Microbial Mineral Transformations at the Fe(II)/Fe(III) Redox Boundary for Solid Phase Capture of Strontium and Other Metal/Radionuclide Contaminants
The migration of {sup 90}Sr in groundwater is a significant environmental concern at former nuclear weapons production sites in the US and abroad. Although retardation of {sup 90}Sr transport relative to mean groundwater velocity is known to occur in contaminated aquifers, Sr{sup 2+} does not sorb as strongly to iron oxides and other mineral phases as do other metal-radionuclides contaminants. Thus, some potential exists for extensive {sup 90}Sr migration from sources of contamination. Chemical or biological processes capable of retarding or immobilizing Sr{sup 2+} in groundwater environments are of interest from the standpoint of understanding controls on subsurface Sr{sup 2+} migration. In addition, it may be possible to exploit such processes for remediation of subsurface Sr contamination. In this study the authors examined the potential for the solid phase sorption and incorporation of Sr{sup 2+} into carbonate minerals formed during microbial Fe(III) oxide reduction as a first step toward evaluating whether this process could be used to promote retardation of {sup 90}Sr migrations in anaerobic subsurface environments. The demonstration of Sr{sup 2+} capture in carbonate mineral phases formed during bacterial HFO reduction and urea hydrolysis suggests that microbial carbonate mineral formation could contribute to Sr{sup 2+} retardation in groundwater environments. This process may also provide a mechanism for subsurface remediation of Sr{sup 2+} and other divalent metal contaminants that form insoluble carbonate precipitates.
- Research Organization:
- USDOE Idaho Operations Office, Idaho Falls, ID; Univ. of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Research (ER) (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG07-96ER62317
- OSTI ID:
- 757941
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ER/62317; TRN: US0004419
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 31 Jan 2000
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
AQUIFERS
CARBONATE MINERALS
GROUND WATER
HYDROLYSIS
IRON OXIDES
SORPTION
STRONTIUM
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
UREA
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
REMEDIAL ACTION
90-SR
GROUNDWATER
VELOCITY
METAL-RADIONUCLIDE CONTAMINANTS
SR2+
ANAEROBIC
HFO REDUCTION
UREA HYDROLYSIS
REMEDIATION