Geochemical and microbial characteristics of seepage water and mineral precipitates in a radwaste disposal facility impacted by seawater intrusion and high alkalinity

Baknoon Ham; Jang Soon Kwon; Maxim I. Boyanov; Edward J. O'Loughlin; Kenneth M. Kemner; Man Jae Kwon

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112087

Geochemical and microbial characteristics of seepage water and mineral precipitates in a radwaste disposal facility impacted by seawater intrusion and high alkalinity

Baknoon Ham, Jang Soon Kwon, Maxim I. Boyanov, Edward J. O'Loughlin, Kenneth M. Kemner, Man Jae Kwon

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

The construction of an underground facility can dramatically change the quality, flow direction, and level of groundwater. It may also impact subsurface microbial composition and activity. Groundwater quality was monitored over eight years in two observational wells near an underground disposal facility on the east coast of South Korea. The results showed dramatic increases in dissolved ions such as O₂, Na, Ca, Mg, and SO₄ during facility construction. Seepage water samples downgradient from the silos and tunnels, and precipitates deposited along the seepage water flow path were collected to determine the impact inside the disposal facility. X-ray analysis (powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS)) were used to characterize the mineral precipitates. Microbial community composition was determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The seepage water composition was of two types: Ca–Cl and Ca–Na–HCO₃. The ratio of Cl and δ¹⁸O showed that the Ca–Cl type seepage water was influenced by groundwater mixed with seawater ranging from 2.7% to 15.1%. Various sulfate-reducing bacteria were identified in the Ca–Cl type seepage water, exhibiting relatively high sulfate content from seawater intrusion. Samples from the Ca–Na–HCO₃ type seepage water had an extremely high pH (>10) and abundance of Hydrogenophaga. The precipitates observed along the flow path of the seepage water included calcite, ferrihydrite, green rust, and siderite, depending on seepage water chemistry and microbial activity. This study suggests that the construction of underground structures creates distinct, localized geochemical conditions (e.g., high alkalinity, high salinity, and oxic conditions), which may impact microbial communities. These biogeochemical changes may have undesirable large-scale impacts such as water pump clogging. An understanding of the process and long-term monitoring are essential to assess the safety of underground facilities.

Original language	English
Article number	112087
Journal	Journal of Environmental Management
Volume	285
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112087
Publication status	Published - 2021 May 1

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The submitted manuscript has been created by UChicago Argonne, LLC, Operator of Argonne National Laboratory (“Argonne”). Argonne, a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Laboratory, is operated under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. The U.S. Government retains for itself, and others acting on its behalf, a paid-up nonexclusive, irrevocable worldwide license in said article to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, and perform publicly and display publicly, by or on behalf of the Government.

Funding Information:
We thank the MRCAT/EnviroCAT beamline staff for their assistance during data collection at the synchrotron. MIB, KMK, and EJO were supported in part by the Wetland Hydrobiogeochemistry Scientific Focus Area (SFA) at Argonne National Laboratory funded by the Subsurface Biogeochemical Research Program , Office of the Biological and Environmental Research , Office of Science , U.S. Department of Energy , under contract DE-AC02-06CH11357 . The MRCAT/EnviroCAT operations were supported by DOE and MRCAT/EnviroCAT member institutions . This work was also supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education ( 2018R1A2B6001660 ) and the Nuclear Core Technology of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) grant funded by the Korean government Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (No. 20171510300670 ).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd

Keywords

Microbial community compositions
Mineral precipitates
Radwaste disposal site
Seepage water
Underground silo disposal facility

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Environmental Engineering
Waste Management and Disposal
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112087

