Modeling transport of arsenic through modified granular natural siderite filters for arsenic removal

Groundwater arsenic(As)contamination is a hot issue,which is severe health concern worldwide.Recently,many Fe-based adsorbents have been used for As removal from solutions.Modified granular natural siderite(MGNS),a special hybrid Fe(II)/Fe(III)system,had higher adsorption capacity for As(III)than As(V),but the feasibility of its application in treating high-As groundwater is still unclear.In combination with transport modeling,laboratory column studies and field pilot tests were performed to reveal both mechanisms and factors controlling As removal by MGNS-filled filters.Results show that weakly acid pH and discontinuous treatment enhanced As(Ⅲ)removal,with a throughput of 8700 bed volumes(BV)of 1.0 mg/L As(Ⅲ)water at breakthrough of 10 μg/L As at pH 6.Influent HCO_3~-inhibited As removal by the filters.Iron mineral species,SEM and XRD patterns of As-loading MGNS show that the important process contributing to high As(Ⅲ)removal was the mineral transformation from siderite to goethite in the filter.The homogeneous surface diffusion modeling(HSDM)shows that competition between As(III)and HCO_3~-with adsorption sites on MGNS was negligible.The inhibition of HCO_3~-on As(Ⅲ)removal was connected to inhibition of siderite dissolution and mineral transformation.Arsenic loadings were lower in field pilot tests than those in the laboratory experiments,showing that high concentrations of coexisting anions(especially HCO_3~-and SiO_4~(4-)),high pH,low EBCT,and low groundwater temperature decreased As removal.It was suggested that acidification and aeration of highAs groundwater and discontinuous treatment would improve the MGNS filter performance of As removal from real high-As groundwater.     

Naturally occurring arsenic: Mobilization at a landfill in Maine and implications for remediation

Elevated levels of dissolved arsenic (∼300 μg L⁻¹) have been detected beneath and in groundwater plumes extending away from a closed landfill in southern Maine. This study sought to determine the source of arsenic to the aquifer, the processes responsible for arsenic mobilization, and to evaluate the effectiveness of remediation efforts that have occurred at this site. The As appears to originate in the natural (glacial) aquifer solids, which contain ∼5 mg kg⁻¹ As on a dry weight basis. This conclusion is supported by the relatively uniform distribution of As in sediment samples, results of laboratory batch incubation experiments, and comparisons with groundwaters in nearby wetlands, which also have high levels of dissolved As that do not appear to originate within the landfill. The As is mobilized in the subsurface by strongly reducing conditions beneath the landfill and in nearby wetlands. In the aquifer beneath the landfill, the average oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) is −95 mV (Eh + 105 mV), and these reducing conditions were primarily induced by landfill leachate. Remediation efforts at this site have included installation of a low permeability clay cap; groundwater extraction, oxidation, and re-injection; and subsurface oxidation by injection of magnesium peroxide. The natural source of arsenic within the aquifer solids, coupled with widespread reducing conditions, has severely limited the effectiveness of these interventions on groundwater arsenic concentrations.     

Arsenic,iron and organic matter in sediments and groundwater in the Pannonian Basin,Hungary

In the central part of the Pannonian Basin, factors controlling the distribution of As in sediments and groundwater of the upper 500 m were studied. In core samples, the amounts of As, Fe and Mn extractable with hydroxylamine hydrochloride (NH₂OH · HCl) in 25% acetic acid, the proportion of the <0.063 mm size fraction, and the sediment organic C (C_org) contents were measured. In the groundwaters concentrations of As, humic substances, and selected major chemical components were determined. In most core samples extractable Fe, as FeOOH, and C_org are correlated, but some samples have excess Fe, or organic matter. In cases where either excess Fe or excess organic matter is found, the amount of As is also elevated. The spatial distribution of As in the groundwater and the lack of a consistent correlation of As with a single component indicate that there is no single factor controlling the concentration of dissolved As over the entire study area. The only consistent feature is enrichment of As relative to Fe in the groundwater, compared to the sediments. This suggests that the dissolution of Fe minerals, which primarily adsorb As, is not congruent. In reducing conditions Fe(III) oxyhydroxides together with adsorbed As dissolve, and siderite with little or no As precipitates. When sub-regions are separated and studied individually, it can be shown that hydrogeological features of the sediments, the proportions of Fe minerals and sedimentary organic matter, and the concentration of dissolved humic materials, all influence the accumulation and mobilization of As. The significance of the different mobilizing processes, however, and the mean concentration of As, is different in the recharge, through-flow and discharge areas.     

