10.1021/es902452u.s001
Matthew Ginder-Vogel
Matthew
Ginder-Vogel
Brandy Stewart
Brandy
Stewart
Scott Fendorf
Scott
Fendorf
Kinetic and Mechanistic Constraints on the Oxidation of Biogenic Uraninite by Ferrihydrite
American Chemical Society
2010
decrease uraninite surface passivation
uranium mobility
bicarbonate concentration
Mechanistic Constraints
metal respiring bacteria enzymatically
FerrihydriteThe oxidation state
uraninite dissolution
biogenic uraninite oxidation
pH values
biogenic uraninite
Biogenic Uraninite
UO
2010-01-01 00:00:00
Journal contribution
https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Kinetic_and_Mechanistic_Constraints_on_the_Oxidation_of_Biogenic_Uraninite_by_Ferrihydrite/2802847
The oxidation state of uranium plays a major role in determining uranium mobility in the environment. Under anaerobic conditions, common metal respiring bacteria enzymatically reduce soluble U(VI) to U(IV), resulting in the formation of sparingly soluble UO<sub>2(bio)</sub> (biogenic uraninite). The stability of biologically precipitated uraninite is critical for determining the long-term fate of uranium and is not well characterized within soils and sediments. Here, we demonstrate that biogenic uraninite oxidation by ferrihydrite, an environmentally ubiquitous, disordered Fe(III) (hydr)oxide, appears to proceed through a soluble U(IV) intermediate and results in the concomitant production of Fe(II) and dissolved U(VI). Uraninite oxidation rates are accelerated under conditions that increase its solubility and decrease uraninite surface passivation, which include high bicarbonate concentration and pH values deviating from neutrality. Thus, our results demonstrate that UO<sub>2(bio)</sub> oxidation by Fe(III) (hydr)oxides is controlled by the rate of uraninite dissolution and that this process may limit uranium(IV) sequestration in the presence of Fe(III) (hydr)oxides.