no somaclonal variation among in vitro grown plants demonstrating the feasibility of using the protocol without any adverse genetical effects.
Thermal Expansion of the Cryoprotectant Cocktail DP6 Combined with Synthetic Ice Modulators in Presence and Absence of Biological Tissues

PubMed Central

Eisenberg, David P.; Taylor, Michael J.; Rabin, Yoed

2012-01-01

This study explores physical effects associated with the application of cryopreservation via vitrification using a class of compounds which are defined here as synthetic ice modulators (SIMs). The general classification of SIMs includes molecules that modulate ice nucleation and growth, or possess properties of stabilizing the amorphous state, by virtue of their chemical structure and at concentrations that are not explained on a purely colligative basis. A subcategory of SIMs, referred to in the literature as synthetic ice blockers (SIBs), are compounds that interact directly with ice nuclei or crystals to modify their structure and/or rate of growth. The current study is part of an ongoing effort to characterize thermo-mechanical effects during vitrification, with emphasis on measuring the physical property of thermal expansion—the driving mechanism to thermo-mechanical stress. Materials under investigation are the cryoprotective agent (CPA) cocktail DP6 in combination with one of the following SIMs: 12% polyethylene glycol 400, 6% 1,3 cyclohexanediol, and 6% 2,3 butanediol. Results are presented for the CPA-SIM cocktail in the absence and presence of bovine muscle and goat artery specimens. This study focuses on the upper part of the cryogenic temperature range, where the CPA behaves as a fluid for all practical applications. Results of this study indicate that the addition of SIMs to DP6 allows lower cooling rates to ensure vitrification and extends the range of measurements. It is demonstrated that the combination of SIM with DP6 increases the thermal expansion of the cocktail, with implications for the likelihood of fracture formation—the most dramatic outcome of thermo-mechanical stress. PMID:22579521
Vitrification-based cryopreservation of Drosophila embryos

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schreuders, P.D.; Mazur, P.

1994-12-31

Currently, over 30,000 strains of Drosophila melanogaster are maintained by geneticists through regular transfer of breeding stocks. A more cost effective solution is to cryopreserve their embryos. Cooling and warming rates >10,000{degrees}C/min. are required to prevent chilling injury. To avoid the lethal intracellular ice normally produced at such high cooling rates, it is necessary to use {ge}50% (w/w) concentrations of glass-inducing solutes to vitrify the embryos. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is used to develop and evaluate ethylene glycol and polyvinyl pyrrolidone based vitrification solutions. The resulting solution consists of 8.5M ethylene glycol + 10% polyvinylpyrrolidone in D-20 Drosophila culture medium.more » A two stage method is used for the introduction and concentration of these solutes within the embryo. The method reduces the exposure time to the solution and, consequently, reduces toxicity. Both DSC and freezing experiments suggest that, while twelve-hour embryos will vitrify using cooling rates >200{degrees}C/min., they will devitrify and be killed with even moderately rapid warming rates of {approximately}1,900{degrees}C/min. Very rapid warming ({approximately}100,000{degrees}C/min.) results in variable numbers of successfully cryopreserved embryos. This sensitivity to warming rite is typical of devitrification. The variability in survival is reduced using embryos of a precisely determined embryonic stage. The vitrification of the older, fifteen-hour, embryos yields an optimized hatching rate of 68%, with 35 - 40% of the resulting larvae developing to normal adults. This Success rite in embryos of this age may reflect a reduced sensitivity to limited devitrification or a more even distribution of the ethylene glycol within the embryo.« less
No difference in mitochondrial distribution is observed in human oocytes after cryopreservation.