Strontium isotope quantification of siderite,brine and acid mine drainage contributions to abandoned gas well discharges in the Appalachian Plateau

Unplugged abandoned oil and gas wells in the Appalachian region can serve as conduits for the movement of waters impacted by fossil fuel extraction. Strontium isotope and geochemical analysis indicate that artesian discharges of water with high total dissolved solids (TDS) from a series of gas wells in western Pennsylvania result from the infiltration of acidic, low Fe (Fe < 10 mg/L) coal mine drainage (AMD) into shallow, siderite (iron carbonate)-cemented sandstone aquifers. The acidity from the AMD promotes dissolution of the carbonate, and metal- and sulfate-contaminated waters rise to the surface through compromised abandoned gas well casings. Strontium isotope mixing models suggest that neither upward migration of oil and gas brines from Devonian reservoirs associated with the wells nor dissolution of abundant nodular siderite present in the mine spoil through which recharge water percolates contribute significantly to the artesian gas well discharges. Natural Sr isotope composition can be a sensitive tool in the characterization of complex groundwater interactions and can be used to distinguish between inputs from deep and shallow contamination sources, as well as between groundwater and mineralogically similar but stratigraphically distinct rock units. This is of particular relevance to regions such as the Appalachian Basin, where a legacy of coal, oil and gas exploration is coupled with ongoing and future natural gas drilling into deep reservoirs.     

Assessing the solubility controls on vanadium in groundwater,northeastern San Joaquin Valley,CA

The solubility controls on vanadium (V) in groundwater were studied due to concerns over possible harmful health effects of ingesting V in drinking water. Vanadium concentrations in the northeastern San Joaquin Valley ranged from <3 μg/L to 70 μg/L with a median of 21 μg/L. Concentrations of V were highest in samples collected from oxic groundwater (49% > 25 μg/L) and lowest in samples collected from anoxic groundwater (70% < 0.8 μg/L). In oxic groundwater, speciation modeling (SM) using PHREEQC predicted that V exists primarily as the oxyanion H₂VO₄⁻. Adsorption/desorption reactions with mineral surfaces and associated oxide coatings were indicated as the primary solubility control of V⁵⁺ oxyanions in groundwater. Environmental data showed that V concentrations in oxic groundwater generally increased with increasing groundwater pH. However, data from adsorption isotherm experiments indicated that small variations in pH (7.4–8.2) were not likely as an important a factor as the inherent adsorption capacity of oxide assemblages coating the surface of mineral grains. In suboxic groundwater, accurate SM modeling was difficult since Eh measurements of source water were not measured in this study. Vanadium concentrations in suboxic groundwater decreased with increasing pH indicating that V may exist as an oxycationic species [e.g. V(OH)₃⁺]. Vanadium may complex with dissolved inorganic and organic ligands under suboxic conditions, which could alter the adsorption behavior of V in groundwater. Speciation modeling did not predict the existence of V-inorganic ligand complexes and organic ligands were not collected as part of this study. More work is needed to determine processes governing V solubility under suboxic groundwater conditions. Under anoxic groundwater conditions, SM predicts that aqueous V exists as the uncharged V(OH)₃ molecule. However, exceedingly low V concentrations show that V is sparingly soluble in anoxic conditions. Results indicated that V may be precipitating as V³⁺- or mixed V³⁺/Fe³⁺-oxides in anoxic groundwater, which is consistent with results of a previous study. The fact that V appears insoluble in anoxic (Fe reducing) redox conditions indicates that the behavior of V is different than arsenic (As) in aquifer systems where the reductive dissolution of Fe-oxides with As adsorbed to the surface is a well-documented mechanism for increasing As concentrations in groundwater. This hypothesis is supported by the relation of V to As concentrations in oxic versus anoxic redox conditions.Sequential extraction procedures (SEP) applied to aquifer material showed that the greatest amount of V was recovered by the nitric acid (HNO₃) extract (37–71%), followed by the oxalate-ascorbic acid extract (19–60%) and the oxalate extract (3–14%). These results indicate that V was not associated with the solid phase as an easily exchangeable fraction. Although the total amount of V recovered was greatest for the HNO₃ extract that targets V adsorbed to sorption sites of crystalline Al, Fe and Mn oxides, the greatest V saturation of sorption sites appeared to occur on the amorphous and poorly crystalline oxide solid phases targeted by the oxalate and oxalate-ascorbic acid extracts respectively. Adsorption isotherm experiments showed no correlation between V sorption and any of the fractions identified by the SEP. This lack of correlation indicates the application of an SEP alone is not adequate to estimate the sorption characteristics of V in an aquifer system.     

