Disposal of wastewater containing Congo Red by synthesizing layer double hydroxide in-situ

Based on the principle of synthesis, a new method was put forward to dispose Congo Red anion-containing dyestuff from wastewater and its feasibility was also examined. The principle of the method is described as follows: Mg²⁺ and Al³⁺ are hydrolyzed to form Mg/Al-LDH by adding Mg²⁺, Al³⁺ and NaOH in wastewater containing anion dyestuff, which is selectively intercalated with the interlayer of LDH in order to balance positive structural charge. While Mg²⁺ and Al³⁺ are co-precipitated to form LDH, the anion dyestuff in wastewater will be removed by LDH synthesized in-situ, as is confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis of settlings and chemical analysis of aqueous samples. In this work, we studied the influence of Mg/Al mole ratio, pH value, time and temperature of reaction on the removal of anion dyestuff and the use of Mg and Al. The experimental results showed the maximum removal efficiency of anion dyestuff could be attained when pH value was 9.0, and Mg/Al mol ratio was 2: 1, reaction duration was 2 hours, and the effect of temperature was not remarkable, and the removal efficiency could reach 100%. Meanwhile, the Mg and Al added could be made good use of. This technology has the advantage of extraordinary efficiency of wastewater disposal. Foundation item: Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (40472026).     

即时合成Zn-Mg-Al层状双氢氧化物处理含Zn2+废水实验研究

在模拟含Zn2 废水中加入Mg2 和Al3 ,以NaOH为沉淀剂,研究金属盐水解即时合成层状双氢氧化物(LDH)去除Zn2 的可行性。详细探讨了体系终点pH值、配料中Mg2 /Zn2 摩尔比值及反应温度和时间对Zn2 去除率的影响,结合X射线衍射分析(XRD)探讨了Zn2 去除机理,并与化学沉淀法进行了比较。结果表明,实验条件下只有pH值显著影响Zn2 去除率(p<0.05),在9.0~11.0范围内去除效果最佳,达99%以上。通过XRD分析结合即时合成法特点,废水中Zn2 主要是在晶体生成阶段以Zn-Mg-Al三元LDH化合物形式被去除的。与化学沉淀法相比,即时合成法效果更好,适用pH值范围更广,用来处理含Zn2 废水更具优势。     

贵州水银洞卡林型金矿床首次发现大量次显微-显微可见自然金颗粒

在贵州水银洞卡林型金矿床原生富矿石的一条含砷黄铁矿细脉中发现有100余粒次显微-显微自然金颗粒(0.1~6μm),并具有清晰的显微岩相学结构。提出了该类型金矿次显微-显微可见自然金颗粒的形成过程可能与含Au热液-岩石相互作用过程中含Fe碳酸盐矿物溶解释放Fe的大量硫化物化而导致热液中Au的过饱和有关,含Fe碳酸盐赋矿围岩是形成高品位大型卡林型金矿床最重要的控制因素之一。     

水滑石对水溶性染料活性深蓝ST-2GLN脱色性能研究

研究了水滑石(LDH)及其焙烧产物(LDO)吸附脱除水溶液中活性深蓝ST-2GLN的性能。考察了pH值、吸附剂投加量、时间等因素对吸附的影响。结果表明:LDH及LDO对活性深蓝ST-2GLN染料具有良好的脱除效果,室温下,1 g/L的LDH和0.5 g/L的LDO对浓度为100 mg/L的染料的脱色率分别达到96.11%和98.58%。pH值是影响吸附能力的关键因素,吸附剂对溶液pH值有一定缓冲作用。LDH及LDO对活性深蓝ST-2GLN吸附结果均符合Langmuir吸附等温式。饱和吸附后的LDH用高温热解法再生,再生产物吸附性能良好,随再生次数增多,脱色率下降。     

即时合成Cu/Mg/Al层状双氢氧化物处理含Cu2+废水实验研究

在模拟含Cu2+废水中加入Mg2+和Al3+,以NaOH为沉淀剂,研究金属盐水解即时合成层状双氢氧化物去除Cu2+的可行性,同时考察了体系终点pH值、配料中Mg/Cu摩尔比值及反应温度和时间对Cu2+去除率的影响,探讨了Cu2+去除机理及层状双氢氧化物形成过程。结果表明,实验条件下体系终点pH值显著影响Cu2+去除率,在pH值8.0~11.0范围内去除效果较好,达99%以上。通过X射线衍射分析结合即时合成法特点,废水中Cu2+主要是在晶核生成阶段以Cu/Mg/Al三元层状双氢氧化物形式被去除;三元层状双氢氧化物的形成由反应体系中Al3+、Cu2+、Mg2+分步水解导致,最适pH值约为9.0。     