PubMed

Stimpfel, Martin; Vrtacnik-Bokal, Eda; Virant-Klun, Irma

2017-08-01

The primary aim of this study was to determine if any difference in mitochondrial distribution can be observed between fresh and cryopreserved (slow-frozen/thawed and vitrified/warmed) oocytes when oocytes are stained with Mitotracker Red CMXRos and observed under a conventional fluorescent microscope. Additionally, the influence of cryopreservation procedure on the viable rates of oocytes at different maturation stages was evaluated. The germinal vesicle (GV) and MII oocytes were cryopreserved with slow-freezing and vitrification. After thawing/warming, oocytes were stained using Mitotracker Red CMXRos and observed under a conventional fluorescent microscope. Mitotracker staining revealed that in GV oocytes the pattern of mitochondrial distribution appeared as aggregated clusters around the whole oocyte. In mature MII oocytes, three different patterns of mitochondrial distribution were observed; a smooth pattern around the polar body with aggregated clusters at the opposite side of the polar body, a smooth pattern throughout the whole cell, and aggregated clusters as can be seen in GV oocytes. There were no significant differences in the observed patterns between fresh, vitrified/warmed and frozen/thawed oocytes. When comparing the viable rates of oocytes after two different cryopreservation procedures, the results showed no significant differences, although the trend of viable MII oocytes tends to be higher after vitrification/warming and for viable GV oocytes it tends to be higher after slow-freezing/thawing. Mitotracker Red CMXRos staining of mitochondria in oocytes did not reveal differences in mitochondrial distribution between fresh and cryopreserved oocytes at different maturity stages. Additionally, no difference was observed in the viable rates of GV and MII oocytes after slow-freezing/thawing and vitrification/warming.
Changes in transcript expression patterns as a result of cryoprotectant treatment and liquid nitrogen exposure in Arabidopsis shoot tips.

PubMed

Gross, Briana L; Henk, Adam D; Bonnart, Remi; Volk, Gayle M

2017-03-01

Transcripts related to abiotic stress, oxidation, and wounding were differentially expressed in Arabidopsis shoot tips in response to cryoprotectant and liquid nitrogen treatment. Cryopreservation methods have been implemented in genebanks as a strategy to back-up plant genetic resource collections that are vegetatively propagated. Cryopreservation is frequently performed using vitrification methods, whereby shoot tips are treated with cryoprotectant solutions, such as Plant Vitrification Solution 2 (PVS2) or Plant Vitrification Solution 3 (PVS3); these solutions remove and/or replace freezable water within the meristem cells. We used the model system Arabidopsis thaliana to identify suites of transcripts that are up- or downregulated in response to PVS2 and PVS3 treatment and liquid nitrogen (LN) exposure. Our results suggest that there are many changes in transcript expression in shoot tips as a result of cryoprotection and that these changes exceed the number detected as a result of LN exposure. In total, 180 transcripts showed significant changes in expression level unique to treatment with either the cryoprotectant or cryopreservation followed by recovery. Of these 180 transcripts, 67 were related to stress, defense, wounding, lipid, carbohydrate, abscisic acid, oxidation, temperature (cold/heat), or osmoregulation. The responses of five transcripts were confirmed using qPCR methods. The transcripts responding to PVS2 + LN suggest an oxidative response to this treatment, whereas the PVS3 + LN treatment invoked a more general metabolic response. This work shows that the choice of cryoprotectant can have a major influence on the patterns of transcript expression, presumably due to the level and extent of stress experienced by the shoot tip. As a result, there may be divergent responses of study systems to PVS2 and PVS3 treatments.
Radioactive demonstration of final mineralized waste forms for Hanford waste treatment plant secondary waste (WTP-SW) by fluidized bed steam reforming (FBSR) using the bench scale reformer platform

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Crawford, C.; Burket, P.; Cozzi, A.

