HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Willett, I. R. Articles by Bond, W. J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Willett, I. R. Articles by Bond, W. J. Agricola Articles by Willett, I. R. Articles by Bond, W. J.

Sorption of Manganese, Uranium, and Radium by Highly Weathered Soils

CSIRO Division of Soils, GPO Box 639, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.

^* Corresponding author (willett{at}aciar.gov.au).

ABSTRACT

Large concentrations of Mn, ²³⁸U, and ²²⁶Ra are present in U mine waste waters in comparison with those in surrounding natural waters. Excess mine waste water is being disposed by irrigation of bushland near Ranger Uranium Mine, Northern Territory, Australia. We report the sorption properties of highly weathered and sandy soils (Utric Acruustox, Grossameric Kandiustalf, and Typic Fragiumbrept), near the mine for Mn, U, and ²²⁶Ra as determined by batch sorption experiments, and competitive sorption between U and Mn. Manganese sorption was small in comparison with loads expected to be applied to the soils, and Mn was expected to be mobile within the soils. In contrast with Mn, U sorption by the soils was very much greater than the amount that may be applied. Simultaneous additions of U and Mn reduced sorption of both, but the effect of U on Mn sorption was far greater than that of Mn on U. Uranium also caused the displacement of Mn from the soil in the absence of added Mn. The U additions favored the mobility of Mn. Radium^–226 at trace levels was strongly sorbed by the soil and <1% of the sorbed ²²⁶Ra was displaced during the desorption step. Uranium and ²²⁶Ra applied as mine waste water will be retained in surface soil, but Mn was expected to be relatively mobile, particularly in the sandiest soils and when applied in waters that also contain U.

(I.R. Willett, current address: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, GPO Box 1571, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.)

Received for publication June 22, 1994.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. S. Morton, C. V. Evans, G. Harbottle, and G. O. Estes Pedogenic Fractionation and Bioavailability of Uranium and Thorium in Naturally Radioactive Spodosols Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., July 1, 2001; 65(4): 1197 - 1203. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]