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Title: Evaluation of the efficacy of polyphosphate remediation technology: Direct and indirect remediation of uranium under alkaline conditions

Abstract

A field-scale technology demonstration has been conducted to optimize polyphosphate remediation technology for enhanced monitored natural attenuation of the uranium plume within the 300 Area aquifer at the Hanford Site, southeastern Washington State. The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of polyphosphate to treat uranium-contaminated groundwater in situ. Focused application of polyphosphate was conducted in a source or 'hot spot' area to reduce the inventory of available uranium contributing to the groundwater plume through direct precipitation of uranyl-phosphate solids and secondary containment via precipitation of apatite which can serve as a long-term sorbent for uranium. The test site consisted of an injection well and 15 monitoring wells installed in the 300 Area near the process trenches that had previously received uranium-bearing effluents. The results indicated sequestration of uranium as insoluble phosphate phases appears to be a promising alternative for treating the uranium- contaminated groundwater at the Hanford Site 300 Area. However, the formation of the apatite during the test was limited due to two separate overarching issues: (1) formation and emplacement of apatite via polyphosphate technology, and (2) efficacy of apatite for sequestering uranium under the present geochemical and hydrodynamic conditions.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1027179
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-60306
830403000; TRN: US201121%%346
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Technology and Innovation
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 13; Journal Issue: 2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 58 GEOSCIENCES; APATITES; AQUIFERS; CONTAINMENT; EVALUATION; HYDRODYNAMICS; INJECTION WELLS; MONITORING; NATURAL ATTENUATION; PHOSPHATES; PLUMES; POSITIONING; PRECIPITATION; URANIUM

Citation Formats

Wellman, Dawn M, Fruchter, Jonathan S, Vermeul, Vincent R, Richards, Emily L, Jansik, Danielle P, and Edge, Ellen. Evaluation of the efficacy of polyphosphate remediation technology: Direct and indirect remediation of uranium under alkaline conditions. United States: N. p., 2011. Web. doi:10.3727/194982411X13085939956544.
Wellman, Dawn M, Fruchter, Jonathan S, Vermeul, Vincent R, Richards, Emily L, Jansik, Danielle P, & Edge, Ellen. Evaluation of the efficacy of polyphosphate remediation technology: Direct and indirect remediation of uranium under alkaline conditions. United States. https://doi.org/10.3727/194982411X13085939956544
Wellman, Dawn M, Fruchter, Jonathan S, Vermeul, Vincent R, Richards, Emily L, Jansik, Danielle P, and Edge, Ellen. 2011. "Evaluation of the efficacy of polyphosphate remediation technology: Direct and indirect remediation of uranium under alkaline conditions". United States. https://doi.org/10.3727/194982411X13085939956544.
@article{osti_1027179,
title = {Evaluation of the efficacy of polyphosphate remediation technology: Direct and indirect remediation of uranium under alkaline conditions},
author = {Wellman, Dawn M and Fruchter, Jonathan S and Vermeul, Vincent R and Richards, Emily L and Jansik, Danielle P and Edge, Ellen},
abstractNote = {A field-scale technology demonstration has been conducted to optimize polyphosphate remediation technology for enhanced monitored natural attenuation of the uranium plume within the 300 Area aquifer at the Hanford Site, southeastern Washington State. The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of polyphosphate to treat uranium-contaminated groundwater in situ. Focused application of polyphosphate was conducted in a source or 'hot spot' area to reduce the inventory of available uranium contributing to the groundwater plume through direct precipitation of uranyl-phosphate solids and secondary containment via precipitation of apatite which can serve as a long-term sorbent for uranium. The test site consisted of an injection well and 15 monitoring wells installed in the 300 Area near the process trenches that had previously received uranium-bearing effluents. The results indicated sequestration of uranium as insoluble phosphate phases appears to be a promising alternative for treating the uranium- contaminated groundwater at the Hanford Site 300 Area. However, the formation of the apatite during the test was limited due to two separate overarching issues: (1) formation and emplacement of apatite via polyphosphate technology, and (2) efficacy of apatite for sequestering uranium under the present geochemical and hydrodynamic conditions.},
doi = {10.3727/194982411X13085939956544},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1027179}, journal = {Technology and Innovation},
number = 2,
volume = 13,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Aug 31 00:00:00 EDT 2011},
month = {Wed Aug 31 00:00:00 EDT 2011}
}