Characteristics of arsenic adsorption from aqueous solution: Effect of arsenic species and natural adsorbents

Batch and column experiments were conducted on As adsorption from aqueous solution by natural solids to test the feasibility of these materials to act as adsorbents for As removal from groundwater and drinking water. The solids considered are natural hematite and natural siderite. The As species studied are As(V), As(III) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). Arsenic(III), As(V) and DMA were removed to different extents by the solids studied from water solutions containing these three As species, with the highest efficiency for As(V). In aqueous solutions with a mixture of As species, adsorption kinetics depend on the species. On both materials, As(V) was preferentially adsorbed in the batches and first reached equilibrium, followed by DMA and As(III). The As adsorption took place more slowly on natural hematite and natural siderite compared with ferrihydrite. The results demonstrate that the amount of As removed from As(III) batches was greater than that from As(V) batches due to a surface alteration of the solids caused by As(III) oxidation. Although the highest efficiency for As retention was observed on hematite HIO1 in the batch experiments, siderite used as column filling was more efficient in removing As from water containing the As species studied in comparison with hematite. The coating of fresh Fe(III)-oxides was much more intensive in the siderite-packed column than in the hematite-packed column. The combination of siderite and hematite would promote the column filling performance in removing As from aqueous solution.     

Influence of arsenic on iron sulfide transformations

The association of arsenate, As(V), and arsenite, As(III), with disordered mackinawite, FeS, was studied in sulfide-limited (Fe:S = 1:1) and excess-sulfide (Fe:S = 1:2) batch experiments. In the absence of arsenic, the sulfide-limited experiments produce disordered mackinawite while the excess-sulfide experiments yield pyrite with trace amounts of mackinawite. With increasing initially added As(V) concentrations the transformation of FeS to mackinawite and pyrite is retarded. At S:As = 1:1 and 2:1, elemental sulfur and green rust are the end products. As(V) oxidizes S(-II) in FeS and (or) in solution to S(0), and Fe(II) in the solid phase to Fe(III). Increasing initially added As(III) concentrations inhibit the transformation of FeS to mackinawite and pyrite and no oxidation products of FeS or sulfide, other than pyrite, were observed. At low arsenic concentrations, sorption onto the FeS surface may be the reaction controlling the uptake of arsenic into the solid phase. Inhibition of iron(II) sulfide transformations due to arsenic sorption suggests that the sorption sites are crucial not only as sorption sites, but also in iron(II) sulfide transformation mechanisms.     

Rare greenockite (CdS) within the chromite–PGE association in the Bangur Gabbro,Baula-Nuasahi Complex,Eastern India

We report the presence of greenockite from the chromite–PGE–base metal sulfide association in the Bangur Gabbro, Baula-Nuasahi mafic–ultramafic complex. The CdS phase occurs, sans any precursor Cd-bearing phase, as minute grains within siderite micro-veins in close proximity to chlorite in the chalcopyrite + pyrrhotite + pentlandite + violarite assemblage. Using various calibrations, chlorite compositions yielded temperature ranges of 245 to 325 °C. The associated siderite might have formed at or little below the above temperature. Electron probe micro-analyses (EPMA) of greenockite reveal small amounts of Fe (1.01–1.61 wt.%), Zn (1.89–4.54 wt.%), and substitution of Zn for Cd. Laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analysis of chalcopyrite nearer to and away from siderite micro-veins that host greenockite confirms maximum Cd concentrations of 78 and 144 ppm, respectively, entailing possible derivation of Cd from chalcopyrite. We propose the transport of Cd as bisulfide complex in a low temperature alkaline and reducing fluid and the simultaneous precipitation of greenockite and siderite by reaction with Fe-rich minerals, aided by decrease in pH and/or increase in f_O2.     

