Characterization of Vadose Zone Sediment: Borehole 299-W23-19 [SX -115] in the S-SX Waste Management Area.

Serne, R. Jeffrey; Schaef, Herbert T.; Bjornstad, Bruce N.; Lanigan, David C.; Gee, Glendon W.; Lindenmeier, Clark W.; Clayton, Ray E.; Legore, Virginia L.; Orr, Robert D.; O’Hara, Matthew J.; Brown, Christopher F.; Kutnyakov, Igor V.; Burke, Deborah Sd; Wilson, Teresa C.; Williams, Bruce A.

doi:10.2172/15001167

Cited by 34 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…If the absolute concentrations of co-migrating species are changed solely by dilution with existing porewater, then the ratio of the two should remain constant. Unlike similar ratio discussions for other contaminated boreholes (SX-41-09-39 and 299-W23-19; see Serne et al 2002b and2002d), the ratios for the porewaters from borehole 299-E33-46 are not constant. It is likely that the low absolute concentrations of constituents such as technetium-99 and relatively low concentrations of nitrate and uranium cause the ratio approach to be compromised by analytical error.…”

Section: Other Characterization Observationscontrasting

confidence: 64%

“…This differs from the cation profile from borehole 299-W23-19 that shows very distinct separation of the divalent cations from the sodium plume (see Figure 4.4 in Serne et al 2002b) or the less pronounced but still discernable separation from the sodium profile at the two more saline plumes between SX-108 and SX-109 tanks (see Figures 4.3 in both Serne et al 2002c and2002d). Based on personal communication with Dr. Carl Steefel at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the ion exchange separation of the divalent cations, which are naturally the dominant cations on Hanford sediment exchange sites, from the invading high sodium fluids is maximized when the invading sodium concentrations are not large and when the ion exchange capacity of the sediments is moderate.…”

Section: 13contrasting

confidence: 61%

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Characterization of Vadose Zone Sediment: Borehole 299-E33-46 Near B 110 in the B BX-BY Waste Management Area

Serne¹,

Bjornstad²,

Gee³

et al. 2008

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Executive SummaryThis report was revised in September 2008 to remove acid-ectractable sodium data from Table 4.17. The sodium data was removed due to potential contamination introduced during the acid extraction process. The rest of the text remains unchanged from the original report issued in December 2002.The overall goal of the of the Tank Farm Vadose Zone Project, led by CH2M HILL Hanford Group, Inc., is to define risks from past and future single-shell tank farm activities. To meet this goal, CH2M HILL Hanford Group, Inc., asked scientists from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to perform detailed analyses on vadose zone sediment from within the B-BX-BY Waste Management Area. This report is the third in a series of three reports to present the results of these analyses. Specifically, this report contains all the geologic, geochemical, and selected physical characterization data collected on vadose zone sediment recovered from a borehole installed approximately 4.5 m (15 ft) northeast of tank B-110 (borehole 299-E33-46).This report also presents our interpretation of the data in the context of the sediment lithologies, the vertical extent of contamination, the migration potential of the contaminants, and the likely source of the contamination in the vadose zone and groundwater east of the B Tank Farm. The information presented in this report supports the B-BX-BY field investigation report prepared by CH2M HILL Hanford Group, Inc. (a) Overall, our analyses identified common ion exchange and heterogeneous (solid phase-liquid solute) precipitation reactions as two mechanisms that influence the distribution of contaminants within that portion of the vadose zone affected by tank liquor. We did not observe significant indications of caustic alteration of the sediment mineralogy or porosity, but we did observe slightly elevated pH values between the depths of 15 and 25 m (52 and 83 ft) bgs. X-ray diffraction measurements indicate no evidence of mineral alteration or precipitation resulting from the interaction of the tank liquor with the sediment. However, no scans of samples by scanning electron microscopy were performed that might suggest that there is faint evidence of caustic attack.Our analyses do not firmly suggest that the source of the contamination in the groundwater below and to the east of B Tank Farm is the 1971 transfer line leak at B-110. However, we are firmly convinced that the fluids from the transfer line leak event are present in the vadose zone sediments at borehole 299-E33-46 to a depth of 52 m (170 ft) bgs, within the Hanford H2 sand unit. Below this depth the concentration of nitrate still appears to be slightly elevated above natural background levels. There is also elevated technetium-99 between 68 and 69 m (222 and 226 ft) bgs in the Plio-pleistocene mud layer but we can't show that this contamination traveled through the entire vadose zone and in fact may have migrated horizontally from other sources. iv The near horizontally bedded, northeasterly dipping sediment likely caused hor...

