Dominant Mechanisms of Uranium(VI)?Phosphate Interactions in Subsurface Environments: An in situ remediation perspective

The information gained from this research project improved our understanding of U(VI)-phosphate reactions that can be used to identify and manipulate the conditions that lead to the greatest decreases in U(VI) mobility. The results illustrate that precipitation of uranyl-phosphates is not the only means of in situ uranium remediation and that a wide range of uranium immobilization mechanisms can control uranium mobility following phosphate addition. Although phosphate addition led to significant retardation of uranium release and also resulted in increased net uptake of uranium for conditions of the Rifle site, phosphate amendments could be more beneficial at sites with lower pH and dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).