Effect of silicic acid on arsenate and arsenite retention mechanisms on 6-L ferrihydrite: A spectroscopic and batch adsorption approach

The competitive adsorption of arsenate and arsenite with silicic acid at the ferrihydrite–water interface was investigated over a wide pH range using batch sorption experiments, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) modeling. Batch sorption results indicate that the adsorption of arsenate and arsenite on the 6-L ferrihydrite surface exhibits a strong pH-dependence, and the effect of pH on arsenic sorption differs between arsenate and arsenite. Arsenate adsorption decreases consistently with increasing pH; whereas arsenite adsorption initially increases with pH to a sorption maximum at pH 7–9, where after sorption decreases with further increases in pH. Results indicate that competitive adsorption between silicic acid and arsenate is negligible under the experimental conditions; whereas strong competitive adsorption was observed between silicic acid and arsenite, particularly at low and high pH. In situ, flow-through ATR-FTIR data reveal that in the absence of silicic acid, arsenate forms inner-sphere, binuclear bidentate, complexes at the ferrihydrite surface across the entire pH range. Silicic acid also forms inner-sphere complexes at ferrihydrite surfaces throughout the entire pH range probed by this study (pH 2.8–9.0). The ATR-FTIR data also reveal that silicic acid undergoes polymerization at the ferrihydrite surface under the environmentally-relevant concentrations studied (e.g., 1.0 mM). According to ATR-FTIR data, arsenate complexation mode was not affected by the presence of silicic acid. EXAFS analyses and DFT modeling confirmed that arsenate tetrahedra were bonded to Fe metal centers via binuclear bidentate complexation with average As(V)-Fe bond distance of 3.27 Å. The EXAFS data indicate that arsenite forms both mononuclear bidentate and binuclear bidentate complexes with 6-L ferrihydrite as indicated by two As(III)–Fe bond distances of ∼2.92–2.94 and 3.41–3.44 Å, respectively. The As–Fe bond distances in both arsenate and arsenite EXAFS spectra remained unchanged in the presence of Si, suggesting that whereas Si diminishes arsenite adsorption preferentially, it has a negligible effect on As–Fe bonding mechanisms.     

Arsenic and other drinking water quality issues,Muzaffargarh District,Pakistan

In 49 samples of groundwater, sampled in Muzaffargarh District of south-western Punjab, central Pakistan, concentrations of As exceeded the World Health Organisation provisional guideline value, and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), of 10 μg L⁻¹ in 58% of samples and reached up to 906 μg L⁻¹. In this semi-arid region canal irrigation has lead to widespread water-logging, and evaporative concentration of salts has the potential to raise As concentrations in shallow groundwater well above 10 μg L⁻¹. In fact, in rural areas, concentrations stay below 25 μg L⁻¹ because As in the oxic shallow groundwater, and in recharging water, is sorbed to aquifer sediments. In some urban areas, however, shallow groundwater is found to contain elevated levels of As. The spatial distribution of As-rich shallow groundwater indicates either direct contamination with industrial or agricultural chemicals, or some other anthropogenic influence. Geochemical evidence suggests that pollutant organics from unconfined sewage and other sources drives reduction of hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) releasing sorbed As to shallow groundwater. The situation is slightly less clear for seven wells sampled which tap deeper groundwater, all of which were found with >50 μg L⁻¹ As. Here As concentrations seem to increase with depth and differing geochemical signatures are seen, suggesting that As concentrations in older groundwater may be governed by different processes. Other data on parameters of potential concern in drinking water are discussed briefly at the end of the paper.     

Mechanisms controlling acid neutralization and metal mobility within a Ni-rich tailings impoundment

