Removal of Chromium from Pantex Groundwater by Granular Activated Carbon:211 Chemical Models and Redox Chemistry of Chromium

摘要

The Pantex Plant, located approximately 17 miles northeast of downtown Amarillo,211u001eTexas, was first used by the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps for loading conventional 211u001eammunition shells and bombs during World War II. After operations ceased in 1945, 211u001ethe U.S. Atomic Energy Commission selected the site as the location for a nuclear 211u001eweapons assembly facility in 1950. Currently, the site is being used for the 211u001edevelopment and fabrication of high explosive (HE) components for nuclear 211u001eweapons, for assembly and disassembly of nuclear weapons, and for tests and 211u001edisposal of HE's. Besides contamination problems with HE's such as TNT, RDX, and 211u001eHMX, heavy metal contamination has resulted from weapon component tests. Chromium 211u001eis one of the major contaminants in the groundwater under the Pantex Plant and 211u001eexists at concentrations two or more orders of magnitude higher than the drinking 211u001ewater standard (forms of total and hexavalent chronmium), particularly in the 211u001eperched aquifer groundwater below Zones 11 and 12.