In-Situ Monitoring of Uranyl Ion in Ground Water Using a Colorimetric-Based Sensor: Enabling the Mapping of Uranium Plume Migration of Contaminated DOE Sites

The long-term monitoring of groundwater contamination plumes to determine the fate of contaminants in the environment is expensive and labor intensive. Current baseline methods have resulted in monitoring programs that collect less data than is required to fully understand the fate and transport mechanisms of the contaminants. An automated field-deployable monitoring system using a colorimetric sensor will be used to monitor uranium concentrations. The system will be capable of being deployed and operated in the field for several months measuring uranium concentrations below the regulatory limits. The system will provide more frequent data with less reporting delay at a lower cost than the baseline methods. A prototype analytical system was developed and tested. The system successfully detected uranium below the regulatory limit and appeared to have the necessary attributes for deployment in the field. The Phase II will further reduce the risks of the technologies, and field deployment of two systems to allow for near real-time monitoring at several areas of Handford Site, Washington. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The system has application at DOE sites with radiological contaminants (Hanford Site, Washington). The system will decrease monitoring costs, enhance the understanding of the fate of the radiologicals in the environment, and ultimately decrease the cost of groundwater remediation activities.