Biostimulated uranium immobilization within aquifers – from bench scale to field experiments

Ulrich, Kai-Uwe; Veeramani, Harish; Schofield, Eleanor J.; Sharp, Jonathan O.; Suvorova, Elena; Stubbs, Joanne E.; Lezama Pacheco, Juan S.; Barrows, Charles J.; Cerrato, Jose M.; Campbell, Kate M.; Yabusaki, Steven B.; Long, Philip E.; Bernier-Latmani, Rizlan; Giammar, Daniel E.; Bargar, John R.

Title: Biostimulated uranium immobilization within aquifers – from bench scale to field experiments

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Abstract

In situ bioremediation of uranium-contaminated aquifers through microbially catalyzed reduction of mobile U(VI) species can only be successful if the U(IV) products are immobilized over long time-scales. Although uraninite is known for its low solubility and has been produced in nano-particulate form by several species of metal- and sulfate-reducing bacteria in laboratory studies, little is known about the stability of biogenic U(IV) in the subsurface. Using an up-scaling approach, we investigated the chemical and environmental stability of biogenic UO₂ nano-solids. Our results show that diffusive limitations due to aquifer porosity and microstructure may retard uraninite corrosion. Corrosion was also retarded by adsorption or incorporation of manganese. On the other hand, U(VI) bioreduction in field sediments generated U(IV) that was more labile than biogenic UO₂.

Authors:: Ulrich, Kai-Uwe; Veeramani, Harish; Schofield, Eleanor J.; Sharp, Jonathan O.; Suvorova, Elena; Stubbs, Joanne E.; Lezama Pacheco, Juan S.; Barrows, Charles J.; Cerrato, Jose M.; Campbell, Kate M.; Yabusaki, Steven B.; Long, Philip E.; Bernier-Latmani, Rizlan; Giammar, Daniel E.; Bargar, John R.

Publication Date:: Thu Dec 29 00:00:00 EST 2011

Research Org.:: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (EMSL)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1203941

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA-84704
35417; KP1702030

DOE Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

Resource Type:: Conference

Resource Relation:: Conference: 11th International Mine Water Association Congress (IMWA 2011): Mine Water - Managing the Challenges, September 4-11, 2011, Aachen, Germany, 627-631

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: uranium; bioremediation; modeling; Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Citation Formats


                    Ulrich, Kai-Uwe, Veeramani, Harish, Schofield, Eleanor J., Sharp, Jonathan O., Suvorova, Elena, Stubbs, Joanne E., Lezama Pacheco, Juan S., Barrows, Charles J., Cerrato, Jose M., Campbell, Kate M., Yabusaki, Steven B., Long, Philip E., Bernier-Latmani, Rizlan, Giammar, Daniel E., and Bargar, John R. Biostimulated uranium immobilization within aquifers – from bench scale to field experiments.  United States: N. p., 2011. 
        Web.

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                    Ulrich, Kai-Uwe, Veeramani, Harish, Schofield, Eleanor J., Sharp, Jonathan O., Suvorova, Elena, Stubbs, Joanne E., Lezama Pacheco, Juan S., Barrows, Charles J., Cerrato, Jose M., Campbell, Kate M., Yabusaki, Steven B., Long, Philip E., Bernier-Latmani, Rizlan, Giammar, Daniel E., & Bargar, John R. Biostimulated uranium immobilization within aquifers – from bench scale to field experiments.  United States.

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                    Ulrich, Kai-Uwe, Veeramani, Harish, Schofield, Eleanor J., Sharp, Jonathan O., Suvorova, Elena, Stubbs, Joanne E., Lezama Pacheco, Juan S., Barrows, Charles J., Cerrato, Jose M., Campbell, Kate M., Yabusaki, Steven B., Long, Philip E., Bernier-Latmani, Rizlan, Giammar, Daniel E., and Bargar, John R. 2011.  
        "Biostimulated uranium immobilization within aquifers – from bench scale to field experiments".  United States.

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@article{osti_1203941,

  title        = {Biostimulated uranium immobilization within aquifers – from bench scale to field experiments},

  author       = {Ulrich, Kai-Uwe and Veeramani, Harish and Schofield, Eleanor J. and Sharp, Jonathan O. and Suvorova, Elena and Stubbs, Joanne E. and Lezama Pacheco, Juan S. and Barrows, Charles J. and Cerrato, Jose M. and Campbell, Kate M. and Yabusaki, Steven B. and Long, Philip E. and Bernier-Latmani, Rizlan and Giammar, Daniel E. and Bargar, John R.},

  abstractNote = {In situ bioremediation of uranium-contaminated aquifers through microbially catalyzed reduction of mobile U(VI) species can only be successful if the U(IV) products are immobilized over long time-scales. Although uraninite is known for its low solubility and has been produced in nano-particulate form by several species of metal- and sulfate-reducing bacteria in laboratory studies, little is known about the stability of biogenic U(IV) in the subsurface. Using an up-scaling approach, we investigated the chemical and environmental stability of biogenic UO₂ nano-solids. Our results show that diffusive limitations due to aquifer porosity and microstructure may retard uraninite corrosion. Corrosion was also retarded by adsorption or incorporation of manganese. On the other hand, U(VI) bioreduction in field sediments generated U(IV) that was more labile than biogenic UO₂.},

  doi          = {},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1203941},
  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Thu Dec 29 00:00:00 EST 2011},

  month        = {Thu Dec 29 00:00:00 EST 2011}

}

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