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Author(s) |
Singhal, R. K.; Basu, H.; Pimple, M. V.; Manisha, V.; Bassan, M. K. T.; Reddy, A. V. R. (ACD)
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Source |
Journal of Radioanalytical & Nuclear Chemistry, 2014. Vol. 301 (3): pp. 805-810 |
ABSTRACT
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During
this work, size fractionation technique ‘‘ultra filtration’’ is used in
physical speciation of thorium in organic rich groundwater. Laboratory
simulated experiments were carried out to study the physical speciation
of thorium in aquatic environment having elevated level of dissolved
humus material classified as dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Samples
were collected from organic rich environment having DOC in the range of
50–60 μg mL-1. Th(IV) ions are extremely particle reactive having Kd value of the order of 105–6, hence to avoid adsorption on suspended particulate matter, spiking of the solution with Th(NO3)4
was carried out in ground water samples after filtering through 450 nm
pore size using suction filtration. Particles in dissolved state
(colloids) ranging between <450 and >220 nm were separated using
suction filtration assembly having a membrane with a pore diameter of
220 nm. Thereafter, solution was sequentially passed through the
ultra-filtration membranes having pore diameters of 14 nm [300 k NMWL
(nominal molecular weight limit)], 3.1 nm (50 k NMWL), 2.2 nm (30 k
NMWL), 1.6 nm (10 k NMWL) and 1.1 nm (0.5 k NMWL) by using ‘‘Stirred
Ultra-filtration Cells’’, operating in concentration mode. Thorium has
only one stable oxidation state i.e. IV, under all redox conditions in
natural waters and therefore, its speciation is dominated by its
interaction with various fractions of DOC. Experimental results show
50–60 % of the spiked Th is in association with fraction enriched with
particles of 10 k NMWL (1.6 nm) followed by fraction enriched with
particle of 0.5 k NMWL and <220 nm. |
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