High-resolution 3D geological modelling of heterogeneity in poorly exposed glacial deposits using sedimentary and glaciotectonic architectural element analysis: a case example from Sellafield in west Cumbria, UK

Smith, Nicholas; Merritt, J.W.; Phillips, Emrys

doi:10.1144/qjegh2022-022

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 109 publications

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“…Four different sediment lithologies characterized by quaternary glaciogenic formations were used in the sediment microcosms. The first were sand-rich sediments obtained from Peel Place Quarry (PPQ), Cumbia, UK that represent the Peel Place Sand and Gravel Member, a lithology identified in the Sellafield subsurface. , The second were more clay-rich tills obtained from the bed of the Calder River (CR) approximately 2 km north of the Sellafield Site, a lithology known to surround fluvial systems in the Sellafield district . After collection, these two sediments were immediately transferred to sealed, sterile HDPE Ziplock bags to the University of Manchester and kept in the dark at 10 °C prior to experimentation.…”

Section: Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced Strontium Removal through Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation by Indigenous Ureolytic Bacteria

White-Pettigrew,

Shaw,

Hughes

et al. 2024

ACS Earth Space Chem.

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Microbial ureolysis offers the potential to remove metals including Sr2+ as carbonate minerals via the generation of alkalinity coupled to NH4 + and HCO3 – production. Here, we investigated the potential for bacteria, indigenous to sediments representative of the U.K. Sellafield nuclear site where 90Sr is present as a groundwater contaminant, to utilize urea in order to target Sr2+-associated (Ca)CO3 formation in sediment microcosm studies. Strontium removal was enhanced in most sediments in the presence of urea only, coinciding with a significant pH increase. Adding the biostimulation agents acetate/lactate, Fe(III), and yeast extract to further enhance microbial metabolism, including ureolysis, enhanced ureolysis and increased Sr and Ca removal. Environmental scanning electron microscopy analyses suggested that coprecipitation of Ca and Sr occurred, with evidence of Sr associated with calcium carbonate polymorphs. Sr K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis was conducted on authentic Sellafield sediments stimulated with Fe(III) and quarry outcrop sediments amended with yeast extract. Spectra from the treated Sellafield and quarry sediments showed Sr2+ local coordination environments indicative of incorporation into calcite and vaterite crystal structures, respectively. 16S rRNA gene analysis identified ureolytic bacteria of the genus Sporosarcina in these incubations, suggesting they have a key role in enhancing strontium removal. The onset of ureolysis also appeared to enhance the microbial reduction of Fe(III), potentially via a tight coupling between Fe(III) and NH4 + as an electron donor for metal reduction. This suggests ureolysis may support the immobilization of 90Sr via coprecipitation with insoluble calcium carbonate and cofacilitate reductive precipitation of certain redox active radionuclides, e.g., uranium.

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Section: Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced Strontium Removal through Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation by Indigenous Ureolytic Bacteria

White-Pettigrew,

Shaw,

Hughes

et al. 2024

ACS Earth Space Chem.

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Effect of grain size variation on strontium sorption to heterogeneous aquifer sediments

Barker,

West,

Graham

et al. 2024

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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High-resolution 3D geological modelling of heterogeneity in poorly exposed glacial deposits using sedimentary and glaciotectonic architectural element analysis: a case example from Sellafield in west Cumbria, UK

Abstract: High-resolution 3D geological modelling of heterogeneity in poorly exposed glacial deposits using sedimentary and glaciotectonic architectural element analysis: A case example from Sellafield in West Cumbria, UK.

Cited by 2 publications

References 109 publications

Enhanced Strontium Removal through Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation by Indigenous Ureolytic Bacteria

Enhanced Strontium Removal through Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation by Indigenous Ureolytic Bacteria

Effect of grain size variation on strontium sorption to heterogeneous aquifer sediments

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