THE ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM IN SOME BROWN COALS IN HUNGARY
Geochemical enrichment of uranium is ascertained in some brown coal strata in Hungary. These strata are situated near to the detritus zone of the two existing granitic mountains of Hungary. The uranium content of these coal strata is about the same (about 0.01%) as the U content of bioliths (oil shales, carbonate rocks etc.) used to be. It seems highly probable that the same unknown genergl geochemical law is responsible for all such enrichments in bioliths. The granitic rocks are the primary sources of uranium, the U migrated into the sea or moor water during the age of chemical decomposition of the rocks. Uranium became adsorbed by the decomposing organic substance of the sediments. Laboratory experiments revealed that decomposing plant debris, peat, lignite, and brown coal have a very high adsorption power and capacity for uranium, which is in fact sufficiently high to explain geochemical enrichment. Subsequent experiments revealed and control experiments verified that the humic acid colloid particles are responsible for the adsorption, which is a cation exchange process. The adsorption equilibrium con stant of humic acid substance is much higher for uranium than for citions of lower valence and lower atomic weight. It seems, that the hitherto unknown law of geochemical enrichment of uranium in bioliths is herewith explained. This law may be formulated in the following manner: the geochemical enrichment of uranium in carbonate rocks (bioliths) is caused by the adsorption of dissolved uranium by the humic acid content of the sediments. The adsorption is a cation exchange process. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Debrecen, Hungary
- NSA Number:
- NSA-16-027426
- OSTI ID:
- 4791877
- Journal Information:
- Acta Geologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae (Hungary), Journal Name: Acta Geologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae (Hungary); ISSN AGAHA
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Porous structure and reactivity of brown coal humic acids chars of different degrees of demineralization
Study of an Unrefined Humate Solution as a Possible Attenuation-based Remedy for Uranium Contamination in Acidic Groundwater - 20351