Release of contaminant U(VI) from soils

Journal Article · Wed Aug 20 04:00:00 EDT 2003 · Journal of Environmental Quality

OSTI ID:926456

Zheng, Zuoping; Wan, Jiamin

The retention, mobility, and bio-availability of U(VI) incontaminated soils depend strongly on release of U(VI). Laboratory batchexperiments were performed to evaluate the factors controlling therelease of U(VI) from contaminated soil at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. We foundthat the ionic strength of the extraction solution strongly affectsrelease of U(VI). Increase in ionic strength shows a strong effect onU(VI) release as indicated by the increase in release rates andassociated release of U(VI) concentrations. We also found that the ratioof solution volume to solid mass (V/M) has a significant impact on therelease of U(VI). Increase in the V/M ratio shows a negligible effect onthe U(VI) release over a 4-day period. However, at Day 30 and Day 120,larger V/M ratios cause greater U(VI) release. The maximum U(VI)concentrations observed in the release experiments are in the range ofschoepite estimated under conditions relevant to the experiments,suggesting that schoepite solubility primarily controls the U(VI)release, but that solubilization and desorption effects cannot bedistinguished using macroscopic methods.

• Research Organization: Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley NationalLaboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Director. Office of Science. Biological andEnvironmental Research
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 926456
• Report Number(s): LBNL--54564; BnR: KP1301010
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Quality, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Quality Vol. 93
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
U(VI) Release Kinetics Contaminant Soils