Low-quality pore waters containing high concentrations of dissolved H⁺, SO₄, and metals have been generated in the East Tailings Management Area at Lynn Lake, Manitoba, as a result of sulfide-mineral oxidation. To assess the abundance, distribution, and solid-phase associations of S, Fe, and trace metals, the tailings pore water was analyzed, and investigations of the geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of the tailings solids were completed. The results were used to delineate the mechanisms that control acid neutralization, metal release, and metal attenuation. Migration of the low-pH conditions through the vadose zone is limited by acid-neutralization reactions, resulting in the development of distinct pore-water pH zones at depth; the neutralization reactions involve carbonate (pH ⩾ 5.7), Al-hydroxide (pH ⩾ 4.0), and aluminosilicate solids. As the zone of low-pH pore water expands, the pH will then be primarily controlled by less soluble solids, such as Fe(III) oxyhydroxides (pH < 3.5) and the relatively more recalcitrant aluminosilicates (pH ⩾ 1.3). Precipitation/dissolution reactions involving secondary Fe(III) oxyhydroxides and hydroxysulfates control the concentrations of dissolved Fe(III). Concentrations of dissolved SO₄ are principally controlled by the formation of gypsum and jarosite. Geochemical extractions indicate that the solid-phase concentrations of Ni, Co, and Zn are associated predominantly with reducible and acid-soluble fractions. The concentrations of dissolved trace metals are therefore primarily controlled by adsorption/complexation and (or) co-precipitation/dissolution reactions involving secondary Fe(III) oxyhydroxide and hydroxysulfate minerals. Concentrations of dissolved metals with relatively low mobility, such as Cu, are also controlled by the precipitation of discrete minerals. Because the major proportion of metals is sequestered through adsorption and (or) co-precipitation, the metals are susceptible to remobilization if low-pH or reducing conditions develop within the tailings.     

Metal binding to dissolved organic matter and adsorption to ferrihydrite in shallow peat groundwaters: Application to diamond exploration in the James Bay Lowlands,Canada

The speciation and solubility of kimberlite pathfinder metals (Ni, Nd, Ba and K) in shallow peat groundwaters is investigated over the Yankee, Zulu and Golf kimberlites in the Attawapiskat region, James Bay Lowlands, Canada. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between dissolved organic matter (DOM) complexation with kimberlite pathfinder metals and determine the spatial distribution of those metals in shallow peat groundwaters along sampling transects over subcropping kimberlites. Nickel, Nd, Ba and K complexation with DOM and the adsorption of these metals onto ferrihydrite were calculated using Visual MINTEQ 3.0 and the NICA-Donnan database. Calculations predict almost 100% of soluble Nd, Ni and Ba form complexes with DOM at sampling sites with little to no contribution from upwelling groundwater (i.e., dissolved organic C (DOC) concentrations = 40–132 mg/L, pH = 3.9–5.5, and log ionic strength ??3). In only the most ombrotrophic peat groundwater conditions does a majority fraction of K bind to DOM. By contrast, under conditions with large contributions from upwelling groundwaters (i.e., DOC concentrations ?40 mg/L, pH = 5.5–6.5, and log ionic strength = ?3 to ?2), as little as 10% of Nd and Ni, and 0% K and Ba are predicted to complex with DOM. The modeling calculations suggest the dominant control on metal–DOM complexation, particularly with respect to Ni and Nd, is competitive effects for DOM binding sites due to elevated ionic strength where there is evidence of strong groundwater upwelling. Visual MINTEQ modeling of metal adsorption on ferrihydrite surfaces predicts that under strong upwelling conditions, Ni and Nd are scavenged from solution due to increased ferrihydrite precipitation and decreased fractions of metals complexed with DOM. Analytical geochemical data are consistent with model predictions of metal adsorption on ferrihydrite. Total dissolved Ni and Nd concentrations at sites of strong upwelling are up to five times lower than waters with little to no upwelling and log ferrihydrite saturation indices (logSI_ferr) indicate precipitation (values up to 5) at sites of strong groundwater upwelling. Where the majority of Ni and Nd complex with DOM and ferrihydrite is highly under saturated (logSI_ferr = ?18 to ?5), the concentrations of total Ni and Nd are elevated compared to other sites along sampling transects. Metal complexation with DOM effectively inhibits metal scavenging from solution via adsorption and/or from forming secondary mineral precipitates. Also, because alkaline earth metals do not compete strongly with Ni and Nd for adsorption sites on ferrihydrite surfaces, but do compete strongly for insoluble organic sites, Ni and Nd are more likely to adsorb onto ferrihydrite.     

