Surface passivation limited UO2 oxidative dissolution in the presence of FeS

Vadose-zone alteration of metaschoepite and ceramic UO2 in Savannah River Site field lysimeters

Uranium dioxide (UO₂) and metaschoepite (UO₃•nH₂O) particles have been identified as contaminants at nuclear sites. Understanding their behavior and impact is crucial for safe management of radioactively contaminated land and to fully understand U biogeochemistry. The Savannah River Site (SRS) (South Carolina, USA), is one such contaminated site, following historical releases of U-containing wastes to the vadose zone. Here, we present an insight into the behavior of these two particle types under dynamic conditions representative of the SRS, using field lysimeters (15 cm D x 72 cm L). Discrete horizons containing the different particle types were placed at two depths in each lysimeter (25 cm and 50 cm) and exposed to ambient rainfall for 1 year, with an aim of understanding the impact of dynamic, shallow subsurface conditions on U particle behavior and U migration. The dissolution and migration of U from the particle sources and the speciation of U throughout the lysimeters was assessed after 1 year using a combination of sediment digests, sequential extractions, and bulk and μ-focus X-ray spectroscopy. In the UO₂ lysimeter, oxidative dissolution of UO₂ and subsequent migration of U was observed over 1-2 cm in the direction of waterflow and against it. Sequential extractions of the UO₂ sources suggest they were significantly altered over 1 year. The metaschoepite particles also showed significant dissolution with marginally enhanced U migration (several cm) from the sources. However, in both particle systems the released U was quantitively retained in sediment as a range of different U(IV) and U(VI) phases, and no detectable U was measured in the lysimeter effluent. The study provides a useful insight into U particle behavior in representative, real-world conditions relevant to the SRS, and highlights limited U migration from particle sources due to secondary reactions with vadose zone sediments over 1 year.

Uranium bioremediation with U(VI)-reducing bacteria

Uranium (U) pollution is an environmental hazard caused by the development of the nuclear industry. Microbial reduction of hexavalent uranium (U(VI)) to tetravalent uranium (U(IV)) reduces U solubility and mobility and has been proposed as an effective method to remediate uranium contamination. In this review, U(VI) remediation with respect to U(VI)-reducing bacteria, mechanisms, influencing factors, products, and reoxidation are systematically summarized. Reportedly, some metal- and sulfate-reducing bacteria possess excellent U(VI) reduction capability through mechanisms involving c-type cytochromes, extracellular pili, electron shuttle, or thioredoxin reduction. In situ remediation has been demonstrated as an ideal strategy for large-scale degradation of uranium contaminants than ex situ. However, U(VI) reduction efficiency can be affected by various factors, including pH, temperature, bicarbonate, electron donors, and coexisting metal ions. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the reduction products could be reoxidized when exposed to oxygen and nitrate, inevitably compromising the remediation effects, especially for non-crystalline U(IV) with weak stability.

Role of Iron Sulfide Phases in the Stability of Noncrystalline Tetravalent Uranium in Sediments

Uranium (U) in situ bioremediation has been investigated as a cost-effective strategy to tackle U contamination in the subsurface. While uraninite was believed to be the only product of bioreduction, numerous studies have revealed that noncrystalline U(IV) species (NCU(IV)) are dominant. This finding brings into question the effectiveness of bioremediation because NCU(IV) species are expected to be labile and susceptible to oxidation. Thus, understanding the stability of NCU(IV) in the environment is of crucial importance. Fe(II) minerals (such as FeS) are often associated with U(IV) in bioremediated or naturally reduced sediments. Their impact on the stability of NCU(IV) is not well understood. Here, we show that, at high dissolved oxygen concentrations, FeS accelerates NCU(IV) reoxidation. We hypothesize that either highly reactive ferric minerals or radical S species produced by the oxidation of FeS drive this rapid reoxidation of NCU(IV). Furthermore, we found evidence for the contribution of reactive oxygen species to NCU(IV) reoxidation. This work refines our understanding of the role of iron sulfide minerals in the stability of tetravalent uranium in the presence of oxygen in a field setting such as contaminated sites or uranium-bearing naturally reduced zones.

