PIMS-remediation of metal contaminated waters and soils

摘要

Phosphate-Induced Metal Stabilization (PIMS) stabilizes a wide range of metals, especially uranium (U), plumonium (Pu) and lead (Pb), in situ or ex situ, by chemically binding them into new stable phosphate phase and other low-solubility phases that are stable over geologic time. Although some form of apatite is necessary, most apatites do not have the suitable characteristics of no substituted F, high degree of substituted CO_3~(2-), low initial trace metal concentrations, extremely poor crystallinity couple with random nanocyrstallites, and high microporosity necessary for optimal performance in the field. A special form of apatite, Apatite II, has been found to be the most reactive, most cost-effective apatite available, having optimal structural and chemical characteristics for metal and radionuclide remediation. This technology has been successfully demonstrated on contaminated soil and groundwater for U, Pb, Pu, Cd, Zn and Cu from mining sites and from DOE sites.