Effectiveness of Mg–Al-layered double hydroxide for heavy metal removal from mine wastewater and sludge volume reduction

Health hazards from heavy metal pollution in water systems are a global environmental problem. Of similar concern is sludge that results from wastewater treatment due to unsatisfactory sludge management technology. Therefore, the effectiveness of using Mg–Al-layered double hydroxide in the removal of heavy metals from mine wastewater was tested and compared with that of calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)₂], which is a common treatment method for heavy metal removal. Initially, the mine wastewater contained cations of the heavy metals iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb). The Mg–Al-layered double hydroxides were able to remove 371, 7.2, 121, and 0.4 mg/L of these pollutants, respectively, using the co-precipitation method. The removal of these metals is most effective using 0.5 g Mg–Al-layered double hydroxide (Mg/Al molar ratio 4) and 20 min of shaking. Zn was removed by the formation of Zn(NO₃)(OH)·H₂O and Zn₅(NO₃)₂(OH)₈ when LDH, Mg/Al molar ratios of 4 and 2, respectively, were used. Similarly, Fe, Cu, and Pb were removed by the formation of Fe–Al-layered double hydroxide, Cu₂(OH)₃·NO₃ and Pb₄(OH)₄(NO₃)₄, respectively. While Ca(OH)₂ is also capable of reducing the heavy metal concentrations below the Japanese recommended values, this analysis shows that using 0.5 g Mg–Al-layered double hydroxide is a better treatment condition for mine wastewater, because it generates lower sludge volumes than 0.1 g of Ca(OH)₂. The measured sludge volume was 1.5 mL for Mg–Al-layered double hydroxide and 2.5 mL for Ca(OH)₂, a nearly twofold further reduction.     

Structural Evolvement of Heating Treatment of Mg/AI-LDH and Preparation of Mineral Mesoporous Materials

Although hydrotalcite, or layered double hydroxides （LDHs）, is not a common mineral, it is an important material that can be easily synthesized in laboratory. In this study, structural evolvement and BET surface area changes of heat treated Mg/AI-LDH is evaluated by XRD, TEM and N2-BET analyses. The results indicate that the magnesium-aluminum LDH with carbonate as interlayer anion, periclase-like oxides was formed at temperatures of 400-800℃. Meanwhile, 2-3 nanometer mesoporous were formed during decomposition of LDH. However, the heat treated samples still preserve the morphology of the original LDH plates. Periclase-like formed from LDH heat treatment may re-hydrolyze and recover the structure of LDH. However, crystallinity of the recovered LDH is lower than that of the original LDH. This heat treatment will result in formation of （Mg, Al）-oxide nano-crystals and nanopores among the nano-crystals. When heating temperature exceeds 1000, the periclase-like （Mg, Al）-oxide is transformed into a composite with periclase （MgO） and spinel phases. The periclase can be re-hydrolyzed and dissolved in HCl solution. After acid treatment, the sample with a high surface area is composed of spinel nano-crystals and nanopores among them. Our results will provide a new and economic way to synthesize mesoporous materials through pathways of phase transformation of precursor materials with different composition.     

臭氧化含苯酚污水投加水镁石沉淀出草酸镁的实验研究

本文通过两组不同水镁石-苯酚投料比的实验,研究固体沉淀物与水质变化的关系。实验显示,水镁石解离出的Mg²⁺与苯酚降解的中间产物能形成难溶盐,并发生沉淀分离,促进含苯酚废水臭氧化降解的效率。当苯酚的初始浓度为47 g/L,初始碳镁原子比(C/Mg)为30时,经3小时充分臭氧化曝气后,投加的水镁石全部耗尽。XRD、TG/DSC结果显示新形成的沉淀物为草酸镁。反应终点的pH值在4以下,TOC去除率为40%。当体系的初始C/Mg(原子比)为1,苯酚的初始浓度为1.5 g/L时,同样的臭氧化曝气过程体系残留的沉淀物仍是水镁石。反应终点的pH值在10左右,TOC去除率为92.8%。研究证明,苯酚臭氧化过程也是体系酸化的过程,至少在高C/Mg比条件下新生的质子能与水镁石解离出的羟基中和,水镁石解离出的Mg²⁺可与草酸根结合沉淀出草酸镁。     

