title: Goethite colloid enhanced Pu transport through a single saturated fracture in granite.
abstract: α-FeOOH, a stable iron oxide in nature, can strongly absorb the low-solubility plutonium (Pu) in aquifers. However, whether Pu transports though a single saturated fracture can be enhanced in the presence of α-FeOOH colloids remains unknown. Experimental studies were carried out to evaluate Pu mobilization at different water flow velocity, as affected by goethite colloids with various concentrations. Goethite nanorods were used to prepare (α-FeOOH)-associated Pu suspensions with α-FeOOH concentration of (0-150) mgL(-1). The work experimentally evidenced that α-FeOOH colloid does enhance transport of Pu through fractured granites. The fraction of mobile (239)Pu (RPu, m=41.5%) associated with the α-FeOOH of an extremely low colloid concentration (0.2mgL(-1)) is much larger than that in absence of α-FeOOH (RPu, m=6.98%). However, plutonium mobility began to decrease when α-FeOOH concentration was increased to 1.0mgL(-1). On the other hand, the fraction of mobile Pu increased gradually with the water flow velocity. Based on the experimental data, the mechanisms underlying the (α-FeOOH)-associated plutonium transport are comprehensively discussed in view of its dynamic deposition onto the granite surfaces, which is decided mainly by the relative interaction between the colloid particle and the immobile surface. This interaction is a balance of electrostatic force (may be repulsive or attractive), the van der Walls force, and the shear stress of flow.
authors.affiliation: Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology, Xi'an 710024, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Jianfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology, Xi'an 710024, Shaanxi, China. Electronic address: danghaijun@nint.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Haijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.affiliation: Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology, Xi'an 710024, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Jinchuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology, Xi'an 710024, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology, Xi'an 710024, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Guoqing
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology, Xi'an 710024, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Jihong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology, Xi'an 710024, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Haitao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology, Xi'an 710024, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Xiaowei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yi
mesh_terms: D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D058085:Iron Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry*; D011005:Plutonium / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013535:Suspensions / Q000737:chemistry; D014872:Water Movements; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D058085:Iron Compounds; D008903:Minerals; D013535:Suspensions; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; C007886:granite; C094886:goethite; D011005:Plutonium; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
keywords: Goethite; Plutonium; Single saturated fracture; Transport