2014-08-01

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of River Protection (ORP) is responsible for the retrieval, treatment, immobilization, and disposal of Hanford’s tank waste. Currently there are approximately 56 million gallons of highly radioactive mixed wastes awaiting treatment. A key aspect of the River Protection Project (RPP) cleanup mission is to construct and operate the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP). The WTP will separate the tank waste into high-level and low-activity waste (LAW) fractions, both of which will subsequently be vitrified. The projected throughput capacity of the WTP LAW Vitrification Facility is insufficient to complete the RPP mission in themore » time frame required by the Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order, also known as the Tri-Party Agreement (TPA), i.e. December 31, 2047. Therefore, Supplemental Treatment is required both to meet the TPA treatment requirements as well as to more cost effectively complete the tank waste treatment mission. In addition, the WTP LAW vitrification facility off-gas condensate known as WTP Secondary Waste (WTP-SW) will be generated and enriched in volatile components such as 137Cs, 129I, 99Tc, Cl, F, and SO4 that volatilize at the vitrification temperature of 1150°C in the absence of a continuous cold cap (that could minimize volatilization). The current waste disposal path for the WTP-SW is to process it through the Effluent Treatment Facility (ETF). Fluidized Bed Steam Reforming (FBSR) is being considered for immobilization of the ETF concentrate that would be generated by processing the WTP-SW. The focus of this current report is the WTP-SW.« less
Innovative vitrification for soil remediation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jetta, N.W.; Patten, J.S.; Hart, J.G.

1995-12-01

The objective of this DOE demonstration program is to validate the performance and operation of the Vortec Cyclone Melting System (CMS{trademark}) for the processing of LLW contaminated soils found at DOE sites. This DOE vitrification demonstration project has successfully progressed through the first two phases. Phase 1 consisted of pilot scale testing with surrogate wastes and the conceptual design of a process plant operating at a generic DOE site. The objective of Phase 2, which is scheduled to be completed the end of FY 95, is to develop a definitive process plant design for the treatment of wastes at amore » specific DOE facility. During Phase 2, a site specific design was developed for the processing of LLW soils and muds containing TSCA organics and RCRA metal contaminants. Phase 3 will consist of a full scale demonstration at the DOE gaseous diffusion plant located in Paducah, KY. Several DOE sites were evaluated for potential application of the technology. Paducah was selected for the demonstration program because of their urgent waste remediation needs as well as their strong management and cost sharing financial support for the project. During Phase 2, the basic nitrification process design was modified to meet the specific needs of the new waste streams available at Paducah. The system design developed for Paducah has significantly enhanced the processing capabilities of the Vortec vitrification process. The overall system design now includes the capability to shred entire drums and drum packs containing mud, concrete, plastics and PCB`s as well as bulk waste materials. This enhanced processing capability will substantially expand the total DOE waste remediation applications of the technology.« less
Vitrification of oocytes from endangered Mexican gray wolves (Canis lupus baileyi).

PubMed

Boutelle, S; Lenahan, K; Krisher, R; Bauman, K L; Asa, C S; Silber, S

2011-03-01

Careful genetic management, including cryopreservation of genetic material, is central to conservation of the endangered Mexican gray wolf. We tested a technique, previously used to vitrify human and domestic animal oocytes, on oocytes from domestic dogs as a model and from the endangered Mexican wolf. This method provided a way to conserve oocytes from genetically valuable older female Mexican wolves as an alternative to embryos for preserving female genes. Oocytes were aspirated from ovaries of 36 female dogs in December and March (0 to 65 oocytes per female) and from six female wolves (4 to 73 per female) during their physiologic breeding season, or following stimulation with the GnRH agonist deslorelin. Oocytes from dogs were pooled; half were immediately tested for viability and the remainder vitrified, then warmed and tested for viability. All oocytes were vitrified by being moved through media of increasing cryoprotectant concentration, placed on Cryotops, and plunged into liquid nitrogen. There was no difference in viability (propidium iodide staining) between fresh and vitrified, warmed dog oocytes (65.7 and 61.0%, respectively, P = 0.27). Oocyte viability after warming was similarly assessed in a subset of wolves (4 to 15 oocytes from each of three females; total 29 oocytes). Of these, 57.1% of the post-thaw intact oocytes were viable, which was 41.4% of all oocytes warmed. These were the first oocytes from a canid or an endangered species demonstrated to have maintained viability after vitrification and warming. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that vitrification of oocytes with the Cryotop technique was an option for preserving female gametes from Mexican wolves for future use in captive breeding programs, although in vitro embryo production techniques must first be developed in canids for this technique to be used. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Hanford Low-Activity Waste Processing: Demonstration of the Off-Gas Recycle Flowsheet - 13443

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ramsey, William G.; Esparza, Brian P.

