Multicomponent Transport Modeling of Uranium Biosequestration
Abstract
This study aims to characterize and quantify the uranium sequestration observed during a pilot in-situ biosequestration project conducted in an alluvial aquifer at the Monument Valley UMTRA site. Ore processing activities conducted in the past caused release of uranium, nitrate, and sulfate to groundwater. Pilot in-situ biosequestration tests were conducted at the center of the plume and the source zone at different times. In addition, laboratory experiments were conducted using aquifer sediment and groundwater collected from the site to study sequestration mechanisms and sustainability. Ethanol was used as an electron donor in order to stimulate activity of reducing bacteria, decrease oxidation-reduction potential, and ultimately sequester uranium. The monitoring results showed significant decreases in nitrate, sulfate, and uranium concentrations and in oxidation-reduction potential. Multicomponent reactive transport modeling is used to characterize solute transport and enhanced attenuation of uranium under variable chemical conditions. The model simulations are compared to the measured data. The results are used to conduct forward simulations to test different scenarios to evaluate plume behavior and attenuation capacity.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFM.H21I1850E
- Keywords:
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- 1829 Groundwater hydrology;
- HYDROLOGY;
- 1831 Groundwater quality;
- HYDROLOGY;
- 1832 Groundwater transport;
- HYDROLOGY;
- 1847 Modeling;
- HYDROLOGY