Transformation of uranium species in soil during redox oscillations

Redox oscillation is commonly found in near-surface environment, where soils are often polluted with many redox active contaminants, including uranium (U). In order to investigate the transformation of U species in near-surface soil under redox oscillations conditions, redox oscillations and reduction experiments were performed, biogeochemical parameters and native microbial community composition were monitored, main elements on the surface of solid-phase were analyzed by XPS, and labile U(IV) species and stable U(IV) species in solid-phase were provisionally defined using an anoxic 1 M sodium bicarbonate extraction. It was found that redox oscillations slightly increased the water-soluble U but significantly increased the stable U(IV) species (P < 0.05) in soil. In reduction experiment, there was upper limit value for percentage of stable U(IV) species, and the labile U(IV) species could not transform to stable U(IV) species in a short period of time under reduction conditions. The redox transition of Fe enriched on the surface of soil and the conversion of microbial community composition played a major role in speciation transformation of U under redox oscillations conditions. In addition, sequential extraction revealed that the increase of stable U(IV) species content reflected the U speciation transition from acetate extract to more recalcitrant hydroxylamine extract. The finding provides a potential method for improving the stability of U when bio-reduction is used to remediate the U-contaminated soils.

Dynamic interactions between sulfidated zerovalent iron and dissolved oxygen: Mechanistic insights for enhanced chromate removal

Recent research on contaminant removal by zerovalent iron (ZVI) has evolved from investigating simple model systems to systems that encompass increased dimensions of complexity. Sulfidation and aerobic conditions are two of the most broadly relevant complications. Combining these two, this study investigated the dynamic interactions between sulfidated microscale ZVI and dissolved O₂, for removal of Cr(VI), a model contaminant for metals and metalloids. The results show that the coupling of sulfidation and oxygenation significantly improves Cr removal, which is attributed to enhanced Fe(II) production that resulted from accelerated corrosion of Fe(0). The Cr(VI) removal rate increased with increasing O₂ saturation from 0% to 100% but showed a bimodal dependence on the S/Fe ratio. At the optimal S/Fe ratio, the ZVI exhibits a highly porous surface morphology, which, according to prior literature on sulfur induced corrosion, promotes corrosion. In addition, a novel time series correlation was developed between aqueous Fe(II) and Cr(VI) based on data collected in the presence and absence of 1,10-phenanthroline, to probe for changes of reductants during the reaction time course. The analysis indicated that Fe(0) was responsible for the initial small amount of Cr(VI) removal, which then transitioned to a phase controlled by surface Fe(II). The slopes of the time series correlations during the latter phase of the reaction vary with experimental conditions but are mostly much higher than the theoretical stoichiometric ratio between Cr(VI) and Fe(II) (i.e., 0.33), indicating that Fe(II) regeneration contributes significantly to Cr removal.

Direct solid-state evidence of H2 -induced partial U(VI) reduction concomitant with adsorption by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)

Adsorption of hexavalent uranium (U(VI)) by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) has been studied, but the possibility of simultaneous U(VI) reduction mediated by EPS has not had experimental confirmation, as the reduction products have not yet been directly proven. Here, we reported the first direct evidence of lower-valent products of U(VI) immobilization by loosely associated EPS (laEPS) isolated from a fermenter strain of Klebsiella sp. J1 when the laEPS was exposed to H₂ . During the 120-min tests for similarly 86% adsorption under O₂ , N₂ , and H₂ , 8% more U was immobilized through a non-adsorptive pathway by the EPS for H₂ than for N₂ and O₂ . A set of solid-state characterization tools (FT-IR, XPS, EELS, and TEM-EDX) confirmed partial reduction of U(VI) to lower-valence U, with the main reduced form being uraninite (U^IV O₂ ) nanoparticles, and the results reinforced the role of the reduction in accelerating U immobilization and shaping the characteristics of immobilized U in terms of valency, size, and crystallization. The laEPS, mostly comprised of carbohydrate and protein, contained non-cytochrome enzymes and electron carriers that could be responsible for electron transfer to U(VI). Taken together, our results directly confirm that EPS was able to mediate partial U(VI) reduction in the presence of H₂ through non-cytochrome catalysis and that reduction enhanced overall U immobilization. Our study fills in some gaps of the microbe-mediated U cycle and will be useful to understand and control U removal in engineered reactors and in-situ bioremediation.

