Evaluating adsorption ability of granite to radioselenium by chemical sequential extraction

Abstract

A good understanding of the migration of selenite, Se(IV), through deep granitic layers depends on a good understanding of the geochemistry of these layers. Chemical sequential extraction is applied herein to evaluate the ability of granite to adsorb Se(IV) in DW, GW and SW systems. The experimental results indicate that the removal of crystalline Fe oxides reduces the adsorption of Se(IV), suggesting its importance in granite. The normalized concentrations of Se(IV) adsorbed onto crystalline Fe oxides is approximately 0.0301, 0.0330 and 0.0335 mole Se(IV) adsorbed/mole of Fe in DW, GW and SW systems. Kinetic adsorption experiments are conducted to elucidate the results of the chemical sequential extraction. Both the treated and the untreated granite take the same time to reach their equilibrium, suggesting that crystalline Fe oxides dominate the adsorption of Se(IV). Meanwhile, the one-site model suffices to simulate the kinetics of adsorption. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.