Non-enzymatic interactions between U(VI) and biogenic mackinawite
EMSL Project ID
47291
Abstract
Reduction of subsurface contaminant uranium to a sparingly soluble mineral; uraninite (UO2) is being extensively researched as a remediation strategy for mitigating uranium contamination in-situ. The present study addresses the potential for abiotic/non-enzymatic reduction of uranium by a biogenic Fe(II)-sulfide mineral; mackinawite (FeS). Recent batch studies in our laboratory have demonstrated adsorption and reduction of hexavalent uranium [U(VI)] to UO2 on the surface of biogenic mackinawite. We hypothesize that uranium reductions occurs due to the structural Fe(II) within the biogenic mackinawite via a direct electron transfer process. If this hypothesis is true, it is reasonable to assume phase transformations within the biogenic mackinawite sample due to the formation of ferric ions. The propensity of various biogenic Fe(II)-bearing minerals to reduce U(VI) is consistent with prior DOE-supported studies
Project Details
Project type
Limited Scope
Start Date
2012-02-22
End Date
2012-04-23
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members
Related Publications
Veeramani H, A Scheinost, N Monsegue, N Qafoku, RK Kukkadapu, M Newville, A Lanzirotti, A Pruden, M Murayama, and MF Hochella. 2013. "Abiotic Reductive Immobilization of U(VI) by Biogenic Mackinawite." Energy & Environmental Science 47(5):2361-2369. doi:10.1021/es304025x
Xu J, H Veeramani, N Qafoku, G Singh, MV Riquelme Breazeal, A Pruden, RK Kukkadapu, BN Gartman, and MF Hochella, Jr. 2017. "Efficacy of Acetate-Amended Biostimulation for Uranium Sequestration: Combined Analysis of Sediment/Groundwater Geochemistry and Bacterial Community Structure." Applied Geochemistry 78:172-185. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2016.12.024