Evaluation of the interactions of arsenic (As), boron (B), and lead (Pb) from geothermal production wells with agricultural soils
Geothermal energy is a low-pollution energy source. However, air, soil, and water near geothermal plants may be affected by their operation. One of the largest geothermal energy sources in the world, Cerro Prieto, has a capacity of 720 MW and is located in northwest Mexico near an agricultural area....
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2021-03-01
|
| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651320316791 |
| _version_ | 1818740128042975232 |
|---|---|
| author | Queilenin Ramos M. Aurora Armienta Alejandra Aguayo Olivia Cruz |
| author_facet | Queilenin Ramos M. Aurora Armienta Alejandra Aguayo Olivia Cruz |
| author_sort | Queilenin Ramos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Geothermal energy is a low-pollution energy source. However, air, soil, and water near geothermal plants may be affected by their operation. One of the largest geothermal energy sources in the world, Cerro Prieto, has a capacity of 720 MW and is located in northwest Mexico near an agricultural area. The abstracted geothermal fluids, which are enriched with arsenic (As), boron (B), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and other heavy metals, are either reinjected into the aquifer or sent to an evaporation pond located in the geothermal plant. Because spills have occurred in other geothermal zones, it is important to evaluate the effect of those contaminants on the soils of the surrounding area and their possible infiltration into shallow groundwater. To that aim, soils (one chromic Vertisol and two calcic Regosols) from three sites near the Cerro Prieto Geothermal Plant were sampled to evaluate their behavior regarding As, Pb, and B retention. Batch experiments were carried out using the soils as the sorbent and geothermal water from three geothermal production wells as the sorbate. Raw water concentrations in each well were as follows: As: 0.2442 mg/L, 0.2774 mg/L, and mg/L; B: 18.409 mg/L, 13.5075 mg/L, and 16.646 mg/L; and Pb: 0.22 mg/L, 0.13 mg/L, and 0.26 mg/L. The physicochemical characteristics of the soils were determined and compared to the experimental results. A good adjustment of the chromic Vertisol sample to Freundlich isotherms was observed for As (r2 > 0.9), followed by Pb (r2 = 0.61), and B (r2 > 0.5). As retention also showed a good adjustment to the Langmuir model (r2 > 0.9). The retention followed the order Pb >As ≫B in one of the two calcic Regosols, while the other only retained Pb ≫ As. Cationic exchange capacity; clay minerals; carbonate; organic matter; and iron, aluminum, and manganese amorphous and crystalline oxides influenced the soils’ retention capacities. Irrigation with geothermal water could not imply a toxicity risk to plants grown in the chromic Vertisol soil due to its high Pb and As sorption capacity. Pb concentration could not be a toxicity issue in the calcic Regosols for the same reason, but As and B could be. B would be a hazard to vegetables and water due to its low or lack of retention in the three soils and also for its possible infiltration into shallow groundwater used for irrigation in the area. This study highlights the importance of maintaining adequate operation and control of the disposal of geothermal fluids in geothermal plants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T01:35:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eb87528460c14b17aa41eabab92dd3ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T01:35:48Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj.art-eb87528460c14b17aa41eabab92dd3ef2022-12-21T21:25:28ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132021-03-01211111843Evaluation of the interactions of arsenic (As), boron (B), and lead (Pb) from geothermal production wells with agricultural soilsQueilenin Ramos0M. Aurora Armienta1Alejandra Aguayo2Olivia Cruz3Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Posgrado en Ciencias de la Tierra, Coyoacán, CDMX 04510, MexicoUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Instituto de Geofísica, Coyoacán, CDMX, 04510, Mexico; Corresponding author.Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Instituto de Geofísica, Coyoacán, CDMX, 04510, MexicoUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Instituto de Geofísica, Coyoacán, CDMX, 04510, MexicoGeothermal energy is a low-pollution energy source. However, air, soil, and water near geothermal plants may be affected by their operation. One of the largest geothermal energy sources in the world, Cerro Prieto, has a capacity of 720 MW and is located in northwest Mexico near an agricultural area. The abstracted geothermal fluids, which are enriched with arsenic (As), boron (B), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and other heavy metals, are either reinjected into the aquifer or sent to an evaporation pond located in the geothermal plant. Because spills have occurred in other geothermal zones, it is important to evaluate the effect of those contaminants on the soils of the surrounding area and their possible infiltration into shallow groundwater. To that aim, soils (one chromic Vertisol and two calcic Regosols) from three sites near the Cerro Prieto Geothermal Plant were sampled to evaluate their behavior regarding As, Pb, and B retention. Batch experiments were carried out using the soils as the sorbent and geothermal water from three geothermal production wells as the sorbate. Raw water concentrations in each well were as follows: As: 0.2442 mg/L, 0.2774 mg/L, and mg/L; B: 18.409 mg/L, 13.5075 mg/L, and 16.646 mg/L; and Pb: 0.22 mg/L, 0.13 mg/L, and 0.26 mg/L. The physicochemical characteristics of the soils were determined and compared to the experimental results. A good adjustment of the chromic Vertisol sample to Freundlich isotherms was observed for As (r2 > 0.9), followed by Pb (r2 = 0.61), and B (r2 > 0.5). As retention also showed a good adjustment to the Langmuir model (r2 > 0.9). The retention followed the order Pb >As ≫B in one of the two calcic Regosols, while the other only retained Pb ≫ As. Cationic exchange capacity; clay minerals; carbonate; organic matter; and iron, aluminum, and manganese amorphous and crystalline oxides influenced the soils’ retention capacities. Irrigation with geothermal water could not imply a toxicity risk to plants grown in the chromic Vertisol soil due to its high Pb and As sorption capacity. Pb concentration could not be a toxicity issue in the calcic Regosols for the same reason, but As and B could be. B would be a hazard to vegetables and water due to its low or lack of retention in the three soils and also for its possible infiltration into shallow groundwater used for irrigation in the area. This study highlights the importance of maintaining adequate operation and control of the disposal of geothermal fluids in geothermal plants.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651320316791Geothermal energyArsenicBoronHeavy metalsSoilsAdsorption |
| spellingShingle | Queilenin Ramos M. Aurora Armienta Alejandra Aguayo Olivia Cruz Evaluation of the interactions of arsenic (As), boron (B), and lead (Pb) from geothermal production wells with agricultural soils Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Geothermal energy Arsenic Boron Heavy metals Soils Adsorption |
| title | Evaluation of the interactions of arsenic (As), boron (B), and lead (Pb) from geothermal production wells with agricultural soils |
| title_full | Evaluation of the interactions of arsenic (As), boron (B), and lead (Pb) from geothermal production wells with agricultural soils |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of the interactions of arsenic (As), boron (B), and lead (Pb) from geothermal production wells with agricultural soils |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of the interactions of arsenic (As), boron (B), and lead (Pb) from geothermal production wells with agricultural soils |
| title_short | Evaluation of the interactions of arsenic (As), boron (B), and lead (Pb) from geothermal production wells with agricultural soils |
| title_sort | evaluation of the interactions of arsenic as boron b and lead pb from geothermal production wells with agricultural soils |
| topic | Geothermal energy Arsenic Boron Heavy metals Soils Adsorption |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651320316791 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT queileninramos evaluationoftheinteractionsofarsenicasboronbandleadpbfromgeothermalproductionwellswithagriculturalsoils AT mauroraarmienta evaluationoftheinteractionsofarsenicasboronbandleadpbfromgeothermalproductionwellswithagriculturalsoils AT alejandraaguayo evaluationoftheinteractionsofarsenicasboronbandleadpbfromgeothermalproductionwellswithagriculturalsoils AT oliviacruz evaluationoftheinteractionsofarsenicasboronbandleadpbfromgeothermalproductionwellswithagriculturalsoils |