江汉平原浅层含水层中土著硫酸盐还原菌对砷迁移释放的影响

硫酸盐还原菌是厌氧环境中参与砷形态转化的重要微生物种群,其介导的生物地球化学循环过程对铁氧化物表面吸附态砷迁移转化的影响亟待深入研究.选取江汉平原典型高砷含水层原位沉积物分离纯化出一株严格厌氧硫酸盐还原菌Desulfovibrio JH-S1,对其进行砷和铁还原能力鉴定,并通过模拟培养实验探究硫酸盐还原菌参与下的铁矿物相转化对吸附态砷迁移的影响.Desulfovibrio JH-S1具有Fe(III)还原能力,无硫和有硫体系中Fe(III)均能被还原,但在硫酸盐充足条件下铁还原量显著增加;该菌株不具备As(V)还原能力,但添加硫酸盐的培养体系中As(V)去除率可达96%以上.Desulfovibrio JH-S1能够还原硫酸盐从而促进载砷的水铁矿还原转化为纤铁矿,并导致吸附的砷释放.江汉平原高砷含水层土著硫酸盐还原菌兼具硫酸盐/铁还原功能,参与了高砷含水层系统中砷-铁-硫耦合循环,对高砷地下水的形成具有重要作用.      

原生高砷地下水的类型、化学特征及成因

由于分布广、危害大,原生高砷地下水严重威胁全球内数亿居民的身体健康。研究原生高砷地下水的分布、化学特征及成因有助于进一步理解地下水中砷的迁移转化规律,并确保高砷区地下水的可持续利用。在查阅大量文献资料的基础上,结合近10年的高砷地下水研究经验,把原生高砷地下水分为还原性中性高砷地下水（Ⅰ 1型）和还原性弱碱性高砷地下水（Ⅰ 2型）、氧化性弱碱性高砷地下水（Ⅱ型）和氧化性弱酸性高砷地下水（Ⅲ型）。Ⅰ 1型高砷地下水主要分布于河流三角洲地区,Ⅰ 2型分布于干旱半干旱封闭内陆盆地,Ⅱ型主要分布于干旱半干旱平原盆地,Ⅲ型主要分布于富含黄铁矿或硫化物矿物的基岩地区。Ⅰ 1型高砷地下水处于还原环境,pH呈中性,Fe/Mn氧化物矿物的还原性溶解是造成As富集的主要原因。Ⅰ 2型高砷地下水处于还原环境,pH呈弱碱性,除了Fe/Mn氧化物矿物的还原性溶解外,As的解吸附是含水层中砷释放的重要原因。Ⅱ型高砷地下水处于氧化弱氧化环境,pH呈弱碱性,As的解吸附是含水层中砷释放的主要原因。Ⅲ型高砷地下水处于氧化环境,pH呈弱酸性,黄铁矿及其他硫化物矿物的氧化溶解导致了含水层中砷的释放。对于Ⅰ 2型高砷地下水,需要深入研究Fe/Mn氧化物矿物的还原性溶解以及As的解吸附对地下水砷富集的相对贡献量。     

河水入渗过程中近岸带地下水中砷的形成与影响因素研究

沈阳黄家水源地是我国北方地区典型的傍河地下水水源地,近岸带地下水中铁(Fe)、锰(Mn)、砷(As)含量严重超标。为查明地下水中As的来源与影响因素,对研究区河水、地下水以及土壤样品进行采集与测试,分析了水样常规指标与碳硫稳定同位素、土样中典型矿物、砷的含量及赋存形态。结果表明,研究区河水中As含量很低,而地下水中As含量普遍超标。河水入渗初期,氧化性河水使部分含As矿物发生氧化而释放As;随着河水入渗,地下水向还原环境转变,含As的Fe/Mn矿物发生还原性溶解,地下水中As含量逐渐升高。研究区典型矿物有黄铁矿、菱铁矿、软锰矿、赤铁矿、针铁矿、菱锰矿等,通过可交换态砷解吸、有机质结合态砷氧化、铁锰氧化物结合态砷还原性溶解等,介质中的As释放至地下水中。地下水中As含量与酸碱度(pH)、氧化还原电位(Eh)呈一定负相关,与溶解有机碳(DOC)、 {\mathrm{HCO}}_3^{-}、Fe、Mn含量呈正相关。     

