Characterization of subsurface media from locations up- and down-gradient of a uranium-contaminated aquifer

Ji Won Moon; Charles J. Paradis; Dominique C. Joyner; Frederick von Netzer; Erica L. Majumder; Emma R. Dixon; Mircea Podar; Xiaoxuan Ge; Peter J. Walian; Heidi J. Smith; Xiaoqin Wu; Grant M. Zane; Kathleen F. Walker; Michael P. Thorgersen; Farris L. Poole; Lauren M. Lui; Benjamin G. Adams; Kara B. De León; Sheridan S. Brewer; Daniel E. Williams; Kenneth A. Lowe; Miguel Rodriguez; Tonia L. Mehlhorn; Susan M. Pfiffner; Romy Chakraborty; Adam P. Arkin; Judy D. Wall; Matthew W. Fields; Michael W.W. Adams; David A. Stahl; Dwayne A. Elias; Terry C. Hazen

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126951

Characterization of subsurface media from locations up- and down-gradient of a uranium-contaminated aquifer

Ji Won Moon, Charles J. Paradis, Dominique C. Joyner, Frederick von Netzer, Erica L. Majumder, Emma R. Dixon, Mircea Podar, Xiaoxuan Ge, Peter J. Walian, Heidi J. Smith, Xiaoqin Wu, Grant M. Zane, Kathleen F. Walker, Michael P. Thorgersen, Farris L. Poole, Lauren M. Lui, Benjamin G. Adams, Kara B. De León, Sheridan S. Brewer, Daniel E. WilliamsKenneth A. Lowe, Miguel Rodriguez, Tonia L. Mehlhorn, Susan M. Pfiffner, Romy Chakraborty, Adam P. Arkin, Judy D. Wall, Matthew W. Fields, Michael W.W. Adams, David A. Stahl, Dwayne A. Elias, Terry C. Hazen

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

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

The processing of sediment to accurately characterize the spatially-resolved depth profiles of geophysical and geochemical properties along with signatures of microbial density and activity remains a challenge especially in complex contaminated areas. This study processed cores from two sediment boreholes from background and contaminated core sediments and surrounding groundwater. Fresh core sediments were compared by depth to capture the changes in sediment structure, sediment minerals, biomass, and pore water geochemistry in terms of major and trace elements including pollutants, cations, anions, and organic acids. Soil porewater samples were matched to groundwater level, flow rate, and preferential flows and compared to homogenized groundwater-only samples from neighboring monitoring wells. Groundwater analysis of nearby wells only revealed high sulfate and nitrate concentrations while the same analysis using sediment pore water samples with depth was able to suggest areas high in sulfate- and nitrate-reducing bacteria based on their decreased concentration and production of reduced by-products that could not be seen in the groundwater samples. Positive correlations among porewater content, total organic carbon, trace metals and clay minerals revealed a more complicated relationship among contaminant, sediment texture, groundwater table, and biomass. The fluctuating capillary interface had high concentrations of Fe and Mn-oxides combined with trace elements including U, Th, Sr, Ba, Cu, and Co. This suggests the mobility of potentially hazardous elements, sediment structure, and biogeochemical factors are all linked together to impact microbial communities, emphasizing that solid interfaces play an important role in determining the abundance of bacteria in the sediments.

Original language	English
Article number	126951
Journal	Chemosphere
Volume	255
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126951
State	Published - Sep 2020

Funding

We thank Kelley Meinhardt in the Stahl lab for performing the sediment gas measurements and Deanne Brice at ORNL for C&N analysis. We gratefully acknowledge D. Parkinson for assistance with tomography imaging at beamline 8.3.2 of the Advanced Light Source (ALS) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory . The ALS is supported by the Director, Office of Science , Office of Basic Energy Sciences , of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC02-05CH11231 . This material by ENIGMA- Ecosystems and Networks Integrated with Genes and Molecular Assemblies ( http://enigma.lbl.gov ), a Scientific Focus Area Program at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological & Environmental Research under contract number DE-AC02-05CH11231. Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed by UT-Battelle, LLC, for the U.S. Department of Energy under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 . We thank Kelley Meinhardt in the Stahl lab for performing the sediment gas measurements and Deanne Brice at ORNL for C&N analysis. We gratefully acknowledge D. Parkinson for assistance with tomography imaging at beamline 8.3.2 of the Advanced Light Source (ALS) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The ALS is supported by the Director, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC02-05CH11231. This material by ENIGMA- Ecosystems and Networks Integrated with Genes and Molecular Assemblies (http://enigma.lbl.gov), a Scientific Focus Area Program at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological & Environmental Research under contract number DE-AC02-05CH11231. Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed by UT-Battelle, LLC, for the U.S. Department of Energy under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725.

