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Seigneur N, Grozeva N, Purevsan B, Descostes M. Reactive transport modelling as a toolbox to compare remediation strategies for aquifers impacted by uranium in situ recovery. JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY 2024; 265:104392. [PMID: 38954926 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2024.104392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
More than 60% of worldwide uranium production is based on the In Situ Recovery mining technique. This exploitation method directly falls within the scope of the applications of reactive transport modelling to optimize uranium production and limit its associated environmental impact. We propose a modelling approach which is able to represent the natural evolution of an aquifer impacted by an ISR test performed using sulfuric acid. The model is calibrated on a 12 year-long data series obtained from 12 monitoring wells surrounding an ISR pilot cell. Through this process-based approach, we simulate the impact of several remediation strategies that can be considered in these contexts. In particular, we model the impact of Pump & Treat combined with reverse osmosis, as well as the circulation of non-impacted fluids through the reservoir with different operating strategies. Our approach allows to compare the effectiveness of these strategies. For this small-scale ISR pilot, monitored natural attenuation constitutes an interesting approach due to its faster pH recovery time with respect to Pump & Treat (5-10 years to pH ∼ 6), whose efficiency can be improved by the addition of exchangeable cations. Circulation of unimpacted fluids can reduce pH recovery times if performed for periods longer than the ISR exploitation and/or deployed with a delay. Combined with an economic evaluation of their deployment, this modelling approach can help the mining operator select and design optimal remediation strategies from an environmental and economical standpoint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Seigneur
- Mines Paris PSL, PSL University, Centre de Géosciences, 35 Rue St Honoré, Fontainebleau, 77300, France.
| | - Niya Grozeva
- Mines Paris PSL, PSL University, Centre de Géosciences, 35 Rue St Honoré, Fontainebleau, 77300, France; ORANO Mining, 125 Avenue de Paris, Châtillon, Paris 92320, France
| | - Bayarmaa Purevsan
- Badrakh Energy, ICC Tower, Jamiyan Gun street, 9, District Sukhbaatar, Ulaanbaatar 14210, Mongolia
| | - Michaël Descostes
- Mines Paris PSL, PSL University, Centre de Géosciences, 35 Rue St Honoré, Fontainebleau, 77300, France; ORANO Mining, 125 Avenue de Paris, Châtillon, Paris 92320, France
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Bonnet M, Robin V, Parrotin F, Grozeva N, Seigneur N, Batbaatar ME, Descostes M. Influence of clay minerals on pH and major cation concentrations in acid-leached sands: Column experiments and reactive-transport modeling. JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY 2024; 264:104363. [PMID: 38805790 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2024.104363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
A series of laboratory experiments are conducted to simulate the acidification and subsequent recovery of a sand aquifer exploited by in situ recovery (ISR) mining. A sulfuric acid solution (pH 2) is first injected into a column packed with sand from the Zoovch Ovoo uranium roll front deposit (Mongolia). Solutions representative of local groundwater or enriched in cations (Na+, Mg2+) are then circulated through the column to simulate the inflow of aquifer water. pH and major ion concentrations (Na+, Cl-, SO42-, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+) measured at the column outlet reproduce the overall evolution of porewater chemistry observed in the field. The presence of minor quantities of swelling clay minerals (≈6 wt% smectite) is shown to exert an important influence on the behavior of inorganic cations, particularly H+, via ion-exchange reactions. Numerical models that consider ion-exchange on smectite as the sole solid-solution interaction are able to reproduce variations in pH and cation concentrations in the column experiments. This highlights the importance of clay minerals in controlling H+ mobility and demonstrates that sand from the studied aquifer can be described to a first order as an ion-exchanger. The present study confirms the key role of clay minerals in controlling water chemistry in acidic environments through ion-exchange processes. In a context of managing the long-term environmental footprint of industrial and mining activities (ISR, acid mine drainage…), this work will bring insights for modeling choices and identification of key parameters to help operators to define their production and/or remediation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Bonnet
- E2Lim, University of Limoges, 123 Avenue Albert Thomas, CEDEX, 87060 Limoges, France.
| | - Valentin Robin
- E2Lim, University of Limoges, 123 Avenue Albert Thomas, CEDEX, 87060 Limoges, France.
