Influence of Mine Wood Degradation Products on the Adsorption of Uranium, Thorium, Iron and Lead on ore Mountain Rocks and Elbe Valley Sediments

The influence of mine-wood leachates on the adsorption of U(VI), Th(IV), Fe(III) and Pb(II) (1) on typical rocks and minerals of the mining sites in the German Erzgebirge and (2) on sediments of the Königstein mine (Saxony) and its near field was studied under aerobic condition.

The wood was decomposed by reflux boiling of wood shavings with water. The leachates were analysed for DOC, phenolic and saccharic compounds, molecular weight distribution and content of carboxylic and phenolic hydroxyl groups. The adsorption experiments were carried out equilibrating the geomaterial with the aqueous phase in the presence of U(VI) and DOC for 4-6 weeks. The uranium concentration ranged from 3.2 10-6 to 3.2 10-5 mol/L (0.76-7.62 mg/L) and the DOC content was 8.3-166 mg/L. The distribution ratio (Rs [mL/g]) was determined by liquid scintillation counting of an added 234U tracer (10-40 Bq/sample) after distribution and a careful phase separation.

Uranium adsorption on rocks and minerals from the Erzgebirge: The adsorption from a DOC-free synthetic mine water takes mainly place on diabase and on calcite; about 80% of the uranium is bound on these minerals. The influence of the wood degradation products and pine wood lignin increases the adsorption to 90-95 %. Granite and basalt adsorb from DOC-free mine water 50-60% of the uranium. In the presence of the wood leachate and lignin, the adsorption increases to about 80%. The effect of the wood leachate and lignin is insignificant for gneiss. Very little uranium adsorbs on phyllite. From all solutions practically no uranium is bound ( 2%).

Uranium adsorption on Königstein sediments: It is evident that uranium is preferentially bound to sandstone (91-97%); especially with a high distribution ratio to the limonithe-rich turonian sandstone (142 mL/g). Even under the influence of the organic compounds the sorption ranges from 68 to 93%. Wood leachate and lignin (2-4%) decrease the sorption. The adsorption o ...