Speciation and Geochemistry of Tungsten in Soil
Abstract
In order to limit the dispersive use of lead on small arms firing ranges, 5.56-mm bullets with tungsten-nylon composite material cores have been fired at a number of Army training ranges. Tungsten in bullet residues oxidizes when exposed to the atmosphere, yielding an amorphous tungsten oxide (WO3) coating. This coating rapidly dissolves to yield the tungstate anion (WO4 2-), which can migrate in saturated subsurface and surface water environments. The environmental geochemistry of dissolved tungsten species is complex, and consequently is not well characterized. Tungsten exists in most environmental matrices as the soluble and mobile tungstate anion, which can polymerize with itself and other anions, such as molybdate and phosphate, making determination of tungsten compounds important. Since the geochemical and toxicological properties of these polymer species may vary from monomeric tungstate, determination of tungstate is as critical as determination of total dissolved tungsten concentration.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA481554
Entities
People
- A. J. Bednar
- D. B. Ringelberg
- J. E. Mirecki
- L. E. Winfield
- L. S. Inouye
- S. L. Larson
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center