| | - Flora Parrotin
- E2Lim, University of Limoges, 123 Avenue Albert Thomas, CEDEX, 87060 Limoges, France; IC2MP, HydrASA, UMR 7285 CNRS/University of Poitiers, 86073 Poitiers, France; ORANO Mining, Environmental R&D Department, 125 Avenue de Paris, 92330 Châtillon, France.
| | - Niya Grozeva
- Mines Paris, PSL University, Center for geosciences and geoengineering, 35 rue St Honoré, 77330 Fontainebleau, France.
| | - Nicolas Seigneur
- Mines Paris, PSL University, Center for geosciences and geoengineering, 35 rue St Honoré, 77330 Fontainebleau, France.
| | - Munkh-Erdene Batbaatar
- Badrakh Energy LLC, Jamyan Gun Avenue - 9, Sukhbaatar district, 1st khoroo, UB-14240, Mongolia.
| | - Michael Descostes
- Mines Paris, PSL University, Center for geosciences and geoengineering, 35 rue St Honoré, 77330 Fontainebleau, France; ORANO Mining, Environmental R&D Department, 125 Avenue de Paris, 92330 Châtillon, France.
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Newman-Portela AM, Krawczyk-Bärsch E, Lopez-Fernandez M, Bok F, Kassahun A, Drobot B, Steudtner R, Stumpf T, Raff J, Merroun ML. Biostimulation of indigenous microbes for uranium bioremediation in former U mine water: multidisciplinary approach assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:7227-7245. [PMID: 38157180 PMCID: PMC10821841 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31530-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Characterizing uranium (U) mine water is necessary to understand and design an effective bioremediation strategy. In this study, water samples from two former U-mines in East Germany were analysed. The U and sulphate (SO42-) concentrations of Schlema-Alberoda mine water (U: 1 mg/L; SO42-: 335 mg/L) were 2 and 3 order of magnitude higher than those of the Pöhla sample (U: 0.01 mg/L; SO42-: 0.5 mg/L). U and SO42- seemed to influence the microbial diversity of the two water samples. Microbial diversity analysis identified U(VI)-reducing bacteria (e.g. Desulfurivibrio) and wood-degrading fungi (e.g. Cadophora) providing as electron donors for the growth of U-reducers. U-bioreduction experiments were performed to screen electron donors (glycerol, vanillic acid, and gluconic acid) for Schlema-Alberoda U-mine water bioremediation purpose. Thermodynamic speciation calculations show that under experimental conditions, U(VI) is not coordinated to the amended electron donors. Glycerol was the best-studied electron donor as it effectively removed 99% of soluble U, 95% of Fe, and 58% of SO42- from the mine water, probably by biostimulation of indigenous microbes. Vanillic acid removed 90% of U, and no U removal occurred using gluconic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio M Newman-Portela
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva S/N, 18071, Granada, Spain.
- Institute of Resource Ecology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Evelyn Krawczyk-Bärsch
- Institute of Resource Ecology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Margarita Lopez-Fernandez
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva S/N, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - Frank Bok
- Institute of Resource Ecology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Andrea Kassahun
- WISMUT GmbH, Jagdschänkenstraße 29, 09117, Chemnitz, Germany
| | - Björn Drobot
- Institute of Resource Ecology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Robin Steudtner
- Institute of Resource Ecology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Thorsten Stumpf
- Institute of Resource Ecology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Johannes Raff
- Institute of Resource Ecology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mohamed L Merroun
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva S/N, 18071, Granada, Spain
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Jroundi F, Povedano-Priego C, Pinel-Cabello M, Descostes M, Grizard P, Purevsan B, Merroun ML. Evidence of microbial activity in a uranium roll-front deposit: Unlocking their potential role as bioenhancers of the ore genesis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 861:160636. [PMID: 36464038 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Uranium (U) roll-front deposits constitute a valuable source for an economical extraction by in situ recovery (ISR) mining. Such technology may induce changes in the subsurface microbiota, raising questions about the way their activities could build a functional ecosystem in such extreme environments (i.e.: oligotrophy and high SO4 concentration and salinity). Additionally, more information is needed to dissipate the doubts about the microbial role in the genesis of such U orebodies. A U roll-front deposit hosted in an aquifer driven system (in Zoovch Ovoo, Mongolia), intended for mining by acid ISR, was previously explored and showed to be governed by a complex bacterial diversity, linked to the redox zonation and the geochemical conditions. Here for the first time, transcriptional activities of microorganisms living in such U ore deposits are determined and their metabolic capabilities allocated in the three redox-inherited compartments, naturally defined by the roll-front system. Several genes encoding for crucial metabolic pathways demonstrated a strong biological role controlling the subsurface cycling of many elements including nitrate, sulfate, metals and radionuclides (e.g.: uranium), through oxidation-reduction reactions. Interestingly, the discovered transcriptional behaviour gives important insights into the good microbial adaptation to the geochemical conditions and their active contribution to the stabilization of the U ore deposits. Overall, evidences on the importance of these microbial metabolic activities in the aquifer system are discussed that may clarify the doubts on the microbial role in the genesis of low-temperature U roll-front deposits, along the Zoovch Ovoo mine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadwa Jroundi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain.