2013-07-01

Vitrification of Hanford Low-Activity Waste (LAW) is nominally the thermal conversion and incorporation of sodium salts and radionuclides into borosilicate glass. One key radionuclide present in LAW is technetium-99. Technetium-99 is a low energy, long-lived beta emitting radionuclide present in the waste feed in concentrations on the order of 1-10 ppm. The long half-life combined with a high solubility in groundwater results in technetium-99 having considerable impact on performance modeling (as potential release to the environment) of both the waste glass and associated secondary waste products. The current Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) process flowsheet calls formore » the recycle of vitrification process off-gas condensates to maximize the portion of technetium ultimately immobilized in the waste glass. This is required as technetium acts as a semi-volatile specie, i.e. considerable loss of the radionuclide to the process off-gas stream can occur during the vitrification process. To test the process flowsheet assumptions, a prototypic off-gas system with recycle capability was added to a laboratory melter (on the order of 1/200 scale) and testing performed. Key test goals included determination of the process mass balance for technetium, a non-radioactive surrogate (rhenium), and other soluble species (sulfate, halides, etc.) which are concentrated by recycling off-gas condensates. The studies performed are the initial demonstrations of process recycle for this type of liquid-fed melter system. This paper describes the process recycle system, the waste feeds processed, and experimental results. Comparisons between data gathered using process recycle and previous single pass melter testing as well as mathematical modeling simulations are also provided. (authors)« less
Effects of various combinations of cryoprotectants and cooling speed on the survival and further development of mouse oocytes after vitrification

PubMed Central

Cha, Soo Kyung; Kim, Bo Yeun; Kim, Mi Kyung; Kim, You Shin; Lee, Woo Sik

2011-01-01

Objective The objectives of this study were to analyze efficacy of immature and mature mouse oocytes after vitrification and warming by applying various combinations of cryoprotectants (CPAs) and/or super-rapid cooling using slush nitrogen (SN2). Methods Four-week old ICR female mice were superovulated for GV- and MII-stage oocytes. Experimental groups were divided into two groups. Ethylene glycol (EG) only group: pre-equilibrated with 1.5 M EG for 2.5 minutes and then equilibrated with 5.5 M EG and 1.0 M sucrose for 20 seconds. EG+dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) group: pre-equilibrated with 1.3 M EG+1.1 M DMSO for 2.5 minutes and equilibrated with 2.7 M EG+2.1 M DMSO+0.5 M sucrose for 20 seconds. The oocytes were loaded onto grids and plunged into SN2 or liquid nitrogen (LN2). Stored oocytes were warmed by a five-step method, and then their survival, maturation, cleavage, and developmental rates were observed. Results The EG only and EG+DMSO groups showed no significant difference in survival of immature oocytes vitrified after warming. However, maturation and cleavage rates after conventional insemination were greater in the EG only group than in the EG+DMSO group. In mature oocytes, survival, cleavage, and blastocyst formation rates after warming showed no significant difference when EG only or EG+DMSO was applied. Furthermore, cleavage and blastocyst formation rates of MII oocytes vitrified using SN2 were increased in both the EG only and EG+DMSO groups. Conclusion A combination of CPAs in oocyte cryopreservation could be formulated according to the oocyte stage. In addition, SN2 may improve the efficiency of vitrification by reducing cryoinjury. PMID:22384414
Support for HLW Direct Feed - Phase 2, VSL-15R3440-1

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Matlack, K. S.; Pegg, I.; Joseph, I.