地下水曝气-砂滤处理产生的废弃石英砂中铁砷含量与形态分布

高铁高砷地下水严重威胁饮水质量,曝气-砂滤法因处理效果好且成本低在农村地区得到广泛应用。砂滤过程石英砂表面富集铁和砷后需定期更换,然而废弃石英砂堆置具有砷释放风险。本文以江汉平原某水厂砂滤池废弃石英砂为研究对象,采用激光剥蚀-等离子体质谱(LA-ICP-MS)、拉曼光谱(Raman)、X射线衍射(XRD)和分步化学提取等手段,研究了砂样中的Fe和As含量及形态分布。结果表明,砂粒表面形成了一层厚度为20100 μm的高铁砷薄层,薄层内部Fe和As含量显著高于两侧,Fe和As分布高度相关(R²=0.985)。砂样表面铁矿物以无定型/弱结晶型为主,同时检出赤铁矿和臭葱石等矿物。砂样中Fe和As总含量分别为20.1 mg/g和53.4 μg/g。砂样表面铁主要以易溶解态、碳酸盐结合态和易还原态为主,As主要吸附在铁矿物上。研究区降雨充沛,当废弃石英砂遭遇雨水冲刷或淹没时,可能导致铁砷薄层中As解吸或随Fe矿物还原溶解而释放。     

江汉平原高砷地下水原位微生物的铁还原及其对砷释放的影响

微生物参与铁氧化物矿物的还原性溶解是高砷地下水形成的关键过程,其中具有砷还原功能的微生物如何参与含水层砷释放的生物地球化学过程亟待研究.利用从江汉平原典型高砷含水层中厌氧条件下分离出的四株细菌(Citrobacter sp.JH-1、Clostridium sp.JH-6、Exiguobacterium sp.JH-13、Paenibacillus sp.JH-33),通过室内厌氧模拟培养实验,查明其砷、铁还原能力,并通过分别与铁氧化物矿物及原位沉积物共同培养,探究原位含水层微生物参与的砷释放机理.结果表明:四株细菌均具有厌氧条件下砷、铁还原功能,Citrobacter sp.JH-1砷还原能力最强,96 h内还原的As(Ⅴ)浓度为2.22 μmol/L.其中Citrobacter sp.JH-1不仅可在厌氧和有氧条件下还原溶液中的As(Ⅴ),还可在厌氧条件下还原溶液中的Fe(Ⅲ)和无定型的水铁矿,在与含水层沉积物共培养12 d后,沉积物中铁与砷的释放量分别为510 mg/kg及1 150 μg/kg.江汉平原含水层中的原位微生物兼具砷/铁还原功能,在厌氧条件下可还原沉积物中的铁氧化物矿物并促进砷的释放,为深入揭示高砷地下水成因机理与地下水砷污染的防控提供重要科学依据.      

天然磁铁矿化学改性及其在水体除砷中的应用

铁氧化物及其复合氧化物(如菱铁矿、水铁矿)的表面电荷高、比表面积大,在特定条件下对亚砷酸盐和砷酸盐有较强的结合能力和亲和性,以铁氧化物作为吸附剂处理高砷水已经成为研究热点之一。天然磁铁矿的主要成分为Fe_3O_4,但其本身活性较弱,直接应用于处理高砷水的除砷率低。本文对天然磁铁矿采取酸化、碱化、不同温度灼烧、不同灼烧时间等简易的方法进行改性,达到有效去除水中砷的目的。实验结果表明:经0.5 mol/L盐酸浸泡、150℃灼烧10 min的改性磁铁矿分别处理As(Ⅲ)溶液和As(Ⅴ)溶液时,As(Ⅴ)去除率达98%,吸附能力显著增强,达到预期目标;溶液中As(Ⅲ)浓度从1000μg/L下降到250μg/L,去除率达75%,即As吸附能力明显优于未改性的天然磁铁矿,与其他改性铁矿除砷能力相近,而改性方法更加简便、易行。本文研究的改性天然磁铁矿吸附剂为控制高砷水的砷含量提供了一种切实可用的吸附材料。     