硫化纳米铁对模拟地下水中Cr(Ⅵ)的去除效果及影响因素

硫化纳米铁（S-nZVI）是一种具有壳核结构的新型纳米铁（nZVI）改性材料,在多种污染物的去除上表现出超越nZVI的反应活性。本文采用两步合成法制备了S-nZVI,并采用透射电镜-能量色散X射线（TEM-EDX）、X射线衍射（XRD）和X射线光电子能谱分析（XPS）方法对S-nZVI和nZVI进行表征,探讨了不同硫铁摩尔比（n（S）/n（Fe））、初始pH值、试剂投加量和地下水化学成分对nZVI及S-nZVI去除Cr（Ⅵ）的影响。结果表明：S-nZVI具有明显的壳核结构,其Fe⁰核外层包覆着非晶的硫化亚铁和多硫化物;S-nZVI去除Cr（Ⅵ）的最佳n（S）/n（Fe）为0.14;增加S-nZVI投加量会提高其对Cr（Ⅵ）的去除率,投加量相同时,S-nZVI对Cr（Ⅵ）的去除率显著高于nZVI;提高初始pH值时,S-nZVI和nZVI对Cr（Ⅵ）的去除率均逐渐降低,但在相同pH值条件下,S-nZVI对Cr（Ⅵ）的去除率和去除速率始终高于nZVI,尤其是在pH=5时,S-nZVI仍能去除100%的Cr（Ⅵ）,而nZVI只能去除85%;K⁺、Na⁺、Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺、SO₄^2-、NO₃^-和Cl^-对S-nZVI和nZVI去除Cr（Ⅵ）均有促进作用,但对S-nZVI体系的促进作用更强;HCO₃^-的存在会使溶液的pH值升高从而抑制S-nZVI和nZVI对Cr（Ⅵ）的去除,对nZVI的抑制作用强于S-nZVI。总体来说,S-nZVI对Cr（Ⅵ）的去除率在不同pH值和多种地下水化学组分影响条件下均高于nZVI,因此具有更广泛的应用前景。     

臭氧-超声联用处理聚乙烯醇废水

本研究采用臭氧-超声（O₃/US）联用技术处理聚乙烯醇（PVA）废水,分别考察了PVA初始质量浓度、初始pH、臭氧通入速率、超声功率、超声频率及反应时间对PVA和COD去除效率的影响,并在此基础上通过正交实验确定了降解PVA和COD的最佳实验条件。研究结果表明,超声频率对去除率有显著影响,PVA初始质量浓度对去除效率的影响较大,反应时间、超声功率、臭氧通入速率和初始pH的影响相对较小。通过影响实验和正交实验确定的最佳降解条件为:PVA初始质量浓度100 mg/L、初始pH=9、臭氧通入速率4 g/h、超声功率320 W、超声频率40 kHz、反应时间20 min,此时COD和PVA的去除效率分别为86.4%和99.3%。超声对臭氧降解聚乙烯醇废水具有明显的协同作用,在最佳条件下,臭氧-超声联用技术比单独臭氧技术对PVA的去除率增加了5.1%,对COD去除率增加了19.4%。     

Using Goethite as a Heterogeneous Fenton Catalyst for The Removal of Tetracycline Hydrochloride: Effects of Its Adsorptive and Reductive Activities

The removal of the antibiotic compound tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) was investigated by using goethite/H2O2 as a heterogeneous Fenton reagent. Five principle operational parameters, especially solution pH value, were taken into account to investigate how the heterogeneous Fenton process factors mediated the TC removal. This process was effective but seriously impacted by the pH value and temperature, as well as the dosages of α-FeOOH, TC and H2O2. Very interestingly, the acidic and alkaline aqueous medium conditions were both very favorable due to the occurrence of transformation of Fe(III) to Fe(II) on goethite surfaces reduced by TC at pH 3.0⁴.0 even though with a low adsorption capacity of TC because its maximum adsorption of negatively charged form occurred at pH around 8.0[1], thereby greatly promoting the TC Fenton oxidative elimination. However, a rapid initial TC decay was observed at the first 5 min, followed by a much slower retardation stage, which was likely because the reductive transformation of Fe(III) to Fe(II) by TC in the solution was inhibited as the Fenton reaction proceeded. Moreover, the hydroxyl radical scavenger t-butanol addition can decrease the removal rate of TC in the goethite/H2O2 system to a certain extent. This further indicated that the main reactive species in this process were hydroxyl radicals[2]. All the goethite-catalysed heterogeneous Fenton reactions are responsible for the TC removal following the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model, were well fitted to pseudo-first order kinetics (R2>0.99), and their apparent activation energy (E) for this Fenton-like reaction was 31.86 kJ mol 1, a low value that is highly consistent with the ease of TC decay greatly enhanced by the temperature rise, indicated that the interfacial controlling interactions such as a proton induced solubilization and a reductive dissolution of goethite can clearly improve its Fenton catalytic activity[3], and these dissolution processes may not be effective in some cases, while the TC adsorption process may always play an important role to control the TC removal rate during the Fenton reaction.     