Keywords

Bacteria
Biomass
Contaminants
Groundwater
Sediment
Uranium

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126951

Cite this

Moon, J. W., Paradis, C. J., Joyner, D. C., von Netzer, F., Majumder, E. L., Dixon, E. R., Podar, M., Ge, X., Walian, P. J., Smith, H. J., Wu, X., Zane, G. M., Walker, K. F., Thorgersen, M. P., Poole, F. L., Lui, L. M., Adams, B. G., De León, K. B., Brewer, S. S., ... Hazen, T. C. (2020). Characterization of subsurface media from locations up- and down-gradient of a uranium-contaminated aquifer. Chemosphere, 255, Article 126951. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126951

@article{9b2a4958ac7d4c0b9fc5c1fbd84334d3,

title = "Characterization of subsurface media from locations up- and down-gradient of a uranium-contaminated aquifer",

abstract = "The processing of sediment to accurately characterize the spatially-resolved depth profiles of geophysical and geochemical properties along with signatures of microbial density and activity remains a challenge especially in complex contaminated areas. This study processed cores from two sediment boreholes from background and contaminated core sediments and surrounding groundwater. Fresh core sediments were compared by depth to capture the changes in sediment structure, sediment minerals, biomass, and pore water geochemistry in terms of major and trace elements including pollutants, cations, anions, and organic acids. Soil porewater samples were matched to groundwater level, flow rate, and preferential flows and compared to homogenized groundwater-only samples from neighboring monitoring wells. Groundwater analysis of nearby wells only revealed high sulfate and nitrate concentrations while the same analysis using sediment pore water samples with depth was able to suggest areas high in sulfate- and nitrate-reducing bacteria based on their decreased concentration and production of reduced by-products that could not be seen in the groundwater samples. Positive correlations among porewater content, total organic carbon, trace metals and clay minerals revealed a more complicated relationship among contaminant, sediment texture, groundwater table, and biomass. The fluctuating capillary interface had high concentrations of Fe and Mn-oxides combined with trace elements including U, Th, Sr, Ba, Cu, and Co. This suggests the mobility of potentially hazardous elements, sediment structure, and biogeochemical factors are all linked together to impact microbial communities, emphasizing that solid interfaces play an important role in determining the abundance of bacteria in the sediments.",

keywords = "Bacteria, Biomass, Contaminants, Groundwater, Sediment, Uranium",

author = "Moon, {Ji Won} and Paradis, {Charles J.} and Joyner, {Dominique C.} and {von Netzer}, Frederick and Majumder, {Erica L.} and Dixon, {Emma R.} and Mircea Podar and Xiaoxuan Ge and Walian, {Peter J.} and Smith, {Heidi J.} and Xiaoqin Wu and Zane, {Grant M.} and Walker, {Kathleen F.} and Thorgersen, {Michael P.} and Poole, {Farris L.} and Lui, {Lauren M.} and Adams, {Benjamin G.} and {De Le{\'o}n}, {Kara B.} and Brewer, {Sheridan S.} and Williams, {Daniel E.} and Lowe, {Kenneth A.} and Miguel Rodriguez and Mehlhorn, {Tonia L.} and Pfiffner, {Susan M.} and Romy Chakraborty and Arkin, {Adam P.} and Wall, {Judy D.} and Fields, {Matthew W.} and Adams, {Michael W.W.} and Stahl, {David A.} and Elias, {Dwayne A.} and Hazen, {Terry C.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 The Author(s)",

year = "2020",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126951",

language = "English",

volume = "255",

journal = "Chemosphere",

issn = "0045-6535",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

Moon, JW, Paradis, CJ, Joyner, DC, von Netzer, F, Majumder, EL, Dixon, ER, Podar, M, Ge, X, Walian, PJ, Smith, HJ, Wu, X, Zane, GM, Walker, KF, Thorgersen, MP, Poole, FL, Lui, LM, Adams, BG, De León, KB, Brewer, SS, Williams, DE, Lowe, KA, Rodriguez, M , Mehlhorn, TL, Pfiffner, SM, Chakraborty, R, Arkin, AP, Wall, JD, Fields, MW, Adams, MWW, Stahl, DA, Elias, DA & Hazen, TC 2020, 'Characterization of subsurface media from locations up- and down-gradient of a uranium-contaminated aquifer', Chemosphere, vol. 255, 126951. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126951

TY - JOUR

T1 - Characterization of subsurface media from locations up- and down-gradient of a uranium-contaminated aquifer

AU - Moon, Ji Won

AU - Paradis, Charles J.

