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Title: ARSENIC SORPTION AND SOLUBILITY IN SHALLOW GROUNDWATER IN TULARE LAKE BED, CALIFORNIA

Author
item GAO, S - UC DAVIS, CA
item Goldberg, Sabine
item FUJII, ROGER - USGS
item TANJI, K - UC DAVIS, CA

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2003
Publication Date: 11/1/2003
Citation: Gao, S., Goldberg, S.R., Fujii, R., Tanji, K. 2003. Arsenic sorption and solubility in shallow groundwater in Tulare Lake bed, California. Soil Science Society of America. Paper No. S11-gao848193-O.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Shallow groundwaters in parts of the Tulare Basin contain elevated arsenic (As) concentrations. This is a concern because of potential migration into deeper aquifers that could serve as a source of future drinking water. Sorption processes are hypothesized to control As solubility in sediments under oxidized conditions when arsenic (V) is dominant. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between As sorption and solubility. Estimates of sorbed As were about 24-28% of total sediment As in the pH range of 7.5-8.5 and about 60% of the sorbed As could be released to groundwater. Arsenic released at various pHs illustrated that As was retained on sediment effectively at its ambient pH conditions. Arsenic sorption isotherms can be described with a surface complexation model indicating a possible role of amorphous oxyhydroxides as well as clay minerals in As sorption under oxidizing conditions. Although results indicate that As could be a potential contamination source to groundwater, this will be largely controlled by factors that affect As transport processes.