Identification and treatment of lithium as the primary toxicant in a groundwater treatment facility effluent
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
- Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, TN (United States)
{sup 6}Li is used in manufacturing nuclear weapons, shielding, and reactor control rods. Li compounds have been used at DOE facilities and Li-contaminated waste has historically been land disposed. Seep water from burial grounds near Y-12 contain small amounts of chlorinated hydrocarbons, traces of PCBs, and 10-19 mg/L Li. Seep treatment consists of oil-water separation, filtration, air stripping, and carbon adsorption. Routine biomonitoring tests using fathead minnows and {ital Ceriodaphnia}{ital dubia} are conducted. Evaluation of suspected contaminants revealed that toxicity was most likely due to Li. Laboratory tests showed that 1 mg Li/L reduced the survival of both species; 0.5 mg Li/L reduced {ital Ceriodaphnia} reproduction and minnow growth. However, the toxicity was greatly reduced in presence of sodium (up to 4 mg Li/L, Na can fully negate the toxic effect of Li). Because of the low Na level discharged from the treatment facility, Li removal from the ground water was desired. SuperLig{reg_sign} columns were used (Li-selective organic macrocycle bonded to silica gel). Bench-scale tests showed that the material was very effective for removing Li from the effluent, reducing the toxicity.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400; AC05-96OR22464
- OSTI ID:
- 405727
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9610177-1; ON: DE96014602; TRN: 97:001140
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: WEFTEC `96: Water Environment Federation meeting, Dallas, TX (United States), 5-8 Oct 1996; Other Information: PBD: [1996]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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