硫介导细菌还原载砷铁矿对砷迁移转化的影响

硫在铁和砷的生物地球化学循环中发挥着重要作用,但地下水系统中硫循环的中间产物S(0)对细菌转化铁和砷的影响尚不清楚.采用室内模拟实验,研究硫参与下细菌D2201对液相和载砷针铁矿中Fe(III)和As(V)的还原作用.结果表明:细菌D2201具有很强的铁还原能力,可以将液相中74%的Fe(III)还原;加入硫后,细菌还原S(0)产生的S(-II)使铁还原率提高到94%.但是,硫没有明显影响细菌对砷的还原.在实验初期,细菌明显加速了载砷针铁矿的还原,最终还原释放到液相中的Fe(II)浓度为32.12 μmol/L;硫的加入增强了细菌对载砷针铁矿的还原,还原溶解的Fe(II)增加至284.13 μmol/L,同时,砷的释放量也增加了1.6倍.这些结果表明硫显著促进了细菌对针铁矿的还原溶解并加速砷的释放.XRD和SEM-EDS结果显示,细菌还原针铁矿但不改变其矿相,而硫的加入也仅使矿物发生一定程度的团聚,并没有使其转变为其他矿物,也未导致砷的再吸附.      

土著微生物作用下含水层沉积物砷的释放与转化

在原位采集内蒙古河套平原高砷含水层中沉积物和土著微生物的基础上,进行了室内微生物淋滤实验研究。实验过程中,使用了3种水溶液(包括去离子水和2种人工配水)和2种营养条件(包括添加2%葡萄糖和未添加葡萄糖)。结果表明,葡萄糖可强化土著微生物的活性,使得悬浮液pH值明显降低,并增加悬浮液中As质量浓度。配水成分影响悬浮物中As质量浓度。在第9 d之后,添加葡萄糖的样品中存在一定强度的硫酸根还原作用,且这种脱硫酸作用受配水成分的影响较小。研究表明,土著微生物影响下砷的释放和转化过程包括沉积物中As(V)的释放、溶液中As(V)的还原以及沉积物中As(Ⅲ)的释放等。与溶液As(V)相比,As(Ⅲ)更有利于沉积物As的释放。在As释放的过程中,溶液中Fe/Mn含量同时增加,且呈很好的线性相关关系。这意味着土著微生物作用下Fe/Mn氧化物矿物的还原性溶解是导致沉积物As释放的主要原因之一。     

河套平原西部地下水砷富集机制研究

干旱内陆盆地高砷含量的地下水威胁着当地饮用水安全，其形成机制尚不完全清楚。为厘清这类高砷地下水的形成机制，本文以河套平原西部地下水为研究对象，分析其中As等部分氧化还原敏感元素含量和氢、氧同位素组成(δD和δ¹⁸O)。结果表明，地下水样的As的质量浓度为1.5～155μg/L(均值为36.7μg/L),超半数样品超过10μg/L,主要分布于盆地中部的浅层含水层。水样的氢、氧同位素组成和离子间的相关性分析表明，虽然蒸发浓缩作用导致地下水富集Na⁺和Cl^-,但对As的富集影响不显著；在偏碱性环境中因解吸附作用产生的As进入地下水，对As的富集有一定贡献；负载As的铁氧化物还原性溶解和沉积物中的As(V)还原性解吸附是地下水中As富集的主要原因；强还原环境中，硫酸盐还原作用形成的硫代砷可能会促使As在地下水中高度富集。     

大同盆地高砷地下水稀土元素特征及其指示意义

对大同盆地典型高砷地下水开展了稀土元素地球化学研究.研究表明: 高砷地下水具有低∑REE含量及富集重稀土(HREEs)特征.地下水中低含量∑REE与含水层沉积物中Fe-Mn氧化物/氢氧化物对REEs的吸附有关.地下水中重稀土元素相对于轻稀土元素的富集可能是吸附作用和碳酸根离子同REEs发生络合作用的共同结果.采用平均大陆上地壳标准化的地下水稀土元素分布表现出显著的Ce及Eu正异常.地下水Ce/Ce*值及Eu含量与Fe+Mn具有显著相关性, 表明铁锰氧化物还原性溶解是控制Ce/Ce*值及Eu含量特征的主要因素.Ce/Ce*值及Eu含量与As浓度的关系表明, Ce异常及Eu含量特征能对地下水中As的富集进行有效指示.      

Alteration of ferrihydrite reductive dissolution and transformation by adsorbed As and structural Al: Implications for As retention

Reduction of As(V) and reductive dissolution and transformation of Fe (hydr)oxides are two dominant processes controlling As retention in soils and sediments. When developed within soils and sediments, Fe (hydr)oxides typically contain various impurities—Al being one of the most prominent—but little is known about how structural Al within Fe (hydr)oxides alters its biotransformation and subsequent As retention. Using a combination of batch and advective flow column studies with Fe(II) and Shewanella sp. ANA-3, we examined (1) the extent to which structural Al influences reductive dissolution and transformations of ferrihydrite, a highly reactive Fe hydroxide, and (2) the impact of adsorbed As on dissolution and transformation of (Al-substituted) ferrihydrite and subsequent As retention. Structural Al diminishes the extent of ferrihydrite reductive transformation; nearly three-orders of magnitude greater concentration of Fe(II) is required to induce Al-ferrihydrite transformation compared to pure two-line ferrihydrite. Structural Al decreases Fe(II) retention/incorporation on/into ferrihydrite and impedes Fe(II)-catalyzed transformation of ferrihydrite. Moreover, owing to cessation of Fe(II)-induced transformation to secondary products, Al-ferrihydrite dissolves (incongruently) to a greater extent compared to pure ferrihydrite during reaction with Shewanella sp. ANA-3. Additionally, adsorption of As(V) to Al-ferrihydrite completely arrests Fe(II)-catalyzed transformation of ferrihydrite, and it diminishes the difference in the rate and extent of ferrihydrite and Al-ferrihydrite reduction by Shewanella sp. ANA-3. Our study further shows that reductive dissolution of Al-ferrihydrite results in enrichment of Al sites, and As(V) reduction accelerates As release due to the low affinity of As(III) on these non-ferric sites.     

Decoupling of arsenic and iron release from ferrihydrite suspension under reducing conditions: a biogeochemical model

High levels of arsenic in groundwater and drinking water are a major health problem. Although the processes controlling the release of As are still not well known, the reductive dissolution of As-rich Fe oxyhydroxides has so far been a favorite hypothesis. Decoupling between arsenic and iron redox transformations has been experimentally demonstrated, but not quantitatively interpreted. Here, we report on incubation batch experiments run with As(V) sorbed on, or co-precipitated with, 2-line ferrihydrite. The biotic and abiotic processes of As release were investigated by using wet chemistry, X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption and genomic techniques. The incubation experiments were carried out with a phosphate-rich growth medium and a community of Fe(III)-reducing bacteria under strict anoxic conditions for two months. During the first month, the release of Fe(II) in the aqueous phase amounted to only 3% to 10% of the total initial solid Fe concentration, whilst the total aqueous As remained almost constant after an initial exchange with phosphate ions. During the second month, the aqueous Fe(II) concentration remained constant, or even decreased, whereas the total quantity of As released to the solution accounted for 14% to 45% of the total initial solid As concentration. At the end of the incubation, the aqueous-phase arsenic was present predominately as As(III) whilst X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicated that more than 70% of the solid-phase arsenic was present as As(V). X-ray diffraction revealed vivianite Fe(II)₃(PO₄)₂.8H₂O in some of the experiments. A biogeochemical model was then developed to simulate these aqueous- and solid-phase results. The two main conclusions drawn from the model are that (1) As(V) is not reduced during the first incubation month with high Eh values, but rather re-adsorbed onto the ferrihydrite surface, and this state remains until arsenic reduction is energetically more favorable than iron reduction, and (2) the release of As during the second month is due to its reduction to the more weakly adsorbed As(III) which cannot compete against carbonate ions for sorption onto ferrihydrite. The model was also successfully applied to recent experimental results on the release of arsenic from Bengal delta sediments.     

