Reductive sequestration of pertechnetate (⁹⁹TcO₄⁻) by nano zerovalent iron (nZVI) transformed by abiotic sulfide

Environ Sci Technol. 2013 May 21;47(10):5302-10. doi: 10.1021/es304829z. Epub 2013 May 7.

Abstract

Under anoxic conditions, soluble pertechnetate (⁹⁹TcO₄⁻) can be reduced to less soluble TcO₂·nH₂O, but the oxide is highly susceptible to reoxidation. Here we investigate an alternative strategy for remediation of Tc-contaminated groundwater whereby sequestration as Tc sulfide is favored by sulfidic conditions stimulated by nano zerovalent iron (nZVI). nZVI was pre-exposed to increasing concentrations of sulfide in simulated Hanford groundwater for 24 h to mimic the onset of aquifer biotic sulfate reduction. Solid-phase characterizations of the sulfidated nZVI confirmed the formation of nanocrystalline FeS phases, but higher S/Fe ratios (>0.112) did not result in the formation of significantly more FeS. The kinetics of Tc sequestration by these materials showed faster Tc removal rates with increasing S/Fe between 0 and 0.056, but decreasing Tc removal rates with S/Fe > 0.224. The more favorable Tc removal kinetics at low S/Fe could be due to a higher affinity of TcO₄⁻ for FeS than iron oxides, and electron microscopy confirmed that the majority of the Tc was associated with FeS phases. The inhibition of Tc removal at high S/Fe appears to have been caused by excess HS(-). X-ray absorption spectroscopy revealed that as S/Fe increased, the pathway for Tc(IV) formation shifted from TcO₂·nH2₂ to Tc sulfide phases. The most substantial change of Tc speciation occurred at low S/Fe, coinciding with the rapid increase in Tc removal rate. This agreement further confirms the importance of FeS in Tc sequestration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Iron / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m / chemistry*
  • Sulfides / chemistry*
  • X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Substances

  • Sulfides
  • Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m
  • Iron