University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

An Assessment of Metals Distribution and Transport in Groundwater Beneath the Diked Sediment Disposal Area, DePue Wildlife Management Area, Illinois

Wehrmann, H. Allen; Kelley, Walton R.; Holm, Thomas R.; Carr, Keith

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/3484

Description

Title
An Assessment of Metals Distribution and Transport in Groundwater Beneath the Diked Sediment Disposal Area, DePue Wildlife Management Area, Illinois
Author(s)
  • Wehrmann, H. Allen
  • Kelley, Walton R.
  • Holm, Thomas R.
  • Carr, Keith
Issue Date
2007-12-21
Keyword(s)
  • DePue, Lake (Ill.) -- Environmental conditions
  • Lake Depue (Ill.) -- Environmental aspects
  • WMRC Reports
  • Metals -- Environmental aspects -- Illinois -- Lake DePue
  • Dredging -- Environmental aspects -- Illinois -- Lake DePue
Abstract
Potential toxic metal (Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu) contamination of groundwater at the periodically flooded DePue Dredged Sediment Disposal Area (DSDA), was assessed through the collection of groundwater and soil samples and water level data, geochemical modeling, and leaching and microcosm experiments. The median Zn concentrations in groundwater at three locations were between 2 and 5 mg/L. There was no evidence that contaminated groundwater has migrated offsite. Based on lake-sediment and soil data, the order of decreasing mobility in the site groundwater was Zn > Cu > Cd > Pb. Small amounts of Zn and Cd (< 2%) were leached from soil samples inside the DSDA in leaching experiments. About half of the dissolved Zn and Cd from groundwater samples can be accounted for by leaching, suggesting desorption was a major control for Zn and Cd. Chemical equilibrium calculations indicated that several reactions, including CdCO3 precipitation, coprecipitation of Zn with CaCO3, and sorption to ferric oxide, may retain the metals in the subsurface. Aqueous Zn concentrations were greatest in aerobic microcosms, lowest in sulfate-reducing microcosms, and intermediate in iron-reducing microcosms. Zinc would thus be expected to be most mobile in DePue soils during the early stages of flooding, when the soils are saturated but before conditions become anaerobic.
Publisher
Champaign, IL : Illinois Waste Management and Research Center
Series/Report Name or Number
RR-110
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/3484
Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)
Illinois Waste Management and Research Center

Owning Collections

RR Series - Illinois Sustainable Technology Center PRIMARY
Illinois Sustainable Technology Center RR Series