Project ID: 2004AK21B

Title: Short- and Long-term As-Aluminium Oxyhydroxide Sorption Interactions in Aquatic and Soil Environments

Project Type: Research

Focus Categories: Toxic Substances, Geochemical Processes, Treatment

Keywords: As, aluminium hydroxide, long-term kinetics, and thermodynamics

Start Date: 03/01/2004

End Date: 03/01/2005

Federal Funds: $25,000

Non-Federal Matching Funds: $8,277

Congressional District: AK

Principal Investigators:
Paras Ishvarlal Trivedi

Silke Schiewer
University of Alaska Fairbanks, WERC (Water & Environmental Research Center)

Abstract

The fate of anthropogenically released trace metal contaminants, such as arsenic, in aquatic and soil environments, is largely influenced by sorption onto the microporous hydrated oxides of aluminum, iron, and manganese. However, there is a lack of thermodynamic and mechanistic knowledge with respect to accurate description of the long-term fate of As in the presence of these oxides. Therefore, the primary objective of the proposed research is to estimate transport parameters and develop thermodynamic correlations that will improve the capability of the current transport models for predicting the long-term mobility and bioavailability of this important oxy-anion in aqueous and aerial environments. To accomplish this goal, short- and long-term macroscopic sorption studies will be conducted and modeled as a function of pH, sorbate/sorbent ratios, temperature, and reaction time. Most importantly, this research will also serve as an important tool for evaluating the short- and long-term potentials of microporous sorbents, such as aluminum hydroxide, in terms of its sorption potential and the stability of the complexes, both of which are critical in developing effective solid- and aqueous-waste treatment programs.

Progress/Completion Report PDF