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Related Experiment Videos

Aluminum effect on dissolution and precipitation under hyperalkaline conditions: II. Solid phase transformations.

Nikolla P Qafoku1, Calvin C Ainsworth, James E Szecsody

  • 1Pacific Northwest National Lab., 902 Battelle Blvd., P.O. Box 999, MSIN: K3-61, Interfacial Geochemistry Group, Richland, WA 99352, USA. nik.qafoku@pnl.gov

Journal of Environmental Quality
|December 17, 2003
PubMed
Summary

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Radioactive waste leaks at Hanford caused mineral changes in soil. Dissolution and precipitation altered sediments, potentially immobilizing contaminants like cesium and uranium.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Geochemistry
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Accidental leaks of high-level radioactive, alkaline, and saline waste fluids from underground tanks at the Hanford Site have contaminated the vadose zone.
  • These waste fluids contain high concentrations of aluminum and pose risks to the environment and human health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate solid-phase transformations in sediments due to dissolution and precipitation when contacted with Hanford waste fluid simulants.
  • To understand the impact of these transformations on the fate and transport of radionuclides and contaminants.

Main Methods:

  • Batch experiments were conducted at 323 K in metal- and glass-free systems under anoxic conditions.
  • Techniques used include X-ray diffraction (XRD), quantitative X-ray diffraction (QXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (EDXRF).

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Main Results:

  • Significant solid-phase transformations occurred in sediments exposed to Al-rich, hyperalkaline, and saline solutions.
  • XRD/QXRD confirmed dissolution of smectite and biotite. SEM/EDS indicated the formation of alumino-silicates (cancrinite, sodalite).
  • Secondary phase morphology varied with the aqueous Si/Al molar ratio.

Conclusions:

  • Dissolution of soil minerals and precipitation of secondary alumino-silicates alter Hanford vadose zone sediments.
  • These transformations, involving mineral weathering and new phase formation, may significantly influence radionuclide and contaminant (e.g., Cs, Sr, U) immobilization.
  • Understanding these geochemical processes is crucial for predicting contaminant fate and developing remediation strategies at the Hanford Site.