Chemical reduction of U(VI) by Fe(II) at the solid-water interface using natural and synthetic Fe(III) oxides.
Abiotic reduction of 0.1 mM U(VI) by Fe(II) in the presence of synthetic iron oxides (biogenic magnetite, goethite, and hematite) and natural Fe(III) oxide-containing solids was investigated in pH 6.8 artificial groundwater containing 10 mM NaHCO3. In most experiments, more than 95% of added U(VI) was sorbed to solids. U(VI) was rapidly and extensively (> or = 80%) reduced in the presence of synthetic Fe(III) oxides and highly Fe(II) oxide-enriched (18-35 wt % Fe) Atlantic coastal plain sediments. In contrast, long-term (20-60 d) U(VI) reduction was less than 30% in suspensions of six other natural solids with relatively low Fe(III) oxide content (1-5 wt % Fe). Fe(II) sorption site density was severalfold lower on these natural solids (0.2-1.1 Fe(II) nm(-2)) compared tothe synthetic Fe(lII) oxides (1.6-3.2 Fe(II) nm(-2)), which may explain the poor U(VI) reduction in the natural solid-containing systems. Addition of the reduced form of the electron shuttling compound anthrahydroquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AH2DS; final concentration 2.5 mM) to the natural solid suspensions enhanced the rate and extent of U(VI) reduction, suggesting that AH2DS reduced U(VI) at surface sites where reaction of U(VI) with sorbed Fe(II) was limited. This study demonstrates that abiotic, Fe(II)-driven U(VI) reduction is likely to be less efficient in natural soils and sediments than would be inferred from studies with synthetic Fe(III) oxides.
Jeon
Byong-Hun
BH
A122 Bevill Building, Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0206, USA. byonghun.jeon@pnl.gov
Dempsey
Brian A
BA
Burgos
William D
WD
Barnett
Mark O
MO
Roden
Eric E
EE
D000327:Adsorption; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D045302:Geobacter / Q000254:growth & development; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D017974:Uranium Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*
D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D017974:Uranium Compounds; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; C000499:ferric oxide