Field Application of 238U/235U Measurements To Detect Reoxidation and Mobilization of U(IV)
Abstract
We present that biostimulation to induce reduction of soluble U(VI) to relatively immobile U(IV) is an effective strategy for decreasing aqueous U(VI) concentrations in contaminated groundwater systems. If oxidation of U(IV) occurs following the biostimulation phase, U(VI) concentrations increase, challenging the long-term effectiveness of this technique. However, detecting U(IV) oxidation through dissolved U concentrations alone can prove difficult in locations with few groundwater wells to track the addition of U to a mass of groundwater. We propose the 238U/235U ratio of aqueous U as an independent, reliable tracer of U(IV) remobilization via oxidation or mobilization of colloids. Reduction of U(VI) produces 238U-enriched U(IV), whereas remobilization of solid U(IV) should not induce isotopic fractionation. The incorporation of remobilized U(IV) with a high 238U/235U ratio into the aqueous U(VI) pool produces an increase in 238U/235U of aqueous U(VI). Lastly, during several injections of nitrate to induce U(IV) oxidation, 238U/235U consistently increased, suggesting 238U/235U is broadly applicable for detecting mobilization of U(IV).
- Authors:
-
- Univ. of Illinois, Urbana, IL (United States). Dept. of Geology
- Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States). College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Earth Sciences Division
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1460250
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1477271
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0006755; AC02-05CH11231
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Environmental Science and Technology
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 52; Journal Issue: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 0013-936X
- Publisher:
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 58 GEOSCIENCES
Citation Formats
Jemison, Noah E., Shiel, Alyssa E., Johnson, Thomas M., Lundstrom, Craig C., Long, Philip E., and Williams, Kenneth H. Field Application of 238U/235U Measurements To Detect Reoxidation and Mobilization of U(IV). United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.1021/acs.est.7b05162.
Jemison, Noah E., Shiel, Alyssa E., Johnson, Thomas M., Lundstrom, Craig C., Long, Philip E., & Williams, Kenneth H. Field Application of 238U/235U Measurements To Detect Reoxidation and Mobilization of U(IV). United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b05162
Jemison, Noah E., Shiel, Alyssa E., Johnson, Thomas M., Lundstrom, Craig C., Long, Philip E., and Williams, Kenneth H. Wed .
"Field Application of 238U/235U Measurements To Detect Reoxidation and Mobilization of U(IV)". United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b05162. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1460250.
@article{osti_1460250,
title = {Field Application of 238U/235U Measurements To Detect Reoxidation and Mobilization of U(IV)},
author = {Jemison, Noah E. and Shiel, Alyssa E. and Johnson, Thomas M. and Lundstrom, Craig C. and Long, Philip E. and Williams, Kenneth H.},
abstractNote = {We present that biostimulation to induce reduction of soluble U(VI) to relatively immobile U(IV) is an effective strategy for decreasing aqueous U(VI) concentrations in contaminated groundwater systems. If oxidation of U(IV) occurs following the biostimulation phase, U(VI) concentrations increase, challenging the long-term effectiveness of this technique. However, detecting U(IV) oxidation through dissolved U concentrations alone can prove difficult in locations with few groundwater wells to track the addition of U to a mass of groundwater. We propose the 238U/235U ratio of aqueous U as an independent, reliable tracer of U(IV) remobilization via oxidation or mobilization of colloids. Reduction of U(VI) produces 238U-enriched U(IV), whereas remobilization of solid U(IV) should not induce isotopic fractionation. The incorporation of remobilized U(IV) with a high 238U/235U ratio into the aqueous U(VI) pool produces an increase in 238U/235U of aqueous U(VI). Lastly, during several injections of nitrate to induce U(IV) oxidation, 238U/235U consistently increased, suggesting 238U/235U is broadly applicable for detecting mobilization of U(IV).},
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.7b05162},
journal = {Environmental Science and Technology},
number = 6,
volume = 52,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Feb 21 00:00:00 EST 2018},
month = {Wed Feb 21 00:00:00 EST 2018}
}
Web of Science
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