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Title: Effect of fulvic acid surface coatings on plutonium sorption and desorption kinetics on goethite

Journal Article · · Environmental Science and Technology
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es505120s· OSTI ID:1266683
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [4];  [2];  [2]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  3. Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
  4. Clemson Univ., Clemson, SC (United States)

The rates and extent of plutonium (Pu) sorption and desorption onto mineral surfaces are important parameters for predicting Pu mobility in subsurface environments. The presence of natural organic matter, such as fulvic acid (FA), may influence these parameters. We investigated the effects of FA on Pu(IV) sorption/desorption onto goethite in two scenarios: when FA was (1) initially present in solution or (2) found as organic coatings on the mineral surface. A low pH was used to maximize FA coatings on goethite. Experiments were combined with kinetic modeling and speciation calculations to interpret variations in Pu sorption rates in the presence of FA. Our results indicate that FA can change the rates and extent of Pu sorption onto goethite at pH 4. Differences in the kinetics of Pu sorption were observed as a function of the concentration and initial form of FA. The fraction of desorbed Pu decreased in the presence of FA, indicating that organic matter can stabilize sorbed Pu on goethite. These results suggest that ternary Pu–FA–mineral complexes could enhance colloid-facilitated Pu transport. In conclusion, more representative natural conditions need to be investigated to quantify the relevance of these findings.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1266683
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-663069
Journal Information:
Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 49, Issue 5; ISSN 0013-936X
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 31 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (2)

Structural Analysis of the Complexation of Uranyl, Neptunyl, Plutonyl, and Americyl with Cyclic Imide Dioximes journal October 2018
Using chromate to investigate the impact of mineral–organic contact time on the surface reactivity of goethite journal January 2018

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