Uranium uptake by phosphate minerals at hydrothermal conditions

The goal of this work was to evaluate the immobilization of uranium (U) through crystallization of calcium phosphate minerals (phosphates), which have a strong ability to absorb and retain dissolved uranyl, and therefore, are useful in various geological and environmental applications. To date, most of the experimental studies have been conducted at room temperature and high temperature assessments on uranium immobilization rely on the extrapolation procedure, which is not always accurate. To evaluate uranium partition coefficients between phosphates and hydrothermal fluid, we performed a series of crystallization experiments at 25–350 °C and various aqueous uranium concentrations. Crystallization occurred through the transformation of brushite to monetite or/and apatite in aqueous solutions doped with uranium aliquots. Solid products were extracted and characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The local bonding environment and valence state of uranium in apatite were determined via X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Uranium concentration in crystals and coexisting solutions were measured with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Apparent partition coefficients were calculated as Nernst partition coefficients (DU) and Doener-Hoskins partition coefficients (KD−HU/Ca) (to account for closed reservoir effect). Experimental DU values were compared with those calculated using the lattice strain model. Results showed that >92% of U added to solutions was extracted via this crystallization method and KD−HU/Ca decreases with increasing phosphate crystallization temperature. Thus, phosphates, especially apatite, has a strong potential to immobilize uranium under hydrothermal conditions and can be used in the development of engineering barriers to further improve the efficiency of existing backfill materials in the disposal of nuclear waste. •Brushite to apatite transformation removes >92% U from solutions at 39–350 °C.•U-apatite partitioning data demonstrate affinity at a wide range of temperatures.•UO radial distance in apatite resulted in 2.32 Å.•Apatite can enhance existing backfills materials for disposal of nuclear waste.