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Role of colloid in metal transport in river water around Jaduguda uranium mines, Singhbhum shear zone

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Abstract

This paper attempts to identify and characterize the colloids present in the river water around the Jaduguda uranium mines located in Jharkhand, India in order to understand their role in metal transport. The stream receiving direct release of effluent water from the mine tailing is contaminated and the concentration of Mn, F−, Na+, SO42− and U is above the maximum permissible. The colloids mostly consist of Mn-oxide, kaolinite, halloysite and Fe(oxy)hydroixe. The concentration of As, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, U and Zn in surface water is very much lower than that of the colloids. This is attributed to the importance of colloids in metal scavenging due to more reactive surface sites. The high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) study further indicates that Mn-oxides plays a most important role in retention and transportation of U in the study area.

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Acknowledgements

The data presented in this paper form a part of the Master thesis submitted by SSR and PJS to the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, NIT Rourkela. First author expresses sincere thanks to the NIT, Rourkela for providing analytical facilities during the work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, 769 008, Odisha, India

    Sk Md Equeenuddin, Shaheen Akhtar, Fakira Bastia, Subhransu Sekhar Rout & Pallav Jyoti Saikia

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  1. Sk Md Equeenuddin
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  2. Shaheen Akhtar
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  3. Fakira Bastia
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  4. Subhransu Sekhar Rout
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  5. Pallav Jyoti Saikia
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Correspondence to Sk Md Equeenuddin.

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Communicated by N V Chalapathi Rao

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Equeenuddin, S.M., Akhtar, S., Bastia, F. et al. Role of colloid in metal transport in river water around Jaduguda uranium mines, Singhbhum shear zone. J Earth Syst Sci 129, 23 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-019-1262-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-019-1262-y

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