Field Application of Iron and Iron–Nickel Nanoparticles for the Ex Situ Remediation of a Uranium-Bearing Mine Water Effluent

Abstract

In this work, sodium borohydride reduced nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI–BR), sodium borohydride reduced nanoscale zero-valent iron–nickel (nZVIN–BR), nanoscale zero-valent iron sourced from NanoIron, s.r.o. (nZVI–Star), and nanoscale zero-valent iron sourced from Toda Kogyo Corporation (nZVI–RNIP) have been tested for the ex situ removal of aqueous uranium (U) from a bicarbonate-rich mine water effluent. Laboratory scale (2 L) batch treatment systems containing the mine water and comparator uranyl solutions were tested to compare U removal efficacy and aqueous corrosion behavior of the different nanopowders. The two commercially sourced nanopowders were also tested for the removal of U from 2,500 L batch systems to determine the nature of any differential behavior exhibited by the nanopowders when deployed at commercial scale. Analysis of aqueous samples taken at periodic intervals throughout the 96 h reaction period using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy recorded