Oxidative Uranium Release from Anoxic Sediments under Diffusion-Limited Conditions

Uranium (U) contamination occurs as a result of mining and ore processing; often in alluvial aquifers that contain organic-rich, reduced sediments that accumulate tetravalent U, U(IV). Uranium(IV) is sparingly soluble, but may be mobilized upon exposure to nitrate (NO₃^-) and oxygen (O₂), which become elevated in groundwater due to seasonal fluctuations in the water table. The extent to which oxidative U mobilization can occur depends upon the transport properties of the sediments, the rate of U(IV) oxidation, and the availability of inorganic reductants and organic electron donors that consume oxidants. We investigated the processes governing U release upon exposure of reduced sediments to artificial groundwater containing O₂ or NO₃^- under diffusion-limited conditions. Little U was mobilized during the 85-day reaction, despite rapid diffusion of groundwater within the sediments and the presence of nonuraninite U(IV) species. The production of ferrous iron and sulfide in conjunction with rapid oxidant consumption suggested that the sediments harbored large concentrations of bioavailable organic carbon that fueled anaerobic microbial respiration and stabilized U(IV). Our results suggest that seasonal influxes of O₂ and NO₃^- may cause only localized mobilization of U without leading to export of U from the reducing sediments when ample organic carbon is present.

In situ mobility of uranium in the presence of nitrate following sulfate-reducing conditions

Reoxidation and mobilization of previously reduced and immobilized uranium by dissolved-phase oxidants poses a significant challenge for remediating uranium-contaminated groundwater. Preferential oxidation of reduced sulfur-bearing species, as opposed to reduced uranium-bearing species, has been demonstrated to limit the mobility of uranium at the laboratory scale yet field-scale investigations are lacking. In this study, the mobility of uranium in the presence of nitrate oxidant was investigated in a shallow groundwater system after establishing conditions conducive to uranium reduction and the formation of reduced sulfur-bearing species. A series of three injections of groundwater (200 L) containing U(VI) (5 μM) and amended with ethanol (40 mM) and sulfate (20 mM) were conducted in ten test wells in order to stimulate microbial-mediated reduction of uranium and the formation of reduced sulfur-bearing species. Simultaneous push-pull tests were then conducted in triplicate well clusters to investigate the mobility of U(VI) under three conditions: 1) high nitrate (120 mM), 2) high nitrate (120 mM) with ethanol (30 mM), and 3) low nitrate (2 mM) with ethanol (30 mM). Dilution-adjusted breakthrough curves of ethanol, nitrate, nitrite, sulfate, and U(VI) suggested that nitrate reduction was predominantly coupled to the oxidation of reduced-sulfur bearing species, as opposed to the reoxidation of U(IV), under all three conditions for the duration of the 36-day tests. The amount of sulfate, but not U(VI), recovered during the push-pull tests was substantially more than injected, relative to bromide tracer, under all three conditions and further suggested that reduced sulfur-bearing species were preferentially oxidized under nitrate-reducing conditions. However, some reoxidation of U(IV) was observed under nitrate-reducing conditions and in the absence of detectable nitrate and/or nitrite. This suggested that reduced sulfur-bearing species may not be fully effective at limiting the mobility of uranium in the presence of dissolved and/or solid-phase oxidants. The results of this field study confirmed those of previous laboratory studies which suggested that reoxidation of uranium under nitrate-reducing conditions can be substantially limited by preferential oxidation of reduced sulfur-bearing species.