Study of diclofenac removal by the application of combined zero-valent iron and calcium peroxide nanoparticles in groundwater

Diclofenac(DCF) is one of the most frequently detected pharmaceuticals in groundwater, posing a great threat to the environment and human health due to its toxicity. To mitigate the DCF contamination,experiments on DCF degradation by the combined process of zero-valent iron nanoparticles(nZVI) and nano calcium peroxide(nCaO_2) were performed. A batch experiment was conducted to examine the influence of the adding dosages of both nZVI and nCaO_2 nanoparticles and pH value on the DCF removal.In the meantime, the continuous-flow experiment was done to explore the sustainability of the DCF degradation by jointly adding nZVI/nCaO_2 nanoparticles in the reaction system. The results show that the nZVI/nCaO_2 can effectively remove the DCF in the batch test with only 0.05 g/L nZVI and 0.2 g/L nCaO_2 added, resulting in a removal rate of greater than 90% in a 2-hour reaction with an initial pH of 5. The degradation rate of DCF was positively correlated with the dosage of nCaO_2, and negatively correlated with both nZVI dosage and the initial pH value. The order of significance of the three factors is identified as pH value nZVI dosage nCaO_2 dosage. In the continuous-flow reaction system, the DCF removal rates remained above 75% within 150 minutes at the pH of 5, with the applied dosages of 0.5 g/L for nZVI and 1.0 g/L for nCaO_2. These results provide a theoretical basis for the nZVI/nCaO_2 application to remove DCF in groundwater.     

纳米铁去除饮用水中As(Ⅲ)和As(Ⅴ)

在好氧水体中,As(Ⅲ)比As(Ⅴ)更易迁移,而且在水处理过程中去除效率更低。在实验室合成制得BET比表面积为49.16 m2/g,直径范围为20~40 nm的纳米铁。通过批试验考察纳米铁对As(Ⅲ)和As(Ⅴ)去除能力及其反应动力学情况。结果表明,在pH为7,温度20℃时纳米铁能够快速地去除As(Ⅲ)和As(Ⅴ),在60 m in内,0.25 g纳米铁对起始浓度为968.6μg/L As(Ⅲ)和828.9μg/L As(Ⅴ)的去除率大于99.5%。反应遵循准一级反应动力学方程,标准化后的As(Ⅲ)和As(Ⅴ)比表面积速率常数kSA分别为1.30 mL/(m2.m in)和1.64 mL/(m2.m in)。由实验结果可知,具有高反应活性的纳米铁是用于含砷饮用水处理非常有效的吸附材料。     

Preparation of Mg/Al Layered Double Hydroxides by Buffer Solution Method and Cr（Ⅵ） Adsorption Characteristics

利用氨水-氯化铵体系在pH 9～10时具有缓冲能力的特点,以其作为沉淀剂成功合成了镁铝水滑石（Mg3Al-Cl-LDHs）,采用XRD、FT-IR、TG-DTA等手段对材料结构进行表征,并测试了合成Mg3Al-Cl-LDHs样品对溶液中Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附性能。研究结果表明,缓冲溶液法制备的Mg3Al-Cl-LDHs材料晶相单一,晶面生长的有序程度较高,结晶度较好。晶胞参数a=0.3106 nm,c=2.367 nm,粒子尺寸约为36.44 nm。其热分解过程包括水滑石层间结构水脱除和层板羟基脱水、氯离子分解两个步骤。Mg3Al-Cl-LDHs对Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附主要发生在0～1 h内,随着时间的增长吸附量先增加后趋于平缓;温度对Cr（Ⅵ）吸附量影响不大,在常温下即可进行;随着pH值的减小,饱和吸附量先增大后减小,在pH 6时吸附效果较好;2价与3价竞争阴离子比1价阴离子对吸附性能的影响更大。在最佳吸附条件下,Mg3Al-Cl-LDHs对Cr（Ⅵ）的饱和吸附量可达58.73 mg/g,有望应用于实际Cr（Ⅵ）废水处理。     