Arsenic and metal mobility from Au mine tailings in Rodalquilar (Almería,SE Spain)

In the old mining area of Rodalquilar, mine wastes, soil and sediments were characterized and the results revealed high concentration of Au, Ag, As, Bi, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Se, Sb and Zn in tailings and sediments. The contaminant of greatest environmental concern is As. The mean concentration in the tailings was 679.9, and 345 mg/kg in the sediments of Playazo creek. The groundwater samples from the alluvial aquifer showed high concentration of Al, As, Cd, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sb and Zn and very high concentration of chloride and sulfate, which were above the concentration defined in the European standards for drinking water. The presence of As in groundwater may be caused by the oxidation of arsenian pyrite, the possible As desorption from goethite and ferrihydrite and the jarosite dissolution. Groundwater concentrations of Cd, Fe, Mn, and possibly Cu, were associated with low values of Eh, indicating the possible dissolution of oxy-hydroxides of Fe and Mn. The mobility of metals in the column experiments show the release of Al, Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, V and Zn in significant concentrations but below the detected values in groundwater. However, As, Cd, Sb, Se Pb and Au, are generally mobilized in concentrations above the detected values in groundwater. The possible mass transfer processes that could explain the presence of the contaminants in the aquifer and the leachates was simulated with the PHREEQC numerical code and revealed the possible dissolution of the following mineral phases: jarosite, natrojarosite, arsenian pyrite, alunite, chlorite, kaolinite and calcite.     

Characterization of Fe(III) (hydr)oxides in arsenic contaminated soil under various redox conditions by XAFS and Mössbauer spectroscopies

Characterization of Fe(III) (hydr)oxides in soils near the Ichinokawa mine was conducted using X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and Mössbauer spectroscopies, and the structural changes were correlated with the release of As into pore-water. The Eh values decreased monotonically with depth. Iron is mainly present as poorly-ordered Fe(III) (hydr)oxides, such as ferrihydrite, over a wide redox range (from Eh = 360 to −140 mV). Structural details of the short-range order of these Fe(III) (hydr)oxides were examined using Mössbauer spectroscopy by comparing the soil phases with synthesized ferrihydrite samples having varying crystallinities. The crystallinity of the soil Fe (hydr)oxides decreased slightly with depth and Eh. Thus, within the redox range of this soil profile, ferrihydrite dominated, even under very reducing conditions, but the crystalline domain size, and, potentially, particle size, changed with the variation in Eh. In the soil–water system examined here, where As concentration and the As(III)/As(V) ratio in soil water increased with depth, ferrihydrite persisted and maintained or even enhanced its capacity for As retention with increased reducing conditions. Therefore, it is concluded that As release from these soils largely depends on the transformation of As(V) to As(III) rather than reductive dissolution of Fe(III) (hydr)oxide.     

Microbial sulfidogenesis in ferrihydrite-rich environments: Effects on iron mineralogy and arsenic mobility

Microbial sulfidogenesis plays a potentially important role in Fe and As biogeochemistry within wetland soils, sediments and aquifers. This study investigates the specific effects of microbial sulfidogenesis on Fe mineralogy and associated As mobility in mildly acidic (pH 6) and mildly basic (pH 8) advective-flow environments. A series of experiments were conducted using advective-flow columns, with an initial solid-phase comprising As(III)-bearing ferrihydrite-coated quartz sand. Columns for each pH treatment were inoculated with the sulfate-reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio vulgaris, and were compared to additional abiotic control columns. Over a period of 28 days, microbial sulfidogenesis (as coupled to the incomplete oxidation of lactate) caused major changes in Fe mineralogy, including replacement of ferrihydrite by mackinawite and magnetite at the in-flow end of the inoculated columns. At pH 8, the Fe²⁺ produced by electron transfer between sulfide and ferrihydrite was mainly retained near its zone of formation. In contrast, at pH 6, much of the produced Fe²⁺ was transported with advecting groundwater, facilitating the downstream Fe²⁺-catalyzed transformation of ferrihydrite to goethite. At both pH 6 and pH 8, the sulfide-driven reductive dissolution of ferrihydrite and its replacement by mackinawite at the in-flow end of the inoculated columns resulted in substantial mobilization of As into the pore-water. At pH 8, this caused the downstream As concentrations within the inoculated columns to be greater than the corresponding abiotic column. However, the opposite occurred under pH 6 conditions, with the Fe²⁺-catalyzed transformation of ferrihydrite to goethite in the inoculated columns causing a decrease in downstream As concentrations compared to the abiotic column. Although thermodynamically favorable at intermediate times and depth intervals within the inoculated columns, solid As sulfide phases were undetectable by As XANES spectroscopy. Our findings show that microbial sulfidogenesis can trigger significant As mobilization in subsurface environments with advective groundwater flow. The results also demonstrate that formation of mackinawite by sulfidization of ferric (hydr)oxides is not effective for the immobilization of As, whereas the Fe²⁺-catalyzed transformation of ferrihydrite to goethite under mildly acidic conditions may mitigate As mobility.     