AU - Joyner, Dominique C.

AU - von Netzer, Frederick

AU - Majumder, Erica L.

AU - Dixon, Emma R.

AU - Podar, Mircea

AU - Ge, Xiaoxuan

AU - Walian, Peter J.

AU - Smith, Heidi J.

AU - Wu, Xiaoqin

AU - Zane, Grant M.

AU - Walker, Kathleen F.

AU - Thorgersen, Michael P.

AU - Poole, Farris L.

AU - Lui, Lauren M.

AU - Adams, Benjamin G.

AU - De León, Kara B.

AU - Brewer, Sheridan S.

AU - Williams, Daniel E.

AU - Lowe, Kenneth A.

AU - Rodriguez, Miguel

AU - Mehlhorn, Tonia L.

AU - Pfiffner, Susan M.

AU - Chakraborty, Romy

AU - Arkin, Adam P.

AU - Wall, Judy D.

AU - Fields, Matthew W.

AU - Adams, Michael W.W.

AU - Stahl, David A.

AU - Elias, Dwayne A.

AU - Hazen, Terry C.

PY - 2020/9

Y1 - 2020/9

N2 - The processing of sediment to accurately characterize the spatially-resolved depth profiles of geophysical and geochemical properties along with signatures of microbial density and activity remains a challenge especially in complex contaminated areas. This study processed cores from two sediment boreholes from background and contaminated core sediments and surrounding groundwater. Fresh core sediments were compared by depth to capture the changes in sediment structure, sediment minerals, biomass, and pore water geochemistry in terms of major and trace elements including pollutants, cations, anions, and organic acids. Soil porewater samples were matched to groundwater level, flow rate, and preferential flows and compared to homogenized groundwater-only samples from neighboring monitoring wells. Groundwater analysis of nearby wells only revealed high sulfate and nitrate concentrations while the same analysis using sediment pore water samples with depth was able to suggest areas high in sulfate- and nitrate-reducing bacteria based on their decreased concentration and production of reduced by-products that could not be seen in the groundwater samples. Positive correlations among porewater content, total organic carbon, trace metals and clay minerals revealed a more complicated relationship among contaminant, sediment texture, groundwater table, and biomass. The fluctuating capillary interface had high concentrations of Fe and Mn-oxides combined with trace elements including U, Th, Sr, Ba, Cu, and Co. This suggests the mobility of potentially hazardous elements, sediment structure, and biogeochemical factors are all linked together to impact microbial communities, emphasizing that solid interfaces play an important role in determining the abundance of bacteria in the sediments.

AB - The processing of sediment to accurately characterize the spatially-resolved depth profiles of geophysical and geochemical properties along with signatures of microbial density and activity remains a challenge especially in complex contaminated areas. This study processed cores from two sediment boreholes from background and contaminated core sediments and surrounding groundwater. Fresh core sediments were compared by depth to capture the changes in sediment structure, sediment minerals, biomass, and pore water geochemistry in terms of major and trace elements including pollutants, cations, anions, and organic acids. Soil porewater samples were matched to groundwater level, flow rate, and preferential flows and compared to homogenized groundwater-only samples from neighboring monitoring wells. Groundwater analysis of nearby wells only revealed high sulfate and nitrate concentrations while the same analysis using sediment pore water samples with depth was able to suggest areas high in sulfate- and nitrate-reducing bacteria based on their decreased concentration and production of reduced by-products that could not be seen in the groundwater samples. Positive correlations among porewater content, total organic carbon, trace metals and clay minerals revealed a more complicated relationship among contaminant, sediment texture, groundwater table, and biomass. The fluctuating capillary interface had high concentrations of Fe and Mn-oxides combined with trace elements including U, Th, Sr, Ba, Cu, and Co. This suggests the mobility of potentially hazardous elements, sediment structure, and biogeochemical factors are all linked together to impact microbial communities, emphasizing that solid interfaces play an important role in determining the abundance of bacteria in the sediments.

KW - Bacteria

KW - Biomass

KW - Contaminants

KW - Groundwater

KW - Sediment

KW - Uranium

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85084494249&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126951

DO - 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126951

M3 - Article

C2 - 32417512

AN - SCOPUS:85084494249

SN - 0045-6535

VL - 255

JO - Chemosphere

JF - Chemosphere

M1 - 126951

ER -

Characterization of subsurface media from locations up- and down-gradient of a uranium-contaminated aquifer

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this