title: Partitioning of naturally-occurring radionuclides (NORM) in Marcellus Shale produced fluids influenced by chemical matrix.
abstract: Naturally-occurring radioactive materials (NORM) associated with unconventional drilling produced fluids from the Marcellus Shale have raised environmental concerns. However, few investigations into the fundamental chemistry of NORM in Marcellus Shale produced fluids have been performed. Thus, we performed radiochemical experiments with Marcellus Shale produced fluids to understand the partitioning behavior of major radioelements of environmental health concern (uranium (U), thorium (Th), radium (Ra), lead (Pb), and polonium (Po)). We applied a novel radiotracer, (203)Pb, to understand the behavior of trace-levels of (210)Pb in these fluids. Ultrafiltration experiments indicated U, Th, and Po are particle reactive in Marcellus Shale produced fluids and Ra and Pb are soluble. Sediment partitioning experiments revealed that >99% of Ra does not adsorb to sediments in the presence of Marcellus Shale produced fluids. Further experiments indicated that although Ra adsorption is related to ionic strength, the concentrations of heavier alkaline earth metals (Ba, Sr) are stronger predictors of Ra solubility.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Human Toxicology Program, University of Iowa, ML B180 FRRB, 500 Newton Road, Iowa City, Iowa, USA 52242. Michael-schultz@uiowa.edu.
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Johns
authors.forename: Eric S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Eitrheim
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: Madeline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basile
authors.forename: E Arthur
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Bettis
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: Tori Z
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Forbes
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D000067071:Hydraulic Fracking; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis; D011059:Polonium / Q000032:analysis*; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D011883:Radium / Q000032:analysis*; D013910:Thorium / Q000032:analysis*; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D014903:West Virginia
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D011059:Polonium; D011868:Radioisotopes; D011883:Radium; D013910:Thorium; D014501:Uranium; D062065:Wastewater; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive