Surface complexation modeling of Uranium(VI) sorption on quartz in the presence and absence of alkaline earth metals

Abstract

Surface complexation models (SCMs) are widely utilized as a tool to study the mobility of radionuclide to the environment. In this study, two SCMs, electrostatic (ES) and non-electrostatic (NES) models are employed in order to simulate the sorption behavior of U(VI) on quartz in the absence of Mg, Ca, and Sr and ES model in the presence of alkaline earth metals. The surface reaction constants (log K) for ES and NES models were fitted to experimental data by coupling PEST with PHREEQC. The SCM prediction of U(VI) sorption on quartz in the absence of alkaline earth metals is in good agreement with the experimental data in the pH range 6.5–9. The estimated log K values are sensitive to both ES and NES model calculations. In U(VI)-Mg-quartz, U(VI)-Ca-quartz, and U(VI)-Sr-quartz systems, only the ES model shows the general trend of the experimental data. The estimated log K values are sensitive with respect to the surface reactions. Hence, the ES model is more suitable for model calculations of the U(VI)-Mg-quartz, U(VI)-Ca-quartz, and U(VI)-Sr-quartz systems.