1. In situ redeposition of trace metals mobilized by CO2-charged brines
- Author
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Max Wigley, Mike J. Bickle, Hazel J. Chapman, Benoît Dubacq, and Niko Kampman
- Subjects
geography ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Extraction (chemistry) ,Geochemistry ,Oxide ,Aquifer ,Fraction (chemistry) ,Contamination ,010502 geochemistry & geophysics ,01 natural sciences ,6. Clean water ,Metal ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Geophysics ,chemistry ,13. Climate action ,Geochemistry and Petrology ,visual_art ,visual_art.visual_art_medium ,Carbonate ,Trace metal ,Geology ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences - Abstract
Mobilization of contaminants by CO2-charged brines is one concern relating to injection of CO2 as part of carbon capture and storage projects. This study monitors the mobility of trace metals in an exhumed CO2-charged aquifer near the town of Green River, Utah (USA), where CO2-charged brines have bleached red sandstones, and concentrated trace metals at the bleaching reaction front. Mass balance calculations on the trace metal enrichments are used to calculate time-integrated fluid fluxes and show that a significant fraction of the metals mobilized by the CO2-rich brines are redeposited locally. A sequential extraction procedure on metal-enriched samples shows that these metals are incorporated into secondary carbonate and oxide phases which have been shown to grow at the CO2-promoted bleaching reaction front. We argue that while CO2-charged brines are capable of mobilizing trace metals, local metal redeposition implies that the potential for contamination of overlying freshwater aquifers is low.
- Published
- 2013
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