电气石/H_2O_2体系降解Cu(Ⅱ)-EDTA废水的研究

Cu(Ⅱ)-EDTA废水由于其螯合性难以处理.采用电气石/H_2O_2体系进行降解,结果显示废水处理达到较好的效果.COD和Cu~(2+)的去除率与电气石投加量、H_2O_2用量和温度呈正相关性.溶液pH=3时,两者去除率最大.紫外-可见吸收光谱显示,处理后的Cu(Ⅱ)-EDTA被降解为小分子有机物.通过对比电气石反应前后的XRD图谱和红外光谱发现,电气石与EDTA降解中间产物发生络合.反应动力学研究结果表明,电气石/H_2O_2体系降解废水的反应为拟一级反应.     

Dissolution kinetics of a lunar glass simulant at 25 degrees C: the effect of pH and organic acids

The dissolution kinetics of a simulated lunar glass were examined at pH 3, 5, and 7. Additionally, the pH 7 experiments were conducted in the presence of citric and oxalic acid at concentrations of 2 and 20 mM. The organic acids were buffered at pH 7 to examine the effect of each molecule in their dissociated form. At pH 3, 5, and 7, the dissolution of the synthetic lunar glass was observed to proceed via a two-stage process. The first stage involved the parabolic release of Ca, Mg, Al, and Fe, and the linear release of Si. Dissolution was incongruent, creating a leached layer rich in Si and Ti which was verified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). During the second stage the release of Ca, Mg, Al, and Fe was linear. A coupled diffusion/surface dissolution model was proposed for dissolution of the simulated lunar glass at pH 3, 5, and 7. During the first stage the initial release of mobile cations (i.e., Ca, Mg, Al, Fe) was limited by diffusion through the surface leached layer of the glass (parabolic release), while Si release was controlled by the hydrolysis of the Si-O-Al bonds at the glass surface (linear release). As dissolution continued, the mobile cations diffused from greater depths within the glass surface. A steady-state was then reached where the diffusion rate across the increased path lengths equalled the Si release rate from the surface. In the presence of the organic acids, the dissolution of the synthetic lunar glass proceeded by a one stage process. The release of Ca, Mg, Al, and Fe followed a parabolic relationship, while the release of Si was linear. The relative reactivity of the organic acids used in the experiments was citrate > oxalate. A thinner leached layer rich in Si/Ti, as compared to the pH experiments, was observed using TEM. Rate data suggest that the chemisorption of the organic anion to the surface silanol groups was responsible for enhanced dissolution in the presence of the organic acids. It is proposed that the increased rate of Si release is responsible for the one stage parabolic release of mobile cations and the relatively thin leached layer compared to experiments at pH 3 and 5.     

黄铁矿净化水中低浓度磷

以产自安徽铜陵新桥矿的黄铁矿为典型样品,研究黄铁矿对磷的吸附作用。静态实验考察黄铁矿粒度、固液比、pH值、离子强度、温度、吸附时间等因素对黄铁矿去除磷效果的影响,XPS和FE-SEM研究吸附磷后黄铁矿颗粒表面形貌和成分特征。结果表明：黄铁矿粒径越小（50～180目）,去除磷效率越高（9.3%～90.7%）;提高固液比（0.2～2 g/L）,磷的去除率增加（6.5%～97.1%）;在pH值3～9.65范围内黄铁矿对磷都有很好的去除效率（95%以上）;NO3-对磷的去除效果表现为微弱的促进作用,Cl-有微弱的抑制作用,溶液中SO42-、HCO3-对黄铁矿吸附磷表现出较强的抑制作用。温度对黄铁矿吸附效率基本没有影响。黄铁矿对磷吸附动态实验表明除磷效率在16 h后接近最大值。除磷作用机理是黄铁矿表面缓慢氧化产生的三价铁对磷的化学吸附。成果表明黄铁矿用于净化污水中低浓度磷具有很大的潜力。     

