Geochemical and transport controls on time-dependent, U(VI)aq: Solid phase interactions in contaminated sediments

GEOC 125

Nikolla P. Qafoku, nik.qafoku@pnl.gov1, John M. Zachara, john.zachara@pnl.gov, and Chongxuan Liu, chongxuan.liu@pnl.gov2. (1) Environmental Dynamics and Simulation Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, MSIN: P7-54 902 Battelle Boulevard, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA 99352, (2) Chemical and Materials Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352
The 300 Area U(VI) plume at Hanford, WA underlies a 7-10 m vadose zone that was contaminated by infiltrating waste fluids of the North and South Processing Ponds. A series of column and batch experiments combined with modeling, SEM/TEM inspections and EMP, XMP, and CLIFS interrogations were conducted to: i.) Provide insights on molecular level U(VI) solid phase speciation, lithological associations and physical location; ii.) Measure timescales of U(VI) desorption/adsorption reactions under different geochemical conditions; iii.) Develop a combined distributed rate and surface complexation model to predict transport-controlled, U(VI) desorption/adsorption in the contaminated sediments. Results demonstrated that sediment associated U(VI) resided on phyllosilicate coatings and intragrain domains; U(VI) adsorption complexes were present on Fe(III) oxides and phyllosilicates; U(VI) exhibited a complex, time-dependent desorption/adsorption behavior; dissolved inorganic carbon had the greatest impact on U(VI)aq : solid phase interactions; a distributed rate statistical model was used to fit the experimental data.
 

Physical Chemistry of Soil and Aquifer Systems: A Symposium in Honor of Garrison Sposito
1:30 PM-4:40 PM, Wednesday, 13 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Room 256, Oral

Sci-Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, 11 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Sci-Mix

Division of Geochemistry

The 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006