| Records |
Author  |
Liu, Z.; Tan, K.; Li, C.; Li, Y.; Zhang, C.; Song, J.; Liu, L. |
| Title |
Geochemical and S isotopic studies of pollutant evolution in groundwater after acid in situ leaching in a uranium mine area in Xinjiang |
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Journal Article |
| Year |
2023 |
Publication |
Nuclear Engineering and Technology |
Abbreviated Journal |
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| Volume |
55 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
1476-1484 |
| Keywords |
Acid in situ leaching of uranium, Pollution evolution, Sulfate elimination, Sulfur isotopes analysis |
| Abstract |
Laboratory experiments and point monitoring of reservoir sediments have proven that stable sulfate reduction (SSR) can lower the concentrations of toxic metals and sulfate in acidic groundwater for a long time. Here, we hypothesize that SSR occurred during in situ leaching after uranium mining, which can impact the fate of acid groundwater in an entire region. To test this, we applied a sulfur isotope fractionation method to analyze the mechanism for natural attenuation of contaminated groundwater produced by acid in situ leaching of uranium (Xinjiang, China). The results showed that δ34S increased over time after the cessation of uranium mining, and natural attenuation caused considerable, area-scale immobilization of sulfur corresponding to retention levels of 5.3%–48.3% while simultaneously decreasing the concentration of uranium. Isotopic evidence for SSR in the area, together with evidence for changes of pollutant concentrations, suggest that area-scale SSR is most likely also important at other acid mining sites for uranium, where retention of acid groundwater may be strengthened through natural attenuation. To recapitulate, the sulfur isotope fractionation method constitutes a relatively accurate tool for quantification of spatiotemporal trends for groundwater during migration and transformation resulting from acid in situ leaching of uranium in northern China. |
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1738-5733 |
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THL @ christoph.kuells @ liu_geochemical_2023 |
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192 |
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Liu, Z.; Li, C.; Tan, K.; Li, Y.; Tan, W.; Li, X.; Zhang, C.; Meng, S.; Liu, L. |
| Title |
Study of natural attenuation after acid in situ leaching of uranium mines using isotope fractionation and geochemical data |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2023 |
Publication |
Science of The Total Environment |
Abbreviated Journal |
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| Volume |
865 |
Issue |
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Pages |
161033 |
| Keywords |
Acid in situ leaching, Geochemical and isotopic tracing, Groundwater contamination, Natural attenuation, Uranium post-mining |
| Abstract |
Acid in situ leaching (AISL) is a subsurface mining approach suitable for low-grade ores which does not generate tailings, and has been adopted widely in uranium mining. However, this technique causes an extremely high concentration of contaminants at post-mining sites and in the surroundings soon after the mining ceases. As a potential AISL remediation strategy, natural attenuation has not been studied in detail. To address this problem, groundwater collected from 26 wells located within, adjacent, upgradient, and downgradient of a post-mining site were chosen to analyze the fate of U(VI), SO42−, δ34S, and δ238U, to reveal the main mechanisms governing the migration and attenuation of the dominant contaminants and the spatio-temporal evolutions of contaminants in the confined aquifer of the post-mining site. The δ238U values vary from −0.07 ‰ to 0.09 ‰ in the post-mining site and from −1.43 ‰ to 0.03 ‰ around the post-mining site. The δ34S values were found to vary from 3.3 ‰ to 6.2 ‰ in the post-mining site and from 6.0 ‰ to 11.0 ‰ around the post-mining site. Detailed analysis suggests that there are large differences between the range of isotopic composition variation and the range of pollutants concentration distribution, and the estimated Rayleigh isotope fractionation factor is 0.9994–0.9997 for uranium and 1.0032–1.0061 for sulfur. The isotope ratio of uranium and sulfur can be used to deduce the migration history of the contaminants and the irreversibility of the natural attenuation process in the anoxic confined aquifer. Combining the isotopic fractionation data for U and S with the concentrations of uranium and sulfate improved the accuracy of understanding of reducing conditions along the flow path. The study also indicated that as long as the geological conditions are favorable for redox reactions, natural attenuation could be used as a cost-effective remediation scheme. |
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0048-9697 |
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THL @ christoph.kuells @ liu_study_2023 |
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155 |
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Lima, G.F.C.; Filho, C.A. de C.; Ferreira, V.G.; Lima, J. da S.D.; Marques, E.D.; Minardi, P.S.P.; Dalmázio, I.; Moreira, R.M. |
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Establishing a water baseline for the unconventional gas industry: A multiple environmental isotopes assessment (18O, 2H, 3H, 13C, and 14C) of surface and groundwater in the São Francisco Basin, Brazil |
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Journal Article |
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2023 |
Publication |
Applied Geochemistry |
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159 |
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Pages |
105818 |
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Fracking, Groundwater dating, Indaiá river, Isotopes assessment, Shale gas, Unconventional hydrocarbons |
| Abstract |
Unconventional hydrocarbon production has become the target of an intensive environmental debate due to the risks it poses to water resources. Fracking, while enabling the extraction of oil and gas from ultra-low permeability reservoirs, also possesses the risk of polluting water systems through failures from hydraulic fracturing and its associated procedures. The need to foster national industrial development with a transitional energy matrix has led Brazil to discuss the environmental suitability before producing its large unconventional reserves. Many studies have highlighted the need for a robust environmental characterization before the development of the unconventional industry. In this sense, multiple environmental isotopes may work as a proxy for identifying water contamination right from the early stages. Environmental isotopes may also be applied to enhance the understanding of the natural geochemical processes intrinsic to a given area. This study presents an environmental isotopes baseline for the groundwater and riverine water systems within the São Francisco Basin, a proven tight gas reservoir in Brazil, in a pre-operational context. δ18O, δ2H, 3H, δ13C, and Δ14C were evaluated in three different seasons in groundwater and surface water samples, along with other auxiliary parameters such as physical-chemical parameters (in situ), major ions, and d-excess. The δ2H and δ18O in surface water shows an upstream → downstream enrichment trend, with some variations suggesting baseflow interactions in the surface water systems. An evaporation line for the study area was defined as δ2H = 4.6903 δ18O + 10.362. δ13C indicates a mutual dissolution of silicates and carbonates in the groundwater system and suggests a group of samples highly related to the recharge areas. Groundwater dating denotes the Serra da Saudade Formation as a modern fractured aquifer with a strong recharge capacity. These findings support stakeholders in environmental monitoring and management of the unconventional gas industry. |
