Journal
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Volume 377, Issue -, Pages 315-320Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.05.101
Keywords
Uranium; Groundwater; Remediation; Metaschoepite; Uranophane
Categories
Funding
- EPA through its Office of Research and Development
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Understanding the factors that govern aqueous solubility of uranyl minerals is important for predicting uranium mobility in groundwater and for designing effective remediation strategies. The uranyl-containing minerals metaschoepite [UO3 center dot(2H(2)O)] and uranophane [Ca(UO2)(2)(SiO3OH)(2)center dot 5H(2)O] were synthesized and evaluated in batch solubility experiments conducted in the presence of common groundwater ions: calcium, bicarbonate/carbonate, and dissolved silica. Solid-phase characterization revealed the expected structural and thermogravimetric properties of metaschoepite and uranophane. Metaschoepite solubility in carbonate-free water followed a u-shaped pH dependency with minimum solubility near pH 8.5; uranium concentrations at pH greater than or similar to 8.5 were approximately equivalent to the reference value for safe drinking water established by the EPA (30 mu g/L). With increasing bicarbonate/carbonate concentration (1 mM - 50 mM) the solubility of metaschoepite increased, presumably due to the formation of uranyl-carbonate complexes. However, the experimental concentrations of uranium were lower than concentrations predicted from accepted complexation constants. For uranophane, equilibrium uranium concentrations were < 75 mu g/L at typical groundwater concentrations of calcium and dissolved silica (pH > 7). The diversity of uranyl minerals that possibly form in the presence of common groundwater species: Ca-Mg-Na-K-Si-bicarbonate/carbonate-sulfate-chloride, has not been fully explored with respect to understanding potential mineral transformations and impacts on uranium solubility and mobility.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available