Cite this

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title = "Geochemical and microbial characteristics of seepage water and mineral precipitates in a radwaste disposal facility impacted by seawater intrusion and high alkalinity",

abstract = "The construction of an underground facility can dramatically change the quality, flow direction, and level of groundwater. It may also impact subsurface microbial composition and activity. Groundwater quality was monitored over eight years in two observational wells near an underground disposal facility on the east coast of South Korea. The results showed dramatic increases in dissolved ions such as O2, Na, Ca, Mg, and SO4 during facility construction. Seepage water samples downgradient from the silos and tunnels, and precipitates deposited along the seepage water flow path were collected to determine the impact inside the disposal facility. X-ray analysis (powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS)) were used to characterize the mineral precipitates. Microbial community composition was determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The seepage water composition was of two types: Ca–Cl and Ca–Na–HCO3. The ratio of Cl and δ18O showed that the Ca–Cl type seepage water was influenced by groundwater mixed with seawater ranging from 2.7% to 15.1%. Various sulfate-reducing bacteria were identified in the Ca–Cl type seepage water, exhibiting relatively high sulfate content from seawater intrusion. Samples from the Ca–Na–HCO3 type seepage water had an extremely high pH (>10) and abundance of Hydrogenophaga. The precipitates observed along the flow path of the seepage water included calcite, ferrihydrite, green rust, and siderite, depending on seepage water chemistry and microbial activity. This study suggests that the construction of underground structures creates distinct, localized geochemical conditions (e.g., high alkalinity, high salinity, and oxic conditions), which may impact microbial communities. These biogeochemical changes may have undesirable large-scale impacts such as water pump clogging. An understanding of the process and long-term monitoring are essential to assess the safety of underground facilities.",

keywords = "Microbial community compositions, Mineral precipitates, Radwaste disposal site, Seepage water, Underground silo disposal facility",

author = "Baknoon Ham and Kwon, {Jang Soon} and Boyanov, {Maxim I.} and O'Loughlin, {Edward J.} and Kemner, {Kenneth M.} and Kwon, {Man Jae}",

note = "Funding Information: The submitted manuscript has been created by UChicago Argonne, LLC, Operator of Argonne National Laboratory (“Argonne”). Argonne, a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Laboratory, is operated under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. The U.S. Government retains for itself, and others acting on its behalf, a paid-up nonexclusive, irrevocable worldwide license in said article to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, and perform publicly and display publicly, by or on behalf of the Government. Funding Information: We thank the MRCAT/EnviroCAT beamline staff for their assistance during data collection at the synchrotron. MIB, KMK, and EJO were supported in part by the Wetland Hydrobiogeochemistry Scientific Focus Area (SFA) at Argonne National Laboratory funded by the Subsurface Biogeochemical Research Program , Office of the Biological and Environmental Research , Office of Science , U.S. Department of Energy , under contract DE-AC02-06CH11357 . The MRCAT/EnviroCAT operations were supported by DOE and MRCAT/EnviroCAT member institutions . This work was also supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education ( 2018R1A2B6001660 ) and the Nuclear Core Technology of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) grant funded by the Korean government Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (No. 20171510300670 ). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Elsevier Ltd",

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doi = "10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112087",

language = "English",

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T1 - Geochemical and microbial characteristics of seepage water and mineral precipitates in a radwaste disposal facility impacted by seawater intrusion and high alkalinity

AU - Ham, Baknoon

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AU - Boyanov, Maxim I.

AU - O'Loughlin, Edward J.

AU - Kemner, Kenneth M.

AU - Kwon, Man Jae

N1 - Funding Information: The submitted manuscript has been created by UChicago Argonne, LLC, Operator of Argonne National Laboratory (“Argonne”). Argonne, a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Laboratory, is operated under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. The U.S. Government retains for itself, and others acting on its behalf, a paid-up nonexclusive, irrevocable worldwide license in said article to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, and perform publicly and display publicly, by or on behalf of the Government. Funding Information: We thank the MRCAT/EnviroCAT beamline staff for their assistance during data collection at the synchrotron. MIB, KMK, and EJO were supported in part by the Wetland Hydrobiogeochemistry Scientific Focus Area (SFA) at Argonne National Laboratory funded by the Subsurface Biogeochemical Research Program , Office of the Biological and Environmental Research , Office of Science , U.S. Department of Energy , under contract DE-AC02-06CH11357 . The MRCAT/EnviroCAT operations were supported by DOE and MRCAT/EnviroCAT member institutions . This work was also supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education ( 2018R1A2B6001660 ) and the Nuclear Core Technology of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) grant funded by the Korean government Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (No. 20171510300670 ). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier Ltd