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0883-2927 |
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THL @ christoph.kuells @ lima_establishing_2023 |
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173 |
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Li, J.; Pang, Z.; Liu, Y.; Hu, S.; Jiang, W.; Tian, L.; Yang, G.; Jiang, Y.; Jiao, X.; Tian, J. |
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Changes in groundwater dynamics and geochemical evolution induced by drainage reorganization: Evidence from 81Kr and 36Cl dating of geothermal water in the Weihe Basin of China |
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Journal Article |
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2023 |
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Earth and Planetary Science Letters |
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623 |
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118425 |
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Kr dating, Cl dating, Geothermal water, Groundwater dynamics, Weihe basin |
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81Kr and 36Cl can both be used to date groundwater beyond the dating range of 14C. 81Kr usually provides reliable groundwater ages because it has uniform initial distribution and negligible subsurface generation, while 36Cl is commonly influenced by subsurface sources or “dead” chloride dissolution. Therefore, the combined use of 81Kr and 36Cl could provide clues on the evolution history of groundwater. In the present study, we performed 36Cl and 81Kr dating of geothermal water in Weihe Basin of China and interpreted the possible cause of disagreement. Two distinct water masses were identified with distinctive isotopic signals: groundwater with significant δ18O shifts (up to −2.0‰), dissolved dead Cl and ages < 1.0 Ma (Cluster A), and older water with little δ18O shifts, negligible dissolved Cl and ages >1.0 Ma (Cluster B). The results confirm the eastward flow path of Cluster B to the Ancient Sanmen Lake with an increasing trend of Cl concentration and age. Modern recharge from the mountains flows to the basin center with intense interaction between water and carbonate under respective reservoir temperatures (100 ∼ 130 °C). These waters flow through the saline stratum emerging from the spillover of the Ancient Sanmen Lake, resulting in higher dead Cl dissolution. A significant linear relationship is observed with the older end-member of ∼1.3Ma under the topographically-driven faster circulation effect. 81Kr ages seem to support the hypothesis that the birth of the modern Yellow River was at about 1.0–1.3 Ma. We inferred the drainage reorganization from the Ancient Sanmen Lake to the modern Yellow River since the Mid-Pleistocene Transition induced the change in groundwater dynamics as well as its chemical evolution. The excavation of the Ancient Sanmen Lake and the accentuated incision of the Weihe River induced groundwater gradient, and therefore the recharge from precipitation from both slopes of the Qinling Mountains in the south and the Beishan Mountains in the north. Our results highlight the effects of dead Cl on 36Cl dating and demonstrate the significant impact of catchment reorganization on groundwater dynamics and its chemistry. |
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0012-821x |
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THL @ christoph.kuells @ Li2023118425 |
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212 |
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Lawrinenko, M.; Kurwadkar, S.; Wilkin, R.T. |
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Long-term performance evaluation of zero-valent iron amended permeable reactive barriers for groundwater remediation – A mechanistic approach |
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Journal Article |
| Year |
2023 |
Publication |
Geoscience Frontiers |
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14 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
101494 |
| Keywords |
Geochemistry, Iron, Permeable reactive barrier, Plating reactions, Reduction potential, Surface passivation |
| Abstract |
Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) are used for groundwater remediation at contaminated sites worldwide. This technology has been efficient at appropriate sites for treating organic and inorganic contaminants using zero-valent iron (ZVI) as a reductant and as a reactive material. Continued development of the technology over the years suggests that a robust understanding of PRB performance and the mechanisms involved is still lacking. Conflicting information in the scientific literature downplays the critical role of ZVI corrosion in the remediation of various organic and inorganic pollutants. Additionally, there is a lack of information on how different mechanisms act in tandem to affect ZVI-groundwater systems through time. In this review paper, we describe the underlying mechanisms of PRB performance and remove isolated misconceptions. We discuss the primary mechanisms of ZVI transformation and aging in PRBs and the role of iron corrosion products. We review numerous sites to reinforce our understanding of the interactions between groundwater contaminants and ZVI and the authigenic minerals that form within PRBs. Our findings show that ZVI corrosion products and mineral precipitates play critical roles in the long-term performance of PRBs by influencing the reactivity of ZVI. Pore occlusion by mineral precipitates occurs at the influent side of PRBs and is enhanced by dissolved oxygen and groundwater rich in dissolved solids and high alkalinity, which negatively impacts hydraulic conductivity, allowing contaminants to potentially bypass the treatment zone. Further development of site characterization tools and models is needed to support effective PRB designs for groundwater remediation. |
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1674-9871 |
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THL @ christoph.kuells @ lawrinenko_long-term_2023 |
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143 |
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