Arsenic attenuation in geothermal streamwater coupled with biogenic arsenic(III) oxidation

In the present study, we investigated As behavior in a high-As hot spring (Sambe hot spring, Shimane, Japan) by coupling direct chemical speciation by synchrotron-based XAFS and HPLC–ICP-MS with microbial As-redox transformation gene analysis. The concentration of soluble As in the spring streamwater decreased immediately along the flow in correlation with Fe behavior, indicating that As in the streamwater was naturally attenuated in the streamwater. Iron XAFS analysis suggested deposition of Fe(III) oxyhydroxides along the flow. Thus, considering the strong affinity of As to Fe oxyhydroxides, the observed attenuation in As was possibly caused by sorption (or incorporation) of As on Fe(III) oxyhydroxides. Both dissolved As(III) and As(V) were present in the aqueous phase, and As(III) was rapidly oxidized to As(V) (<30 s) along the flow. The oxidation kinetics indicated the occurrence of biotic As(III) oxidation, because obtained As(III) oxidation rate (6.7–7.8 μM min⁻¹) was much faster than the reported abiotic oxidation rates. Furthermore, the bacterial arsenite oxidase gene (aioA) was detected in DNA extracted from all samples (average of 2.0 × 10⁵ copies dry g⁻¹), which also supported potential attributes of biological As(III) oxidation in situ. In solid phase samples from sampling points analyzed by XAFS, most of the As existed as oxidized pentavalent form, As(V). This result indicated that this form was preferentially partitioned to the solid phase because of the much higher affinity of As(V) than of As(III) to Fe(III) oxyhydroxides. Considering the kinetic and microbiological findings, it is indicated that biotic process was predominantly responsible for As(III) oxidation at the present site, and this biotic As(III) oxidation to As(V) controlled the observed attenuation of As, because oxidized As(V) was removed from the aqueous phase by Fe(III) oxyhydroxides more efficiently.     

Influence of humic acid on the sorption of pentachlorophenol by aged sediment amended with rice-straw biochar

Black carbon (BC), especially biochar, is a potential material for the remediation of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) pollution in soils and sediments. Recent studies have reported that the adsorption capability of BC in sediment was reduced as time increased. It was hypothesised that this behaviour was caused by the presence of natural organic matter (NOM), but few systematic studies have examined the influence of NOM on the sorption ability of BC in sediment (S). The results of this study revealed that a humic acid (HA) coating changed the surface properties, blocked the micropores, and decreased the sorption capacity of rice-straw biochar (RBC) towards pentachlorophenol. With increasing aging time, the reductions in the sorption capacity of the S + RBC and S + HA + RBC systems occurred more rapidly than in the S + HA/RBC (HA-coated RBC) system, and the sorption curves became closer to that of the S + HA/RBC system, indicating that HA may play a primary role in reducing the sorption capacity of RBC in the sediment. With higher HA contents, the sorption capacity of the complex sediments was lower and decreased more rapidly.     

Carbonate dissolution in Mesozoic sand- and claystones as a response to CO2 exposure at 70 °C and 20 MPa

The response to CO₂ exposure of a variety of carbonate cemented rocks has been investigated using pressurised batch experiments conducted under simulated reservoir conditions, 70 °C and 20 MPa, and with a durations of up to14 months. Calcite, dolomite, ankerite and siderite cement were present in the unreacted reservoir rocks and caprocks. Core plugs of the reservoir rocks were used in order to investigate the alterations in situ. Crushing of the caprock samples was necessary to maximise reactions within the relatively short duration of the laboratory experiments. Synthetic brines were constructed for each batch experiment to match the specific formation water composition known from the reservoir and caprock formations in each well. Chemical matched synthetic brines proved crucial in order to avoid reactions due to non-equilibra of the fluids with the rock samples, for example observations of the dissolution of anhydrite, which were not associated with the CO₂ injection, but rather caused by mismatched brines.Carbonate dissolution as a response to CO₂ injection was confirmed in all batch experiments by both petrographical observations and geochemical changes in the brines. Increased Ca and Mg concentrations after 1 month reaction with CO₂ and crushed caprocks are ascribed to calcite and dolomite dissolution, respectively, though not verified petrographically. Ankerite and possible siderite dissolution in the sandstone plugs are observed petrographically after 7 months reaction with CO₂; and are accompanied by increased Fe and Mn contents in the reacted fluids. Clear evidence for calcite dissolution in sandstone plugs is observed petrographically after 14 months of reaction with CO₂, and is associated with increased amounts of Ca (and Mg) in the reacted fluid. Dolomite in sandstones shows only minor dissolution features, which are not clearly supported by increased Mg content in the reacted fluid.Silicate dissolution cannot be demonstrated, either by chemical changes in the fluids, as Si and Al concentrations remain below the analytical detection limits, nor by petrographical changes, as partly dissolved feldspar grains and authigenic analcime are present in the sediments prior to the experiments. It is noteworthy, that authigenic K-feldspar and authigenic albite in sandstones show no signs of dissolution and consequently seem to be stable under the experimental conditions.     