Arsenic repartitioning during biogenic sulfidization and transformation of ferrihydrite

Iron (hydr)oxides are strong sorbents of arsenic (As) that undergo reductive dissolution and transformation upon reaction with dissolved sulfide. Here we examine the transformation and dissolution of As-bearing ferrihydrite and subsequent As repartitioning amongst secondary phases during biotic sulfate reduction. Columns initially containing As(V)-ferrihydrite coated sand, inoculated with the sulfate reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio vulgaris (Hildenborough), were eluted with artificial groundwater containing sulfate and lactate. Rapid and consistent sulfate reduction coupled with lactate oxidation is observed at low As(V) loading (10% of the adsorption maximum). The dominant Fe solid phase transformation products at low As loading include amorphous FeS within the zone of sulfate reduction (near the inlet of the column) and magnetite downstream where Fe(II)_(aq) concentrations increase; As is displaced from the zone of sulfidogenesis and Fe(III)_(s) depletion. At high As(V) loading (50% of the adsorption maximum), sulfate reduction and lactate oxidation are initially slow but gradually increase over time, and all As(V) is reduced to As(III) by the end of experimentation. With the higher As loading, green rust(s), as opposed to magnetite, is a dominant Fe solid phase product. Independent of loading, As is strongly associated with magnetite and residual ferrihydrite, while being excluded from green rust and iron sulfide. Our observations illustrate that sulfidogenesis occurring in proximity with Fe (hydr)oxides induce Fe solid phase transformation and changes in As partitioning; formation of As sulfide minerals, in particular, is inhibited by reactive Fe(III) or Fe(II) either through sulfide oxidation or complexation.     

Secondary mineralization pathways induced by dissimilatory iron reduction of ferrihydrite under advective flow

Iron (hydr)oxides not only serve as potent sorbents and repositories for nutrients and contaminants but also provide a terminal electron acceptor for microbial respiration. The microbial reduction of Fe (hydr)oxides and the subsequent secondary solid-phase transformations will, therefore, have a profound influence on the biogeochemical cycling of Fe as well as associated metals. Here we elucidate the pathways and mechanisms of secondary mineralization during dissimilatory iron reduction by a common iron-reducing bacterium, Shewanella putrefaciens (strain CN32), of 2-line ferrihydrite under advective flow conditions. Secondary mineralization of ferrihydrite occurs via a coupled, biotic-abiotic pathway primarily resulting in the production of magnetite and goethite with minor amounts of green rust. Operating mineralization pathways are driven by competing abiotic reactions of bacterially generated ferrous iron with the ferrihydrite surface. Subsequent to the initial sorption of ferrous iron on ferrihydrite, goethite (via dissolution/reprecipitation) and/or magnetite (via solid-state conversion) precipitation ensues resulting in the spatial coupling of both goethite and magnetite with the ferrihydrite surface. The distribution of goethite and magnetite within the column is dictated, in large part, by flow-induced ferrous Fe profiles. While goethite precipitation occurs over a large Fe(II) concentration range, magnetite accumulation is only observed at concentrations exceeding 0.3 mmol/L (equivalent to 0.5 mmol Fe[II]/g ferrihydrite) following 16 d of reaction. Consequently, transport-regulated ferrous Fe profiles result in a progression of magnetite levels downgradient within the column. Declining microbial reduction over time results in lower Fe(II) concentrations and a subsequent shift in magnetite precipitation mechanisms from nucleation to crystal growth. While the initial precipitation rate of goethite exceeds that of magnetite, continued growth is inhibited by magnetite formation, potentially a result of lower Fe(III) activity. Conversely, the presence of lower initial Fe(II) concentrations followed by higher concentrations promotes goethite accumulation and inhibits magnetite precipitation even when Fe(II) concentrations later increase, thus revealing the importance of both the rate of Fe(II) generation and flow-induced Fe(II) profiles. As such, the operating secondary mineralization pathways following reductive dissolution of ferrihydrite at a given pH are governed principally by flow-regulated Fe(II) concentration, which drives mineral precipitation kinetics and selection of competing mineral pathways.     

