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POTENTIAL INDICATORS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF ARSENIC NATURAL ATTENUATION IN THE SUBSURFACE
Citation:
Lin**, Z. AND R W. Puls*. POTENTIAL INDICATORS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF ARSENIC NATURAL ATTENUATION IN THE SUBSURFACE. ADVANCES IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH. Elsevier Science BV, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 7:825-834, (2003).
Description:
Arsenic is a priority pollutant found in soil and ground water contaminated by arsenic pesticides and industrial wastes. Assessing the natural attenuation capacity of the subsurface for arsenic is a key step leading to successful site remediation. Chemical reactions between arsenic and several iron hydroxides (goethite, lepidocrocite, and green rust) were studied. By comparing the arsenic attenuation capacity of iron hydroxides, clay minerals and feldspars, an order was established: iron hydroxides greater than clays, and clays greater than feldspars. Results showed that arsenic was more strongly bound by iron hydroxides than clays and that iron minerals studied can extensively oxidize AS(III) to As(V). Under reducing conditions, the concentration of AS(III) decreases significantly due to the presence of green rust and parasymplesite. The studies provide evidence that some minerals could act as mineral indicators for site characterization. Integration of mineral indicators with geochemical parameters should aid in determining the potential of natural attenuation of the subsurface with arsenic contamination.