Effect of organic-matter type and thermal maturity on methane adsorption in shale-gas systems

A series of methane (CH₄) adsorption experiments on bulk organic rich shales and their isolated kerogens were conducted at 35 °C, 50 °C and 65 °C and CH₄ pressure of up to 15 MPa under dry conditions. Samples from the Eocene Green River Formation, Devonian–Mississippian Woodford Shale and Upper Cretaceous Cameo coal were studied to examine how differences in organic matter type affect natural gas adsorption. Vitrinite reflectance values of these samples ranged from 0.56–0.58 %R_o. In addition, thermal maturity effects were determined on three Mississippian Barnett Shale samples with measured vitrinite reflectance values of 0.58, 0.81 and 2.01 %R_o.For all bulk and isolated kerogen samples, the total amount of methane adsorbed was directly proportional to the total organic carbon (TOC) content of the sample and the average maximum amount of gas sorption was 1.36 mmol of methane per gram of TOC. These results indicate that sorption on organic matter plays a critical role in shale-gas storage. Under the experimental conditions, differences in thermal maturity showed no significant effect on the total amount of gas sorbed. Experimental sorption isotherms could be fitted with good accuracy by the Langmuir function by adjusting the Langmuir pressure (P_L) and maximum sorption capacity (Γ_max). The lowest maturity sample (%R_o = 0.56) displayed a Langmuir pressure (P_L) of 5.15 MPa, significantly larger than the 2.33 MPa observed for the highest maturity (%R_o > 2.01) sample at 50 °C.The value of the Langmuir pressure (P_L) changes with kerogen type in the following sequence: type I > type II > type III. The thermodynamic parameters of CH₄ adsorption on organic rich shales were determined based on the experimental CH₄ isotherms. For the adsorption of CH₄ on organic rich shales and their isolated kerogen, the heat of adsorption (q) and the standard entropy (Δs⁰) range from 7.3–28.0 kJ/mol and from −36.2 to −92.2 J/mol/K, respectively.     

Arsenic mobility in mildly alkaline drainage from an orogenic lode gold deposit,Bralorne mine,British Columbia

The historical (1932–1971) Bralorne mine produced over 87 million grams of Au from an archetypal orogenic lode gold deposit in southwest British Columbia. High concentrations of As in mine drainage, however, represent an on-going environmental concern prompting a detailed study of effluent chemistry. The discharge rate at the mine portal was monitored continuously over a fourteen-month period during which effluent samples were collected on a quasi-weekly basis. Water samples were also collected on synoptic surveys of the adit between the portal and the main source of flow in the flooded workings. Total concentrations of As in the mildly alkaline (pH = 8.7) portal drainage average 3034 μg/L whereas at the source they average 5898 μg/L. As emergent waters from the flooded workings flow toward the portal, their dissolved oxygen content and pH increase from 0 to 10 mg/L and from 7.7 to 9, respectively. Near the emergence point, dissolved Fe precipitates rapidly, sorbing both As(III) and As(V). With increasing distance from the emergence point, dissolved As(III) concentrations drop to detection limits through sorption on hydrous ferric oxide and through oxidation to As(V). Concentrations of dissolved As(V), on the other hand, increase and stabilize, reflecting lower sorption at higher pH and the lack of available sorbent. Nonetheless, based on synoptic surveys, approximately 35% of the source As load is sequestered in the adit resulting in As sediment concentrations averaging 8.5 wt%. The remaining average As load of 1.34 kg/d is discharged from the portal. Partitioning of As(V) between dissolved and particulate phases in portal effluent is characterized by a sorption density of 0.37 mol As (mol Fe)⁻¹ and by a distribution coefficient (K_d) of 130 L/g HFO. The relatively high sorption density may reflect co-precipitation of As with Fe oxyhydroxides rather than a purely adsorption-controlled process. Results of this study show that the As self-mitigating capacity of drainage from orogenic lode gold deposits may be poor in high-pH and Fe-limited settings.     

