Impact of natural organic matter on uranium transport through saturated geologic materials: from molecular to column scale

Environ Sci Technol. 2012 Jun 5;46(11):5931-8. doi: 10.1021/es300155j. Epub 2012 May 14.

Abstract

The risk stemming from human exposure to actinides via the groundwater track has motivated numerous studies on the transport of radionuclides within geologic environments; however, the effects of waterborne organic matter on radionuclide mobility are still poorly understood. In this study, we compared the abilities of three humic acids (HAs) (obtained through sequential extraction of a peat soil) to cotransport hexavalent uranium (U) within water-saturated sand columns. Relative breakthrough concentrations of U measured upon elution of 18 pore volumes increased from undetectable levels (<0.001) in an experiment without HAs to 0.17 to 0.55 in experiments with HAs. The strength of the HA effect on U mobility was positively correlated with the hydrophobicity of organic matter and NMR-detected content of alkyl carbon, which indicates the possible importance of hydrophobic organic matter in facilitating U transport. Carbon and uranium elemental maps collected with a scanning transmission X-ray microscope (STXM) revealed uneven microscale distribution of U. Such molecular- and column-scale data provide evidence for a critical role of hydrophobic organic matter in the association and cotransport of U by HAs. Therefore, evaluations of radionuclide transport within subsurface environments should consider the chemical characteristics of waterborne organic substances, especially hydrophobic organic matter.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Carbon / analysis
  • Colloids
  • Computer Simulation
  • Environment
  • Geologic Sediments / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Humic Substances / analysis
  • Kinetics
  • Molecular Weight
  • Motion*
  • Organic Chemicals / analysis*
  • Particle Size
  • Time Factors
  • Uranium / analysis*

Substances

  • Colloids
  • Humic Substances
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Uranium
  • Carbon