| | - Cristina Povedano-Priego
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - María Pinel-Cabello
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Michael Descostes
- ORANO Mining, 125 Avenue de Paris, 92330 Châtillon, France; Centre de Géosciences, MINES ParisTech, PSL University, 35 rue St Honoré, 77300 Fontainebleau, France
| | - Pierre Grizard
- ORANO Mining, 125 Avenue de Paris, 92330 Châtillon, France
| | - Bayaarma Purevsan
- Badrakh Energy LLC, Jamyan Gun Avenue - 9, Sukhbaatar district, 1st khoroo, UB-14240, Mongolia
| | - Mohamed L Merroun
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
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Zhao X, Xie Z, Liu T, Li P, Pei F, Wang L. Coupling and environmental implications of in situ formed biogenic Fe-Mn minerals induced by indigenous bacteria and oxygen perturbations for As(III) immobilization in groundwater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 858:159884. [PMID: 36334665 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Iron (Fe)-manganese (Mn) minerals formed in situ can be used for the natural remediation of the primary poor-quality groundwater with coexistence of arsenite [As(III)], Mn(II), and Fe(II) (PGAMF). However, the underlying mechanisms of immobilization and coupling of As, Mn, and Fe during in-situ formation of Fe-Mn minerals in PGAMF remains unclear. The simultaneous immobilization and coupling of arsenic (As), Mn, and Fe in PGAMF during in-situ formation of biogenic Fe-Mn minerals induced by O2 perturbations and indigenous bacteria (Comamonas sp. RM6) were investigated at the different molar ratios of Fe(II):Mn(II) (1:1, 2:1, and 3:1). Compared with systems without Fe(II) in the presence of Mn(II), the coexisted Fe(II) significantly enhanced Mn(II) bio-oxidation and mineral precipitation, resulting in As immobilization increased by 5, 7, and 7 times at initial Fe(II) concentration of 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 mM, respectively. Moreover, the As(III) immobilization efficiencies in Mn(II) and Fe(II) mixed system at initial Fe(II) concentration of 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 mM were 73%, 91%, and 92%, respectively, that were significantly higher than those of single Fe(II) system (30%, 59%, and 74%) and those of single Mn(II) system (12%), indicating that Fe(II) and Mn(II) oxidation synergically enhanced As(III) immobilization. This was mainly attributed to the formation and As adsorption capacity of biogenic Fe-Mn minerals (BFMM). The formed BFMM significantly facilitated simultaneous immobilization of Fe, Mn, and As in PGAMF by oxidation, adsorption, and precipitation/coprecipitation, a coupling of biological, physical, and chemical processes. Fe component was mainly responsible for As fixation, and Mn component dominated As(III) oxidation. Based on the results from this work, biostimulation and bioaugmentation techniques can be developed for in-situ purification and remediation of PGAMF. This work provides insights into the simultaneous immobilization of pollutants in PGAMF, as well as promising strategies for in-situ purification and remediation of PGAMF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Zhao
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China
| | - Zuoming Xie
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China.
| | - Taikun Liu
- Linyi Vocational University of Science and Technology, Linyi 276000, PR China
| | - Ping Li
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Fuwen Pei
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China
| | - Linan Wang
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China
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