Abstract
In oxidizing environments, the toxic and radioactive element uranium (U) is most soluble and mobile in the hexavalent oxidation state. Biotite was reacted with aqueous solutions of U(VI) in the presence of 1-100 mM NaCl or CaCl2 at pH of 3.0, 5.0, and 7.0. U adsorption was slightly greater in CaCl2 solutions relative to NaCl solutions. The reason is that the interlayer K+ ions were exchanged to a larger degree by Ca2+ than by Na+ ions. XRD and transmission electron microscope (TEM) investigations revealed the presence of interlayer U(VI) species, suggesting a slow but considerable diffusion of U(VI) even into deep interlayer regions of the biotite particles. U(VI) may be stabilized in the interlayer regions in a long-term process. This can imply that once U is diffused into the interlayer region of biotite, U migration will be significantly retarded in subsurface environments.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 255-259 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Applied Clay Science |
Volume | 46 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2009 Nov |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors are thankful to two anonymous reviewers and Dr. Lagaly for the critical and constructive comments. This work was supported by the Nuclear Research and Development Program of National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) .
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Geology
- Geochemistry and Petrology