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Section: Other Characterization Observationscontrasting

confidence: 64%

Section: 13contrasting

confidence: 61%

Characterization of Vadose Zone Sediment: Borehole 299-E33-46 Near B 110 in the B BX-BY Waste Management Area

Serne¹,

Bjornstad²,

Gee³

et al. 2008

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“…Sediment pH values are considered slightly elevated between 8.0 and 8.5 and are significantly elevated above 8.5. Previous characterization activities have shown that soil pH is typically significantly elevated in locations where tank waste has entered the vadose zone (Serne et al 2002b(Serne et al ,c, 2004aBrown et al 2006Brown et al , 2007. Natural minerals in the sediment eventually buffer the alkaline waste solution as it migrates through the vadose zone, resulting in normal soil pH values down gradient from waste source discharge points.…”

Section: Ph and Electrical Conductivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During a past investigation at WMA SX, investigators reported that changes in sediment type and contaminant concentrations typically occurred within a few inches in a given liner (Serne et al 2002b). It was concluded that a more methodical scoping approach would be necessary to provide the technical justification for selecting samples for detailed characterization as defined in the data quality objectives process (DOE 1999).…”

Section: Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Direct-Push Vadose Zone Sediments from the 241-B and 241-BX Tank Farms

Brown¹,

Icenhower²,

Um³

et al. 2007

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Executive SummaryGeochemical tests provide evidence for the transit of a plume of caustic waste solution through the sediment column at the Hanford 241-B and -BX Tank Farms. Direct-push samples recovered from boreholes surrounding Tanks 241-B-110 and 241-BX-102 and related waste transfer lines and diversion boxes included sediments typical of those previously recovered from other localities on the Hanford Site. The Hanford formation sediments are dominantly quartzo-feldspathic sands containing lithic fragments, displaying a range of particle size distributions and sorting characteristics. Some moderately well-sorted, fine-grained lithologies are interpreted as lenticular bodies irregularly dispersed in coarser-grained, more poorly sorted sediments. Tier I tests conducted on the vadose zone sediments revealed an inverse correlation between moisture content and sediment size fraction (i.e., there is greater moisture content in finergrained sediments). The Tier I tests also showed that the pore water solutions were likely sodium-rich, moderately saline, and possessed higher pH values than background (uncontaminated) sediments. These data are characteristic of sediments that have encountered sodium-rich, saline, caustic waste solution, as documented in other reports at other suspect contamination sites around Hanford. Analyses of solutions from 1:1 water extracts reveal relatively balanced cation and anion concentrations, indicating that most of the geochemical species have been accounted for. The water extract data for affected sediments also indicate unusually high concentrations of aluminum, iron, and phosphorus. The relatively high concentrations of aluminum and iron may be the result of dissolution of secondary amorphous phases that precipitated after a reactive plume partially dissolved aluminum-and iron-bearing phases as it migrated through the sediment column. On the other hand, the presence of elevated concentrations of phosphorous may be the tell-tale signature of wastes derived from the bismuth phosphate separation process. Elements typically mobile in the subsurface, such as technetium-99, are present at either low concentrations or are below the analytical detection limit. However, we expect that the mobile elements would be present mainly along a narrow plume front, and if this front had passed deeper into the sediment profile than depths sampled, the retention of these elements would be minor. Alternatively, uranium-238 was detected in nearly all the direct-push sediments (by acid extract experiments) from around the BX Tank Farm at concentrations above the natural crustal average (0.76 pCi/g), and we also detected the presence of several anthropogenic radioisotopes, such as cobalt-60, cesium-137, europium-154, and europium-155 (by gamma energy analysis). These data confirm contamination of the sediments.We selected a pair of lithologies from a single direct-push hole from near BX-102 that we anticipated would reveal details of the mechanism of radionuclide binding in the sediments and subjected them ...

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“…In those instances, it was assumed that recharge through the coarse, nonvegetated tank farm surfaces was large enough for an amount of time sufficient to have flushed the tank leak liquids to a depth in the soil profile that would allow use of the shallower chloride data. Serne et al (2002aSerne et al ( , 2002b reported data for two boreholes inside WMA S-SX, 299-W23-19 and 299-W23-234. Borehole 299-W23-19 is in the southwestern corner of the WMA S-SX, approximately 3 m (10 ft) southwest of SST SX-115, which was confirmed to have leaked in 1965.…”

Section: B33 Deeply Disturbed Sedimentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recharge Data Package for Hanford Single-Shell Tank Waste Management Areas

Fayer¹,

Keller²

2007

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Characterization of Vadose Zone Sediment: Borehole 299-W23-19 [SX -115] in the S-SX Waste Management Area.

Cited by 34 publications

References 13 publications

Characterization of Vadose Zone Sediment: Borehole 299-E33-46 Near B 110 in the B BX-BY Waste Management Area

Characterization of Vadose Zone Sediment: Borehole 299-E33-46 Near B 110 in the B BX-BY Waste Management Area

Characterization of Direct-Push Vadose Zone Sediments from the 241-B and 241-BX Tank Farms

Recharge Data Package for Hanford Single-Shell Tank Waste Management Areas

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