Lepidocrocite-catalyzed Mn(II) oxygenation by air and its effect on the oxidation and mobilization of As(III)

Manganese (oxy)hydroxides (MnO_X) play important roles in the oxidation and mobilization of toxic As(III) in natural environments. Abiotic oxidation of Mn(II) to MnO_X in the presence of Fe minerals has been proved to be an important pathway in the formation of Mn(III, IV) (oxy)hydroxides. However, interactions between Mn(II) and As(III) in the presence of Fe minerals are still poorly understood. In this study, abiotic oxidation of Mn(II) on lepidocrocite, and its effect on the oxidation and mobilization of As(III) were investigated. The results show that MnO_X species are detected on lepidocrocite and their contents increase with increasing pH values ranging from 7.5 to 8.4. After 10 days, an MnOx component, groutite (α-MnOOH) was found on lepidocrocite. During the simultaneous oxidation of Mn(II) and As(III), and the As(III) pre-adsorbed processes, the presence and oxidation of Mn(II) significantly promotes the removal of soluble As(III). In addition, MnOx formed on lepidocrocite also contributes to the oxidation of soluble and adsorbed As(III) to As(V), the latter being subsequently released into solution. In the process where Mn(II) is pre-adsorbed on lepidocrocite, less As(III) is removed, given that the active sites occupied by MnOx inhibit the adsorption of As(III). In all experiments, the removal percentages of As(III) and the release of As(V) are correlated positively with pH values and initial concentrations of Mn(II), although they are not apparent in the Mn(II) pre-adsorbed system.     

Reductive dissolution of arsenical ferrihydrite by bacteria

Mining and metallurgical processing of gold and base metal ores can lead to the release of arsenic into the aqueous environment as a result of the weathering and leaching of As-bearing minerals during processing and following disposal. Arsenic in process solutions and mine drainage can be effectively stabilized through the precipitation of ferrihydrite. However, under anaerobic conditions imposed by burial and waste cover systems, ferrihydrite is susceptible to microbial reduction. This research, stimulated by the paucity of information and limited understanding of the microbial reduction of arsenical ferrihydrite, was conducted on synthetic adsorbed and co-precipitated arsenical 6-line ferrihydrite (Fe/As molar ratio of 10/1) using Shewanella sp. ANA-3 and Shewanella putrefaciens CN32 in a chemically defined medium containing 0.045 mM phosphate concentration. Both bacteria were equally effective in their reducing abilities around pH 7, resulting in initial rates of formation of dissolved As(III) of 0.10 μM/h for the adsorbed, and 0.08 μM/h for the co-precipitated arsenical 6-line ferrihydrite samples. The solid phases in the post-reduction samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-XRD, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron microprobe and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques. The results indicate the formation of secondary phases such as a biogenic Fe(II)–As(III) compound, akaganeite, goethite, hematite and possibly magnetite during bacterial reduction experiments. Holes and bacterial imprints measuring about 1–2 μm were observed on the surfaces of the secondary phases formed after 1200 h of reduction. This study demonstrates the influence of Fe and As reducing bacteria on the release of significant concentrations of more mobile and toxic As(III) species from arsenical 6-line ferrihydrite, more readily from the adsorbed than from the co-precipitated ferrihydrite.