Nuclear techniques to investigate source and origin of groundwater pollutants and their flow path at Indian Rare Earths Ltd., Cochin, Kerala

K. Tirumalesh; K. Shivanna; J. Noble; K. Narayan; K. Xavier

doi:10.1007/s10967-007-1116-y

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

Volume/Issue:: Volume 274: Issue 2

Nuclear techniques to investigate source and origin of groundwater pollutants and their flow path at Indian Rare Earths Ltd., Cochin, Kerala

Authors:

K. Tirumalesh

K. Tirumalesh Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Isotope Applications Division Mumbai 400085 India

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K. Shivanna

K. Shivanna Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Isotope Applications Division Mumbai 400085 India

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J. Noble

J. Noble Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Isotope Applications Division Mumbai 400085 India

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K. Narayan

K. Narayan Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Reactor Safety Services Division Mumbai 400085 India

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, and

K. Xavier

K. Xavier Indian Rare Earths Division Udyogamandal, Cochin, Kerala 683501 India

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Pages:: 307–313

Online Publication Date:: 11 Jul 2007

Publication Date:: 01 Nov 2007

Article Category:: Research Article

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-007-1116-y

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Abstract

Hydrochemical, environmental isotope and injected radiotracer investigations were carried out in order to investigate the possible source of contaminants and their movement in groundwater at Indian Rare Earths (IRE) site. Water samples were collected from piezometers, dug wells and river in and around IRE site for measurement of physical parameters, chemistry and isotopes. Chemical results show high fluoride, nitrate, sulphate and phosphate concentrations in piezometers whereas dug wells and river samples are free from contamination. Isotope data indicate that the contaminated groundwaters are enriched in δ²H and δ¹⁸O compared to dug well and river samples. Radiotracer experiments were carried out using single-well and multi-well techniques (radiotracers: ⁸²Br and ³H) for determining groundwater filtration velocity and flow direction, respectively. Groundwater filtration velocity was found to be about 1.3 cm/day and flow direction is from south to north. Based on the investigations it can be concluded that groundwater is getting contamination from southern part of IRE campus and the possible source for these contaminants could be the Fertilizer and Chemical of Travancore (FACT) industry.

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Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

Print ISSN:: 0236-5731

Online ISSN:: 1588-2780

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Journal of Radionalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Language	English
Size	A4
Year of Foundation	1968
Volumes per Year	1
Issues per Year	12
Founder	Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's Address	H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Publisher	Akadémiai Kiadó Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher's Address	H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245. CH-6330 Cham, Switzerland Gewerbestrasse 11.
Responsible Publisher	Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN	0236-5731 (Print)
ISSN	1588-2780 (Online)