Arsenic immobilization in water and soil using acid mine drainage sludge

Adsorption onto Fe-containing minerals is a well-known remediation method for As-contaminated water and soil. In this study, the use of acid mine drainage sludge (AMDS) to adsorb As was investigated. AMDS is composed of amorphous particles and so has a large surface area (251.2 m² g⁻¹). Here, adsorption of both arsenite and arsenate was found to be almost 100%, under various initial AMDS dosages, with the arsenate adsorption rate being faster. The optimum pH for As adsorption onto AMDS was pH 7.0 and the maximum adsorption capacities for arsenite and arsenate were 58.5 mg g⁻¹ and 19.7 mg g⁻¹ AMDS, respectively. In addition, experiments revealed that AMDS dosages decreased As release from contaminated soil. Therefore, the AMDS used in this study was confirmed to be a suitable candidate for immobilizing both arsenite and arsenate in contaminated soils.     

Metal mobility by de-icing salt from an infiltration trench for highway runoff

Soil from an infiltration trench for highway runoff was leached in columns alternately with NaCl and de-ionised water to simulate the runoff of de-icing salt into the trench followed by snowmelt or rainwater. Simultaneously, two columns with the same soil were leached with de-ionised water throughout the experiment. In addition, the groundwater below the infiltration trench was sampled on some occasions. The column leachate and groundwater were split into two sub samples, one was filtered though a 0.45 μm filter; both were analysed for Pb, Cd, Zn, Fe and total organic carbon (TOC). The column experiment showed clearly that an extensive mobilisation of Pb occurred in low electrolyte water leaching following NaCl leaching. The high Pb concentration coincided with peaks in Fe and TOC concentrations and implied colloid-assisted transport. Conversely, Cd and Zn concentrations were raised in the NaCl leachate and a high correlation with Cl showed that Cl complexes are important for the mobilisation, although a pH effect and ionic exchange cannot be excluded. Only 0.15% and 0.06% of the total amount of Pb was leached from the columns leached with alternating NaCl and deionised water confirming the usual hypotheses about the high immobility of Pb in soils. However, on one occasion when the ionic strength and pH was the lowest measured the concentration of Pb in groundwater sampled from 2.5 m depth was 27 μg L⁻¹ in the dissolved phase (<0.45 μm) and 77 μg L⁻¹ in the particle phase (>0.45 μm). These Pb concentrations are almost 3 and 8 times above the Swedish limit for drinking water quality. Accordingly, in spite of the immobility of Pb the accumulation in roadside soils is so large that groundwater quality is threatened. In conclusion, the study suggests that roadside soils impacted by NaCl from de-icing operations contribute Pb to groundwater by colloid-assisted transport.     

Monitoring groundwater flow and chemical and isotopic composition at a demonstration site for carbon dioxide storage in a depleted natural gas reservoir

Between March 2008 and August 2009, 65,445 tonnes of ∼75 mol% CO₂ gas were injected in a depleted natural gas reservoir approximately 2000 m below surface at the Otway project site in Victoria, Australia. Groundwater flow and composition were monitored biannually in two overlying aquifers between June 2006 and March 2011, spanning the pre-, syn- and post-injection periods. The shallower (∼0–100 m), unconfined, porous and karstic aquifer of the Port Campbell Limestone and the deeper (∼600–900 m), confined and porous aquifer of the Dilwyn Formation contain valuable fresh to brackish water resources. Groundwater levels in either aquifer have not been affected by the drilling, pumping and injection activities that were taking place, or by the rainfall increase during the project. In terms of groundwater composition, the Port Campbell Limestone groundwater is brackish (electrical conductivity = 801–3900 μS cm⁻¹), cool (temperature = 12.9–22.5 °C), and near-neutral (pH = 6.62–7.45), whilst the Dilwyn Aquifer groundwater is fresher (electrical conductivity = 505–1473 μS cm⁻¹), warmer (temperature = 42.5–48.5 °C), and more alkaline (pH = 7.43–9.35). Carbonate dissolution, evapotranspiration and cation exchange control the composition of the groundwaters. Comparing the chemical and isotopic composition of the groundwaters collected before, during and after injection shows no statistically significant changes; even if they were statistically significant, they are mostly not consistent with those expected if CO₂ addition had taken place. The monitoring program reveals no impact on the groundwater resources attributable to the C storage demonstration project.