Long-term performance of reactive materials in PRBs for uranium remediation

Geochemical controls of the microbially mediated redox cycling of uranium and iron

“…PRBs are suitable for shallow surface contaminations, do not require maintenance, and avoid the handling of contaminants required in ex situ remediation strategies. PRBs constructed from zero-valent iron successfully decrease effluent uranium concentrations via reductive precipitation within the barrier coupled to the oxidation of Fe(0) to Fe(II) (Biermann et al, 2006;Gu et al, 1998;Morrison et al, 2001). Successful PRBs made of apatite have also been used to treat Zn, Pb, and Cd contaminated waters (Conca and Wright, 2006) and have shown promise for treatment of uranium during laboratory studies (Biermann et al, 2006;Simon et al, 2008;Simon et al, 2004).…”

“…PRBs constructed from zero-valent iron successfully decrease effluent uranium concentrations via reductive precipitation within the barrier coupled to the oxidation of Fe(0) to Fe(II) (Biermann et al, 2006;Gu et al, 1998;Morrison et al, 2001). Successful PRBs made of apatite have also been used to treat Zn, Pb, and Cd contaminated waters (Conca and Wright, 2006) and have shown promise for treatment of uranium during laboratory studies (Biermann et al, 2006;Simon et al, 2008;Simon et al, 2004). In this treatment, uranium uptake by hydroxyapatite occurs via adsorption at low surface loading and precipitation of uranyl phosphate minerals at higher surface loading (Fuller et al, 2002).…”