Laboratory simulation of uranium metal corrosion in different soil moisture regimes

Qinku Zhang; Steven L Larson; John H Ballard; Pohlee Cheah; Xianchun Zhu; Heather M Knotek-Smith; Fengxiang X Han

doi:10.1016/j.mex.2020.100789

Laboratory simulation of uranium metal corrosion in different soil moisture regimes

MethodsX. 2020 Jan 17:7:100789. doi: 10.1016/j.mex.2020.100789. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Qinku Zhang^{1

2}, Steven L Larson³, John H Ballard³, Pohlee Cheah¹, Xianchun Zhu¹, Heather M Knotek-Smith³, Fengxiang X Han¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, 1400 J. R. Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 39217, USA.
² School of Civil Engineering and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration in Shanbei Mining Area, YulinUniversity, Yulin, Shaanxi 719000, China.
³ U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Rd., Vicksburg, MS 39180-6199, USA.

Abstract

A novel laboratory simulation system has been developed for the study of the corrosion of uranium metal in soils. Corrosion and transportation of depleted uranium (DU) as the metal undergoes weathering as a buried material within the soil environment. The corrosion of uranium metal in soil was not well understood due to the gas-liquid-solid phase of the soil. This study presents a novel method to investigate the change of uranium species during the process of process of oxidation of metallic uranium in these environments. Compared with other techniques used for the study of environmental corrosion of metals in soils, this method has the advantage of low secondary uranium pollution, no energy consumption, and ease of operation. The simulation system has been used for the following studies: •Simultaneously simulate the corrosion of uranium metal in different soil moisture regimes•Study the influence of biogeochemical factors on the corrosion of uranium metal•Investigate the change of uranium species during oxidation.

Keywords: Corrosion; Laboratory simulation of uranium metal corrosion in different soil moisture regimes; Soil; Uranium dioxide; Uranium metal; Uranium trioxide.