Rapid Mobilization of Noncrystalline U(IV) Coupled with FeS Oxidation

The reactivity of disordered, noncrystalline U(IV) species remains poorly characterized despite their prevalence in biostimulated sediments. Because of the lack of crystalline structure, noncrystalline U(IV) may be susceptible to oxidative mobilization under oxic conditions. The present study investigated the mechanism and rate of oxidation of biogenic noncrystalline U(IV) by dissolved oxygen (DO) in the presence of mackinawite (FeS). Previously recognized as an effective reductant and oxygen scavenger, nanoparticulate FeS was evaluated for its role in influencing U release in a flow-through system as a function of pH and carbonate concentration. The results demonstrated that noncrystalline U(IV) was more susceptible to oxidation than uraninite (UO2) in the presence of dissolved carbonate. A rapid release of U occurred immediately after FeS addition without exhibiting a temporary inhibition stage, as was observed during the oxidation of UO2, although FeS still kept DO levels low. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterized a transient surface Fe(III) species during the initial FeS oxidation, which was likely responsible for oxidizing noncrystalline U(IV) in addition to oxygen. In the absence of carbonate, however, the release of dissolved U was significantly hindered as a result of U adsorption by FeS oxidation products. This study illustrates the strong interactions between iron sulfide and U(IV) species during redox transformation and implies the lability of biogenic noncrystalline U(IV) species in the subsurface environment when subjected to redox cycling events.

Application of iron sulfide particles for groundwater and soil remediation: A review

Rapid industrialization and urbanization have resulted in elevated concentrations of hazardous inorganic and organic contaminants in groundwater and soil, which has become a paramount concern to the environment and the public health. In recent years, iron sulfide (FeS), a major constituent of acid-volatile sulfides, has elicited extensive interests in environmental remediation due to its ubiquitous presence and high treatment efficiency in anoxic environment. This paper provides a comprehensive review on recent advances in: (1) synthesis of FeS particles (including nanoscale FeS); and (2) reactivity of FeS towards a variety of common environmental contaminants in groundwater and soil over extended periods of time, namely, heavy metals (Hg(II), Cu(II), Pb(II), and Cr(VI)), oxyanions (arsenite, arsenate, selenite, and selenate), radionuclides (e.g., uranium (U) and neptunium (Np)), chlorinated organic compounds (e.g., trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, and p-chloroaniline), nitroaromatic compounds, and polychlorinated biphenyls. Different physiochemical and biological methods for preparing FeS with desired particle size, structure, and surface properties are discussed. Reaction principles and removal effectiveness/constraints are discussed in details. Special attention is placed to the application of nanoscale FeS particles because of their unique properties, such as small particle size, large specific surface area, high surface reactivity, and soil deliverability in the subsurface. Moreover, current knowledge gaps and further research needs are identified.

Immobilization of uranium by biomaterial stabilized FeS nanoparticles: Effects of stabilizer and enrichment mechanism

Iron sulfide (FeS) nanoparticles have been recognized as effective scavengers for multi-valent metal ions. However, the aggregation of FeS nanoparticles in aqueous solution greatly restricts their application in real work. Herein, different biomaterial-FeS nanoparticles were developed for the in-situ immobilization of uranium(VI) in radioactive waste management. TEM images suggested that sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and gelatin can effectively suppress the aggregation of FeS nanoparticles in aqueous solutions. The resulting CMC-FeS and gelatin-FeS were stable in aqueous solutions and showed high adsorption capacity for U(VI). Specially, gelatin-FeS showed the best performance in U(VI) adsorption-reduction immobilization under experimental conditions. The maximum enrichment capacity of U(VI) on CMC-FeS and gelatin-FeS at pH 5.0 and 20 °C achieved to ∼430 and ∼556 mg/g, respectively. Additionally, gelatin-FeS and CMC-FeS nanoparticles presented excellent tolerance to environmental salinity. The immobilized U(VI) on the surfaces of CMC-FeS and gelatin-FeS remained stable more than one year. These findings highlight the possibility of using ggelatin-FeS for efficient immobilization of U(VI) from radioactive wastewater.

