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Speciation And Distribution Of Vanadium In Drinking Water Iron Pipe Corrosion By-Products

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Citation:

Gerke, T. L., K. G. SCHECKEL, AND J. B. Maynard. Speciation And Distribution Of Vanadium In Drinking Water Iron Pipe Corrosion By-Products. J.O. Nriagu (ed.), SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier BV, AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, 408(23):5845-5853, (2010).

Impact/Purpose:

The aim of this study is to assess these parameters in iron corrosion by-products, implementing synchrotron-based µ-XRF mapping and µ-XANES along with traditional physiochemical characterization.

Description:

Vanadium (V) when ingested from drinking water in high concentrations (> 15 µg L-1) is a potential health risk and is on track to becoming a regulated contaminant. High concentrations of V have been documented in lead corrosion by-products as Pb5(V5+O4)3Cl (vanadinite) which, in natural deposits is associated with iron oxides/oxyhydroxides, phases common in iron pipe corrosion by-products. The extent of potential reservoirs of V in iron corrosion by-products, its speciation, and mechanism of inclusion however are unknown. The aim of this study is to assess these parameters in iron corrosion by-products, implementing synchrotron-based µ-XRF mapping and µ-XANES along with traditional physiochemical characterization. The morphologies, mineralogies, and chemistry of the samples studied are superficially similar to typical iron corrosion by-products. However, we found V present as discrete grains of Pb5(V5+O4)3Cl likely embedded in the surface regions of the iron corrosion by-products. Concentrations of V observed in bulk XRF analysis ranged from 35 to 899 mg kg-1. We calculate that even in pipes with iron corrosion by-products with low V concentration, 100 mg kg-1, as little as 0.0027% of a 0.1 cm thick X 100 cm long section of that corrosion by-product needs to be distributed to increase V concentrations in the drinking water at the tap to levels well above the 15 µg L-1 notification level set by the State of California and could adversely impact human health. In addition, it is likely that large reservoirs of V are associated with iron corrosion by-products in unlined cast iron mains and service branches in numerous drinking water distribution systems.

Record Details:

Record Type:DOCUMENT( JOURNAL/ PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL)
Product Published Date:11/01/2010
Record Last Revised:12/16/2010
OMB Category:Other
Record ID: 228783