Mackinawite, an iron sulfide mineral, often forms in aquatic systems whereiron and sulfide (sulfate reducing conditions) are present. Two environmentallyrelevant systems involving the formation of mackinawite are being studied: 1)  The role of iron sulfide minerals in bioremediationof uranium contaminated groundwater after biostimulation has ceased 2) An experimental bioreactor for the removal of arsenic and nitrate fromdrinking waterMackinawite is believed to play a key role in both systems, although themackinwite produced by the arsenic bioreactor (2) demonstrates significantlydifferent mineral characteristics than the abiotically formed mackinawite usedto study uranium bioremediation.  Synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction isused here to characterize an array of biotic and abiotic mackinawite, using crystallite size, crystallite ansiotropy and d-spacing as comparative parameters.  Aging, background electrolyte and formation method are considered as variables.

Synchrotron X-ray diffraction study of biotic and abiotic mackinawite related to uranium bioremediation and arsenic removal from drinking water

242nd National Meeting (2011)

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