Long-term in situ oxidation of biogenic uraninite in an alluvial aquifer: impact of dissolved oxygen and calcium

Oxidative dissolution controls uranium release to (sub)oxic pore waters from biogenic uraninite produced by natural or engineered processes, such as bioremediation. Laboratory studies show that uraninite dissolution is profoundly influenced by dissolved oxygen (DO), carbonate, and solutes such as Ca(2+). In complex and heterogeneous subsurface environments, the concentrations of these solutes vary in time and space. Knowledge of dissolution processes and kinetics occurring over the long-term under such conditions is needed to predict subsurface uranium behavior and optimize the selection and performance of uraninite-based remediation technologies over multiyear periods. We have assessed dissolution of biogenic uraninite deployed in wells at the Rifle, CO, DOE research site over a 22 month period. Uraninite loss rates were highly sensitive to DO, with near-complete loss at >0.6 mg/L over this period but no measurable loss at lower DO. We conclude that uraninite can be stable over decadal time scales in aquifers under low DO conditions. U(VI) solid products were absent over a wide range of DO values, suggesting that dissolution proceeded through complexation and removal of oxidized surface uranium atoms by carbonate. Moreover, under the groundwater conditions present, Ca(2+) binds strongly to uraninite surfaces at structural uranium sites, impacting uranium fate.

Electrochemical and Spectroscopic Evidence on the One-Electron Reduction of U(VI) to U(V) on Magnetite

Reduction of U(VI) to U(IV) on mineral surfaces is often considered a one-step two-electron process. However, stabilized U(V), with no evidence of U(IV), found in recent studies indicates U(VI) can undergo a one-electron reduction to U(V) without further progression to U(IV). We investigated reduction pathways of uranium by reducing U(VI) electrochemically on a magnetite electrode at pH 3.4. Cyclic voltammetry confirms the one-electron reduction of U(VI) to U(V). Formation of nanosize uranium precipitates on the magnetite surface at reducing potentials and dissolution of the solids at oxidizing potentials are observed by in situ electrochemical atomic force microscopy. XPS analysis of the magnetite electrodes polarized in uranium solutions at voltages from -0.1 to -0.9 V (E(0)(U(VI)/U(V))= -0.135 V vs Ag/AgCl) show the presence of only U(V) and U(VI). The sample with the highest U(V)/U(VI) ratio was prepared at -0.7 V, where the longest average U-O(axial) distance of 2.05 ± 0.01 Å was evident in the same sample revealed by extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis. The results demonstrate that the electrochemical reduction of U(VI) on magnetite only yields U(V), even at a potential of -0.9 V, which favors the one-electron reduction mechanism. U(V) does not disproportionate but stabilizes on magnetite through precipitation of mixed-valence state U(V)/U(VI) solids.

Influence of iron sulfides on abiotic oxidation of UO2 by nitrite and dissolved oxygen in natural sediments

Iron sulfide precipitates formed under sulfate reducing conditions may buffer U(IV) insoluble solid phases from reoxidation after oxidants re-enter the reducing zone. In this study, sediment column experiments were performed to quantify the effect of biogenic mackinawite on U(IV) stability in the presence of nitrite or dissolved oxygen (DO). Two columns, packed with sediment from an abandoned U contaminated mill tailings site near Rifle, CO, were biostimulated for 62 days with an electron donor (3 mM acetate) in the presence (BRS+) and absence (BRS−) of 7 mM sulfate. The bioreduced sediment was supplemented with synthetic uraninite (UO2(s)), sterilized by gamma-irradiation, and then subjected to a sequential oxidation by nitrite and DO. Biogenic iron sulfides produced in the BRS+ column, mostly as mackinawite, inhibited U(IV) reoxidation and mobilization by both nitrite and oxygen. Most of the influent nitrite (0.53 mM) exited the columns without oxidizing UO2, while a small amount of nitrite was consumed by iron sulfides precipitates. An additional 10-day supply of 0.25 mM DO influent resulted in the release of about 10% and 49% of total U in BRS+ and BRS– columns, respectively. Influent DO was effectively consumed by biogenic iron sulfides in the BRS+ column, while DO and a large U spike were detected after only a brief period in the effluent in the BRS– column.