Natural immobilization of uranium by phosphate mineralization in an oxidizing saprolite–soil profile: chemical weathering of the Coles Hill uranium deposit, Virginia

Jerden, James L.; Sinha, A. K.; Zelazny, L. W.

doi:10.1016/s0009-2541(03)00080-9

Cited by 69 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Despite that no typical symptoms of P deficiency were found among inoculated pots, the potential effects of plant P nutrition status on U accumulation could not be neglected. It is documented that plant uptake of U is affected by various factors, such as soil properties (Shahandeh and Hossner, 2002) and uraniumphosphorus interactions (Ebbs et al, 1998;Jerden Jr. et al, 2003). When P was present at high concentrations, complexes between U and P could most likely be formed in the soil.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices on uranium uptake and accumulation by Medicago truncatula L. from uranium-contaminated soil

et al. 2005

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Phytostabilization strategies may be suitable to reduce the dispersion of uranium (U) and the overall environmental risks of U-contaminated soils. The role of Glomus intraradices, an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, in such phytostabilization of U was investigated with a compartmented plant cultivation system facilitating the specific measurement of U uptake by roots, AM roots and extraradical hyphae of AM fungi and the measurement of U partitioning between root and shoot. A soil-filled plastic pot constituted the main root compartment (C A ) which contained a plastic vial filled with U-contaminated soil amended with 0, 50 or 200 mg KH 2 PO 4 )P kg -1 soil (C B ). The vial was sealed by coarse or fine nylon mesh, permitting the penetration of both roots and hyphae or of just hyphae. Medicago truncatula plants grown in C A were inoculated with G. intraradices or remained uninoculated. Dry weight of shoots and roots in C A was significantly increased by G. intraradices, but was unaffected by mesh size or by P application in C B . The P amendments decreased root colonization in C B , and increased P content and dry weight of those roots. Glomus intraradices increased root U concentration and content in C A , but decreased shoot U concentrations. Root U concentrations and contents were significantly higher when only hyphae could access U inside C B than when roots could also directly access this U pool.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices on uranium uptake and accumulation by Medicago truncatula L. from uranium-contaminated soil

et al. 2005

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“…For example, U(VI)-phosphate phases at a weathered portion of the Coles Hill, VA, uranium ore deposit maintain groundwater U(VI) concentrations at ca. 0.06 M (11,12). The shallow portion of this deposit exhibits a sharp Fe redox front with U(IV) assemblages (containing uraninite, UO 2 ) located on the reduced side and U(VI) assemblages [containing autunite, Ca(UO 2 ) 2 (PO 4 ) 3 , and other uranium-bearing Ca-P phases] on the weathered oxidized side.…”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

U(VI) Sequestration in Hydroxyapatite Produced by Microbial Glycerol 3-Phosphate Metabolism

Shelobolina

Konishi

et al. 2009

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Previous studies have demonstrated the potential for removal of U(VI) from solution via precipitation of U(VI)-bearing calcium-phosphate (Ca-P) minerals coupled to microbial hydrolysis of glycerol phosphate compounds. We evaluated this process in circumneutral-pH groundwater from Area 2 of the U.S. Department of Energy Field Research Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Area 2 groundwater contains high concentrations of dissolved calcium (ca. 4 mM), and thus, release of phosphate during glycerol phosphate metabolism has the potential to create conditions favorable for U(VI) sequestration in Ca-P minerals. Microbial enumeration and isolation studies verified the presence of aerobic and nitrate-reducing glycerol 3-phosphate (G3P)-metabolizing microorganisms in Area 2 sediments. Coprecipitation of U(VI) with Ca-P minerals coupled to microbial G3P hydrolysis was demonstrated in artificial groundwater under aerobic and nitratereducing conditions. Transmission electron microscopy analysis and mineral-washing experiments demonstrated that U(VI) was incorporated into the structure of the insoluble Ca-P mineral hydroxyapatite [Ca 5 (PO 4 ) 3 OH]. Our results support the idea that U(VI) can be effectively removed from solution in contaminated aquifers through stimulation of microbial organophosphate metabolism.Reductive precipitation of U(VI) through stimulation of anaerobic, dissimilatory metal-reducing microbial activity is a demonstrated method for in situ immobilization of uranium in subsurface environments (3,41). This is an attractive approach for aquifers that are naturally low in dissolved O 2 and NO 3 Ϫ , e.g., the uranium-contaminated aquifer adjacent to the Colorado River in Rifle, CO (3). Alternative uranium remediation approaches may be called for in uranium-contaminated subsurface environments that contain significant concentrations of O 2 and NO 3 Ϫ entering through vertical recharge or lateral transport. One such potential strategy is immobilization of uranium through precipitation of U(VI)-bearing calcium-phosphate (Ca-P) phases (6, 39). Uranium incorporation into Ca-P minerals is a naturally occurring process. For example, U(VI)-phosphate phases at a weathered portion of the Coles Hill, VA, uranium ore deposit maintain groundwater U(VI) concentrations at ca. 0.06 M (11, 12). The shallow portion of this deposit exhibits a sharp Fe redox front with U(IV) assemblages (containing uraninite, UO 2 ) located on the reduced side and U(VI) assemblages [containing autunite, Ca(UO 2 ) 2 (PO 4 ) 3 , and other uranium-bearing Ca-P phases] on the weathered oxidized side. Interestingly, uranium concentrations on both oxidized and reduced sides of the redox front are similar, suggesting no significant uranium loss as a result of oxidation and weathering.A major limitation for engineering uranium immobilization through coprecipitation with Ca-P minerals is the potential decrease in hydraulic conductivity of sediments due to rapid mineral precipitation at or near the point of P i injection. In order to avoid this, P i...

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“…Here, Jerden et al (2003) showed that the mobility of U and (PO 4 ) 3À in these soil horizons was controlled by U-bearing aluminum phosphates (crandallite assemblages) and by co-sorption of uranyl and phosphate species onto Fe-(hydr)oxide mineral coatings.…”

Section: Occurrence and Formation Of Metazeunerite And Cuprosklodowskitementioning

confidence: 83%

Alteration, adsorption and nucleation processes on clay–water interfaces: Mechanisms for the retention of uranium by altered clay surfaces on the nanometer scale

Schindler

Legrand

Hochella

2015

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

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Natural immobilization of uranium by phosphate mineralization in an oxidizing saprolite–soil profile: chemical weathering of the Coles Hill uranium deposit, Virginia

Cited by 69 publications

References 26 publications

Effects of the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices on uranium uptake and accumulation by Medicago truncatula L. from uranium-contaminated soil

Effects of the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices on uranium uptake and accumulation by Medicago truncatula L. from uranium-contaminated soil

U(VI) Sequestration in Hydroxyapatite Produced by Microbial Glycerol 3-Phosphate Metabolism

Alteration, adsorption and nucleation processes on clay–water interfaces: Mechanisms for the retention of uranium by altered clay surfaces on the nanometer scale

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