Uranium contamination of soil and groundwater due to mining and chemical refining operations is often persistent and difficult to remediate. Uranium is highly soluble under oxic conditions which can be compounded by the propensity of the uranyl cation (UO2 ) 2+ to form complexes with a variety of ligands of environmental significance, specifically carbonate, phosphate, and hydroxide as well as a multitude of low molecular weight organics and natural organic matter. The geochemistry of uranium is complex because these soluble forms persist in oxidizing environments and can be resistant to surface reactions.
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