Kinetics of uranium(VI) lability and solubility in aerobic soils

Izquierdo, M.; Young, S.D.; Bailey, E.H.; Crout, N.M.J.; Lofts, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3627-851X; Chenery, S.R.; Shaw, G.. 2020 Kinetics of uranium(VI) lability and solubility in aerobic soils. Chemosphere, 258, 127246. 10, pp. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127246

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127246

Abstract/Summary

Uranium may pose a hazard to ecosystems and human health due to its chemotoxic and radiotoxic properties. The long half-life of many U isotopes and their ability to migrate raise concerns over disposal of radioactive wastes. This work examines the long-term U bioavailability in aerobic soils following direct deposition or transport to the surface and addresses two questions: (i) to what extent do soil properties control the kinetics of U speciation changes in soils and (ii) over what experimental timescales must U reaction kinetics be measured to reliably predict long-term of impact in the terrestrial environment? Soil microcosms spiked with soluble uranyl were incubated for 1.7 years. Changes in UVI fractionation were periodically monitored by soil extractions and isotopic dilution techniques, shedding light on the binding strength of uranyl onto the solid phase. Uranyl sorption was rapid and strongly buffered by soil Fe oxides, but UVI remained reversibly held and geochemically reactive. The pool of uranyl species able to replenish the soil solution through several equilibrium reactions is substantially larger than might be anticipated from typical chemical extractions and remarkably similar across different soils despite contrasting soil properties. Modelled kinetic parameters indicate that labile UVI declines very slowly, suggesting that the processes and transformations transferring uranyl to an intractable sink progress at a slow rate regardless of soil characteristics. This is of relevance in the context of radioecological assessments, given that soil solution is the key reservoir for plant uptake.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127246
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Pollution (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0045-6535
Additional Keywords:	uranium, soil, humus, iron oxide, bioavailability, isotopic dilution
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Chemistry
Date made live:	15 Jun 2020 09:55 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/527833

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127246

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Pollution (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

0045-6535

Additional Keywords:

uranium, soil, humus, iron oxide, bioavailability, isotopic dilution

NORA Subject Terms:

Ecology and Environment
Chemistry