From Adsorption to Precipitation of U(VI): What is the Role of pH and Natural Organic Matter?

Carmen A Velasco; Adrian J Brearley; Jorge Gonzalez-Estrella; Abdul-Mehdi S Ali; María Isabel Meza; Stephen E Cabaniss; Bruce M Thomson; Tori Z Forbes; Juan S Lezama Pacheco; José M Cerrato

doi:10.1021/acs.est.1c05429

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From Adsorption to Precipitation of U(VI): What is the Role of pH and Natural Organic Matter?

Journal article

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From Adsorption to Precipitation of U(VI): What is the Role of pH and Natural Organic Matter?

Carmen A Velasco, Adrian J Brearley, Jorge Gonzalez-Estrella, Abdul-Mehdi S Ali, María Isabel Meza, Stephen E Cabaniss, Bruce M Thomson, Tori Z Forbes, Juan S Lezama Pacheco and José M Cerrato

Environmental science & technology, Vol.55(23), pp.16246-16256

12/07/2021

DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05429

PMCID: PMC8680647

PMID: 34797046

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/8680647View

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Abstract

We investigated interfacial reactions of U(VI) in the presence of Suwannee River natural organic matter (NOM) at acidic and neutral pH. Laboratory batch experiments show that the adsorption and precipitation of U(VI) in the presence of NOM occur at pH 2 and pH 4, while the aqueous complexation of U by dissolved organic matter is favored at pH 7, preventing its precipitation. Spectroscopic analyses indicate that U(VI) is mainly adsorbed to the particulate organic matter at pH 4. However, U(VI)-bearing ultrafine to nanocrystalline solids were identified at pH 4 by electron microscopy. This study shows the promotion of U(VI) precipitation by NOM at low pH which may be relevant to the formation of mineralized deposits, radioactive waste repositories, wetlands, and other U- and organic-rich environmental systems.

Adsorption

Dissolved Organic Matter

Hydrogen-Ion Concentration

Radioactive Waste

Uranium - analysis

Details

Title: Subtitle: From Adsorption to Precipitation of U(VI): What is the Role of pH and Natural Organic Matter?
Creators: Carmen A Velasco - Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, MSC01 1070, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
Adrian J Brearley - Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, MSC03 2040, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
Jorge Gonzalez-Estrella - School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, United States
Abdul-Mehdi S Ali - Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, MSC03 2040, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
María Isabel Meza - Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, MSC01 1070, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
Stephen E Cabaniss - Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
Bruce M Thomson - Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, MSC01 1070, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
Tori Z Forbes - Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
Juan S Lezama Pacheco - Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
José M Cerrato - Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, MSC01 1070, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Environmental science & technology, Vol.55(23), pp.16246-16256
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05429
PMID: 34797046
PMCID: PMC8680647
NLM abbreviation: Environ Sci Technol
ISSN: 0013-936X
eISSN: 1520-5851
Grant note: P42 ES025589 / NIEHS NIH HHS R01 ES027145 / NIEHS NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 12/07/2021
Academic Unit: Civil and Environmental Engineering; Core Research Facilities; Chemistry
Record Identifier: 9984216589002771

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