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N2 - The construction of an underground facility can dramatically change the quality, flow direction, and level of groundwater. It may also impact subsurface microbial composition and activity. Groundwater quality was monitored over eight years in two observational wells near an underground disposal facility on the east coast of South Korea. The results showed dramatic increases in dissolved ions such as O2, Na, Ca, Mg, and SO4 during facility construction. Seepage water samples downgradient from the silos and tunnels, and precipitates deposited along the seepage water flow path were collected to determine the impact inside the disposal facility. X-ray analysis (powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS)) were used to characterize the mineral precipitates. Microbial community composition was determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The seepage water composition was of two types: Ca–Cl and Ca–Na–HCO3. The ratio of Cl and δ18O showed that the Ca–Cl type seepage water was influenced by groundwater mixed with seawater ranging from 2.7% to 15.1%. Various sulfate-reducing bacteria were identified in the Ca–Cl type seepage water, exhibiting relatively high sulfate content from seawater intrusion. Samples from the Ca–Na–HCO3 type seepage water had an extremely high pH (>10) and abundance of Hydrogenophaga. The precipitates observed along the flow path of the seepage water included calcite, ferrihydrite, green rust, and siderite, depending on seepage water chemistry and microbial activity. This study suggests that the construction of underground structures creates distinct, localized geochemical conditions (e.g., high alkalinity, high salinity, and oxic conditions), which may impact microbial communities. These biogeochemical changes may have undesirable large-scale impacts such as water pump clogging. An understanding of the process and long-term monitoring are essential to assess the safety of underground facilities.

AB - The construction of an underground facility can dramatically change the quality, flow direction, and level of groundwater. It may also impact subsurface microbial composition and activity. Groundwater quality was monitored over eight years in two observational wells near an underground disposal facility on the east coast of South Korea. The results showed dramatic increases in dissolved ions such as O2, Na, Ca, Mg, and SO4 during facility construction. Seepage water samples downgradient from the silos and tunnels, and precipitates deposited along the seepage water flow path were collected to determine the impact inside the disposal facility. X-ray analysis (powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS)) were used to characterize the mineral precipitates. Microbial community composition was determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The seepage water composition was of two types: Ca–Cl and Ca–Na–HCO3. The ratio of Cl and δ18O showed that the Ca–Cl type seepage water was influenced by groundwater mixed with seawater ranging from 2.7% to 15.1%. Various sulfate-reducing bacteria were identified in the Ca–Cl type seepage water, exhibiting relatively high sulfate content from seawater intrusion. Samples from the Ca–Na–HCO3 type seepage water had an extremely high pH (>10) and abundance of Hydrogenophaga. The precipitates observed along the flow path of the seepage water included calcite, ferrihydrite, green rust, and siderite, depending on seepage water chemistry and microbial activity. This study suggests that the construction of underground structures creates distinct, localized geochemical conditions (e.g., high alkalinity, high salinity, and oxic conditions), which may impact microbial communities. These biogeochemical changes may have undesirable large-scale impacts such as water pump clogging. An understanding of the process and long-term monitoring are essential to assess the safety of underground facilities.

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KW - Mineral precipitates

KW - Radwaste disposal site

KW - Seepage water

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JO - Journal of Environmental Management

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ER -

Geochemical and microbial characteristics of seepage water and mineral precipitates in a radwaste disposal facility impacted by seawater intrusion and high alkalinity

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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