This report describes work performed to develop and test new glass and feed formulations originating from a potential flow-sheet for the direct vitrification of High Level Waste (HLW) with minimal or no pretreatment. In the HLW direct feed option that is under consideration for early operations at the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP), the pretreatment facility would be bypassed in order to support an earlier start-up of the vitrification facility. For HLW, this would mean that the ultrafiltration and caustic leaching operations that would otherwise have been performed in the pretreatment facility would either not be performedmore » or would be replaced by an interim pretreatment function (in-tank leaching and settling, for example). These changes would likely affect glass formulations and waste loadings and have impacts on the downstream vitrification operations. Modification of the pretreatment process may result in: (i) Higher aluminum contents if caustic leaching is not performed; (ii) Higher chromium contents if oxidative leaching is not performed; (iii) A higher fraction of supernate in the HLW feed resulting from the lower efficiency of in-tank washing; and (iv) A higher water content due to the likely lower effectiveness of in-tank settling compared to ultrafiltration. The HLW direct feed option has also been proposed as a potential route for treating HLW streams that contain the highest concentrations of fast-settling plutoniumcontaining particles, thereby avoiding some of the potential issues associated with such particles in the WTP Pretreatment facility [1]. In response, the work presented herein focuses on the impacts of increased supernate and water content on wastes from one of the candidate source tanks for the direct feed option that is high in plutonium.« less
Effects of trehalose vitrification and artificial oocyte activation on the development competence of human immature oocytes.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhiguo; Wang, Tianjuan; Hao, Yan; Panhwar, Fazil; Chen, Zhongrong; Zou, Weiwei; Ji, Dongmei; Chen, Beili; Zhou, Ping; Zhao, Gang; Cao, Yunxia

2017-02-01

Sucrose and trehalose are conventional cryoprotectant additives for oocytes and embryos. Ethanol can artificially enhance activation of inseminated mature oocytes. This study aims to investigate whether artificial oocyte activation (AOA) with ethanol can promote the development competence of in vitro matured oocytes. A total of 810 human immature oocytes, obtained from 325 patients undergoing normal stimulated oocyte retrieval cycles, were in vitro maturated (IVM) either immediately after collection (Fresh group n = 291)) or after being vitrified as immature oocytes (Vitrified group n = 519). These groups were arbitrarily assigned. All fresh and vitrified oocytes which matured after a period of IVM then underwent intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Half an hour following ICSI, they were either activated by 7% ethanol (AOA group) or left untreated (Non-AOA group). Fertilization, cleavage rate, blastocyst quality and aneuploidy rate were then evaluated. High-quality blastocysts were only obtained in both the fresh and vitrified groups which had undergone AOA after ICSI. Trehalose vitrification slightly, but not significantly, increased the formation rates of high-quality embryos (21.7% VS 15.4%, P > 0.05) and blastocysts (15.7% VS 7.69%, P > 0.05)) when compared with sucrose vitrification. Aneuploidy was observed in 12 of 24 (50%) of the AOA derived high quality blastocysts. High-quality blastocysts only developed from fresh or vitrified immature oocytes if the ICSI was followed by AOA. This information may be important for human immature oocytes commonly retrieved in normal stimulation cycles and may be particularly important for certain patient groups, such as cancer patients. AOA with an appropriate concentration of ethanol can enhance the developmental competence of embryos. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Further insight into the mechanism of heavy metals partitioning in stormwater runoff.

PubMed

Djukić, Aleksandar; Lekić, Branislava; Rajaković-Ognjanović, Vladana; Veljović, Djordje; Vulić, Tatjana; Djolić, Maja; Naunovic, Zorana; Despotović, Jovan; Prodanović, Dušan

2016-03-01

Various particles and materials, including pollutants, deposited on urban surfaces are washed off by stormwater runoff during rain events. The interactions between the solid and dissolved compounds in stormwater runoff are phenomena of importance for the selection and improvement of optimal stormwater management practices aimed at minimizing pollutant input to receiving waters. The objective of this research was to further investigate the mechanisms responsible for the partitioning of heavy metals (HM) between the solid and liquid phases in urban stormwater runoff. The research involved the collection of samples from urban asphalt surfaces, chemical characterization of the bulk liquid samples, solids separation, particle size distribution fractionation and chemical and physico-chemical characterization of the solid phase particles. The results revealed that a negligible fraction of HM was present in the liquid phase (less than 3% by weight), while there was a strong correlation between the total content of heavy metals and total suspended solids. Examinations of surface morphology and mineralogy revealed that the solid phase particles consist predominantly of natural macroporous materials: alpha quartz (80%), magnetite (11.4%) and silicon diphosphate (8.9%). These materials have a low surface area and do not have significant adsorptive capacity. These materials have a low surface area and do not have significant adsorptive capacity. The presence of HM on the surface of solid particles was not confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalyses. These findings, along with the results of the liquid phase sample characterization, indicate that the partitioning of HM between the liquid and solid phases in the analyzed samples may be attributed to precipitation processes. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
40 CFR 258.27 - Surface water requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 25 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Surface water requirements. 258.27 Section 258.27 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES CRITERIA FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE LANDFILLS Operating Criteria § 258.27 Surface water requirements. MSWLF...
Electrochemical Control of Peptide Self-Organization on Atomically Flat Solid Surfaces: A Case Study with Graphite.