Fe2O3-TiO2复合光催化剂的制备及其对染料酸性大红降解的光催化活性研究

以氧化铁红粉末为载体,钛酸四丁酯为前驱体,无水乙醇为溶剂,制备了Fe2O3-TiO2光催化剂。用XRD、TEM等对催化剂的物相、形貌进行了表征,并通过对酸性大红GR染料废水进行光催化降解实验,研究了催化剂的投加量、光照时间以及起始浓度、pH值、回收方法及催化剂重复使用次数对酸性大红染料废水光降解作用的影响。实验结果表明,氧化铁红粉末负载TiO2催化剂有很好的吸附和光催化性能,并可以多次回收重复使用,在投加量为0.4g/L的条件下,光催化效果最好,1h后的脱色率可达95%以上。     

Removal of Cr from synthetic wastewater by sorption into volcanic ash soil

The possibility of using volcanic ash soils (VAS) or Andisols as a low-cost and natural adsorbent is investigated in this study for the removal of Cr (VI) from synthetic wastewater. Andisols can be used as adsorbent because they are characterized by the presence of non-crystalline secondary minerals such as allophane and imogolite that show variable charge characteristics and have the ability to retain cations and anions. The adsorption of Cr on to two VAS from Mt. Isarog and Mandalagan (B-Horizon), Philippines, was carried out at ambient temperature using batch adsorption studies. The effects of different parameters such as amount of adsorbent, contact time, initial Cr concentration and pH of the solution were investigated. The results showed that the VAS from Isarog is more effective in the removal of Cr than in Mandalagan. The maximum removal efficiency of the Isarog soil for a Cr concentration of 10mg/L reached 89% with a dose of 20 g/L at a moderately acidic pH of 3. The Mandalagan soil on the other hand could remove only 65% at the same pH conditions and parameters. The difference in the removal of the two soils may be attributed to their physico-chemical properties in which the Isarog soil has higher clay content, porosity and lower bulk density. Isarog soil has fine particles with higher surface area and more active non-crystalline minerals and thus has higher removal efficiency than Mandalagan soil. Based on the results, the use of VAS from Isarog appears to be economical and an alternative to commercially available adsorbents for the removal of Cr from contaminated wastewater.     

Dissolution of illite in saline-acidic solutions at 25 °C

The dissolution rate of illite, a common clay mineral in Australian soils, was studied in saline-acidic solutions under far from equilibrium conditions. The clay fraction of Na-saturated Silver Hill illite (K_1.38Na_0.05)(Al_2.87Mg_0.46Fe³⁺_0.39Fe²⁺_0.28Ti_0.07)[Si_7.02Al_0.98]O₂₀(OH)₄ was used for this study. The dissolution rates were measured using flow-through reactors at 25 ± 1 °C, solution pH range of 1.0-4.25 (H₂SO₄) and at two ionic strengths (0.01 and 0.25 M) maintained using NaCl solution. Illite dissolution rates were calculated from the steady state release rates of Al and Si. The dissolution stoichiometry was determined from Al/Si, K/Si, Mg/Si and Fe/Si ratios. The release rates of cations were highly incongruent during the initial stage of experiments, with a preferential release of Al and K over Si in majority of the experiments. An Al/Si ratio >1 was observed at pH 2 and 3 while a ratio close to the stoichiometric composition was observed at pH 1 and 4 at the higher ionic strength. A relatively higher K⁺ release rate was observed at I = 0.25 in 2-4 pH range than at I = 0.01, possibly due to ion exchange reaction between Na⁺ from the solution and K⁺ from interlayer sites of illite. The steady state release rates of K, Fe and Mg were higher than Si over the entire pH range investigated in the study. From the point of view of the dominant structural cations (Si and Al), stoichiometric dissolution of illite occurred at pH 1-4 in the higher ionic strength experiments and at pH ?3 for the lower ionic strength experiments. The experiment at pH 4.25 and at the lower ionic strength exhibited lower R_Al (dissolution rate calculated from steady state Al release) than R_Si (dissolution rate calculated from steady state Si release), possibly due to the adsorption of dissolved Al as the output solutions were undersaturated with respect to gibbsite. The dissolution of illite appears to proceed with the removal of interlayer K followed by the dissolution of octahedral cations (Fe, Mg and Al), the dissolution of Si is the limiting step in the illite dissolution process. A dissolution rate law showing the dependence of illite dissolution rate on proton concentration in the acid-sulfate solutions was derived from the steady state dissolution rates and can be used in predicting the impact of illite dissolution in saline acid-sulfate environments. The fractional reaction orders of 0.32 (I = 0.25) and 0.36 (I = 0.01) obtained in the study for illite dissolution are similar to the values reported for smectite. The dissolution rate of illite is mainly controlled by solution pH and no effect of ionic strength was observed on the dissolution rates.