Remediation of soils contaminated with particulate depleted uranium by multi stage chemical extraction

JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

卷:263

Article

Crean, Daniel E.^1,2  Livens, Francis R.²  Sajih, Mustafa²  Stennett, Martin C.¹  Grolimund, Daniel³  Borca, Camelia N.³  Hyatt, Neil C.¹ 

[1] Univ Sheffield, Dept Mat Sci & Engn, Immobilisat Sci Lab, Sheffield S10 2TN, S Yorkshire, England

[2] Univ Manchester, Sch Chem, Ctr Radiochem Res, Manchester M13 9PL, Lancs, England

[3] Paul Scherrer Inst, Swiss Light Source, Villigen, Switzerland

关键词: Depleted uranium;    Chemical extraction;    Remediation;    Micro-focus X-ray diffraction;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.08.013

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Contamination of soils with depleted uranium (DU) from munitions firing occurs in conflict zones and at test firing sites. This study reports the development of a chemical extraction methodology for remediation of soils contaminated with particulate DU. Uranium phases in soils from two sites at a UK firing range, MOD Eskmeals, were characterised by electron microscopy and sequential extraction. Uranium rich particles with characteristic spherical morphologies were observed in soils, consistent with other instances of DU munitions contamination. Batch extraction efficiencies for aqueous ammonium bicarbonate (42-50% total DU extracted), citric acid (30-42% total DU) and sulphuric acid (13-19% total DU) were evaluated. Characterisation of residues from bicarbonate-treated soils by synchrotron microfocus X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy revealed partially leached U(IV)-oxide particles and some secondary uranyl-carbonate phases. Based on these data, a multi-stage extraction scheme was developed utilising leaching in ammonium bicarbonate followed by citric acid to dissolve secondary carbonate species. Site specific U extraction was improved to 68-87% total U by the application of this methodology, potentially providing a route to efficient DU decontamination using low cost, environmentally compatible reagents. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free