Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2007WV105B

WRI 99 Selenium Speciation & Removal

Institute: West Virginia
Year Established: 2007 Start Date: 2007-03-01 End Date: 2008-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $6,993 Total Non-Federal Funds: $28,844

Principal Investigators: Louis McDonald, Richard Herd

Project Summary: Environmental selenium can occur as Se(0) [metal], Se(IV) [selenite], and Se(VI) [selenate]. Stability diagrams indicate that conditions found in acidic, high iron mine drainage favor Se(0), whereas neutral, low iron drainage favors Se(IV) or Se(VI). Se(VI) is the most mobile form, but it requires a very oxic, high pH environment and is easily reduced. Ferrous and ferric iron are known to intereact with both Se(IV) and SE(VI), either reducing the Se to metal or adsorbing it on particulate oxides. The interactions of selenium with iron in natural systems will be investigated in order to determine conditions of minimal mobility. Of particular interest are the kenetic stability of Se(0), the adsorption properties of Se(IV) on iron oxides, and the chemistry of selenium and "green rust", an amorphous ferrous hydroxide material.