PubMed

Seki, Takakazu; So, Christopher R; Page, Tamon R; Starkebaum, David; Hayamizu, Yuhei; Sarikaya, Mehmet

2018-02-06

The nanoscale self-organization of biomolecules, such as proteins and peptides, on solid surfaces under controlled conditions is an important issue in establishing functional bio/solid soft interfaces for bioassays, biosensors, and biofuel cells. Electrostatic interaction between proteins and surfaces is one of the most essential parameters in the adsorption and self-assembly of proteins on solid surfaces. Although the adsorption of proteins has been studied with respect to the electrochemical surface potential, the self-assembly of proteins or peptides forming well-organized nanostructures templated by lattice structure of the solid surfaces has not been studied in the relation to the surface potential. In this work, we utilize graphite-binding peptides (GrBPs) selected by the phage display method to investigate the relationship between the electrochemical potential of the highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) and peptide self-organization forming long-range-ordered structures. Under modulated electrical bias, graphite-binding peptides form various ordered structures, such as well-ordered nanowires, dendritic structures, wavy wires, amorphous (disordered) structures, and islands. A systematic investigation of the correlation between peptide sequence and self-organizational characteristics reveals that the presence of the bias-sensitive amino acid modules in the peptide sequence has a significant effect on not only surface coverage but also on the morphological features of self-assembled structures. Our results show a new method to control peptide self-assembly by means of applied electrochemical bias as well as peptide design-rules for the construction of functional soft bio/solid interfaces that could be integrated in a wide range of practical implementations.
Modes of surface premelting in colloidal crystals composed of attractive particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Bo; Wang, Feng; Zhou, Di; Peng, Yi; Ni, Ran; Han, Yilong

2016-03-01

Crystal surfaces typically melt into a thin liquid layer at temperatures slightly below the melting point of the crystal. Such surface premelting is prevalent in all classes of solids and is important in a variety of metallurgical, geological and meteorological phenomena. Premelting has been studied using X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry, but the lack of single-particle resolution makes it hard to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Colloids are good model systems for studying phase transitions because the thermal motions of individual micrometre-sized particles can be tracked directly using optical microscopy. Here we use colloidal spheres with tunable attractions to form equilibrium crystal-vapour interfaces, and study their surface premelting behaviour at the single-particle level. We find that monolayer colloidal crystals exhibit incomplete premelting at their perimeter, with a constant liquid-layer thickness. In contrast, two- and three-layer crystals exhibit conventional complete melting, with the thickness of the surface liquid diverging as the melting point is approached. The microstructures of the surface liquids differ in certain aspects from what would be predicted by conventional premelting theories. Incomplete premelting in the monolayer crystals is triggered by a bulk isostructural solid-solid transition and truncated by a mechanical instability that separately induces homogeneous melting within the bulk. This finding is in contrast to the conventional assumption that two-dimensional crystals melt heterogeneously from their free surfaces (that is, at the solid-vapour interface). The unexpected bulk melting that we observe for the monolayer crystals is accompanied by the formation of grain boundaries, which supports a previously proposed grain-boundary-mediated two-dimensional melting theory. The observed interplay between surface premelting, bulk melting and solid-solid transitions challenges existing theories of surface premelting and two-dimensional melting.

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