Solubility Controls of Arsenic, Nickel, and Iron in Uranium Mine Tailings

Essilfie-Dughan, Joseph; Hendry, M. Jim; Warner, Jeffrey A.; Kotzer, Tom

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-22122-4_38

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Since 1996, mill tailings from this mill have been deposited in the Deilmann TMF. In this TMF, knowledge of the long-term geochemical controls on arsenic (of which there is an estimated 17 000 tonnes) is important because its dominant sink is adsorption onto 2-line ferrihydrite generated in the mill 41 and regulators require an understanding of the geochemical controls over a 10 000 year time period. 42 The Deilmann tailings are alkaline and oxic (mean pH 9.8; mean Eh þ200 mV), 38 with an ambient temperature of 1À2 °C.…”

Section: Characterization Of the Iron Oxide Phases In Time-seriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The results of the estimates of transformation rates are supported by spectroscopic observations of in situ tailings samples, which show no measurable conversion of ferrihydrite over the past ∼20 years. 41 In addition, field studies from the Sain-Yrieix gold mining district of France indicate As-associated ferrihydrite remains stable over centuries, with no Fe(III) oxides, such as hematite or goethite, being reported. 46 Finally, the potential for the development of dissimilatory iron reduction in the tailings is a valid concern with regard to the long-term stability of the ferrihydrite and adsorbed arsenate, and we are currently investigating its impact in this system.…”

Section: Characterization Of the Iron Oxide Phases In Time-seriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of Adsorbed Arsenate on the Rate of Transformation of 2-Line Ferrihydrite at pH 10

Das

Hendry

Essilfie-Dughan

2011

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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105

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2-Line ferrihydrite, a form of iron in uranium mine tailings, is a dominant adsorbent for elements of concern (EOC), such as arsenic. As ferrihydrite is unstable under oxic conditions and can undergo dissolution and subsequent transformation to hematite and goethite over time, the impact of transformation on the long-term stability of EOC within tailings is of importance from an environmental standpoint. Here, studies were undertaken to assess the rate of 2-line ferrihydrite transformation at varying As/Fe ratios (0.500-0.010) to simulate tailings conditions at the Deilmann Tailings Management Facility of Cameco Corporation, Canada. Kinetics were evaluated under relevant physical (~1 °C) and chemical conditions (pH ~10). As the As/Fe ratio increased from 0.010 to 0.018, the rate of ferrihydrite transformation decreased by 2 orders of magnitude. No transformation of ferrihydrite was observed at higher As/Fe ratios (0.050, 0.100, and 0.500). Arsenic was found to retard ferrihydrite dissolution and transformation as well as goethite formation.

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Section: Characterization Of the Iron Oxide Phases In Time-seriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Characterization Of the Iron Oxide Phases In Time-seriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Adsorbed Arsenate on the Rate of Transformation of 2-Line Ferrihydrite at pH 10

Das

Hendry

Essilfie-Dughan

2011

Environ. Sci. Technol.

Self Cite

105

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“…Briefly, dissolved As occurs in two principal oxidation states, As(III) or As(V), depending on the predominant geochemical conditions. The occurrence of As in mining environments has been well documented (Foster et al, 1998;Morin & Calas, 2006;Walker et al, 2009;Essilfie-Dughan et al, 2013). Dissolved As can be attenuated by iron oxide minerals, which have a net positive surface charge under acidic to circumneutral conditions (Goldberg & Johnston, 2001;Dixit & Hering, 2003;Kanel et al, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improved precision in As speciation analysis with HERFD-XANES at the AsK-edge: the case of As speciation in mine waste

Saurette¹,

Frinfrock²,

Verbuyst³

et al. 2022

J Synchrotron Radiat

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High-energy-resolution fluorescence-detected (HERFD) X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) is a spectroscopic method that allows for increased spectral feature resolution, and greater selectivity to decrease complex matrix effects compared with conventional XANES. XANES is an ideal tool for speciation of elements in solid-phase environmental samples. Accurate speciation of As in mine waste materials is important for understanding the mobility and toxicity of As in near-surface environments. In this study, linear combination fitting (LCF) was performed on synthetic spectra generated from mixtures of eight measured reference compounds for both HERFD-XANES and transmission-detected XANES to evaluate the improvement in quantitative speciation with HERFD-XANES spectra. The reference compounds arsenolite (As2O3), orpiment (As2S3), getchellite (AsSbS3), arsenopyrite (FeAsS), kaňkite (FeAsO4·3.5H2O), scorodite (FeAsO4·2H2O), sodium arsenate (Na3AsO4), and realgar (As4S4) were selected for their importance in mine waste systems. Statistical methods of principal component analysis and target transformation were employed to determine whether HERFD improves identification of the components in a dataset of mixtures of reference compounds. LCF was performed on HERFD- and total fluorescence yield (TFY)-XANES spectra collected from mine waste samples. Arsenopyrite, arsenolite, orpiment, and sodium arsenate were more accurately identified in the synthetic HERFD-XANES spectra compared with the transmission-XANES spectra. In mine waste samples containing arsenopyrite and either scorodite or kaňkite, LCF with HERFD-XANES measurements resulted in fits with smaller R-factors than concurrently collected TFY measurements. The improved accuracy of HERFD-XANES analysis may provide enhanced delineation of As phases controlling biogeochemical reactions in mine wastes, contaminated soils, and remediation systems.

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“…This causes additional hazards associated with the release of As into water aquifers. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24] In cases when reduction conditions prevail, such as at the Ruprechtov site in the Czech Republic, As occurs in the form of arsenopyrite (FeAsS) in tertiary sediments forming layered aggregates with secondary uraninite and arsenopyrite. 19 Mixed copper uranyl arsenate-phosphate species have been identied in the soils from an abandoned U mine in the UK as a result of many years of the mining activities at the site.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A multi-technique study of altered granitic rock from the Krunkelbach Valley uranium deposit, Southern Germany

et al. 2020

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Solubility Controls of Arsenic, Nickel, and Iron in Uranium Mine Tailings

Cited by 5 publications

References 7 publications

Effects of Adsorbed Arsenate on the Rate of Transformation of 2-Line Ferrihydrite at pH 10

Effects of Adsorbed Arsenate on the Rate of Transformation of 2-Line Ferrihydrite at pH 10

Improved precision in As speciation analysis with HERFD-XANES at the AsK-edge: the case of As speciation in mine waste

A multi-technique study of altered granitic rock from the Krunkelbach Valley uranium deposit, Southern Germany

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