Effect of hydroxamate siderophores on Fe release and Pb(II) adsorption by goethite

Hydroxamate siderophores are biologically-synthesized, Fe(III)-specific ligands which are common in soil environments. In this paper, we report an investigation of their adsorption by the iron oxyhydroxide, goethite; their influence on goethite dissolution kinetics; and their ability to affect Pb(II) adsorption by the goethite surface. The siderophores used were desferrioxamine B (DFO-B), a fungal siderophore, and desferrioxamine D₁, an acetyl derivative of DFO-B (DFO-D1). Siderophore adsorption isotherms yielded maximum surface concentrations of 1.5 (DFO-B) or 3.5 (DFO-D1) μmol/g at pH 6.6, whereas adsorption envelopes showed either cation-like (DFO-B) or ligand-like (DFO-D1) behavior. Above pH 8, the adsorbed concentrations of both siderophores were similar. The dissolution rate of goethite in the presence of 240 μM DFO-B or DFO-D1 was 0.02 or 0.17 μmol/g hr, respectively. Comparison of these results with related literature data on the reactions between goethite and acetohydroxamic acid, a monohydroxamate ligand, suggested that the three hydroxamate groups in DFO-D1 coordinate to Fe(III) surface sites relatively independently. The results also demonstrated a significant depleting effect of 240 μM DFO-B or DFO-D1 on Pb(II) adsorption by goethite at pH > 6.5, but there was no effect of adsorbed Pb(II) on the goethite dissolution rate.     

A comparative study of the effect of desferrioxamine B, oxalic acid, and Na-alginate on the desorption of U(VI) from goethite at pH 6 and 25 °C

Organic ligands affect the sorption and mobility of radionuclides in soils. Batch desorption experiments on goethite particles reveal the extent of uranyl desorption and hence bioavailability with different organic acids. The desorptive strength increases in the following order: background electrolyte < Na-alginate < desferrioxamine B (DFO-B) < oxalate. The sequence is consistent with decreasing molecular size and mass from alginate via DFO-B to oxalate. The concomitant Fe release in the desorption experiments indicates that desorption from goethite and not dissolution of goethite governs the mobility of adsorbed U(VI). A compilation of DFO-B surface excesses on goethite from our experiments together with literature values indicate that DFO-B adsorbs at a constant ∼3% to the goethite surface. It is surprising that such a small fraction suffices to account for the considerable uranyl desorption and thus remobilization of a radionuclide into solution. Oxalate displays higher surface concentrations but still lower than the determined uranyl surface excess. It follows that based on the high U(VI) stability constants, both organic ligands induce the desorption of uranyl species by increasing the chemical affinity of the aqueous phase. In the case of alginate, desorption of uranyl is weak and adsorbed alginate hampers any considerable detachment of U(VI) in the presence of the more potent ligands, DFO-B and oxalate. This inhibition is based on biosorption and in this respect polysaccharides in soils may retard and even halt the advance of actinides through the soil column. This hypothesis calls for further studies into the interaction of siderophores and polysaccharides with soil adsorbents and their role in the mobilization of contaminant metals.     

Siderophore adsorption to and dissolution of kaolinite at pH 3 to 7 and 22°C

Siderophores are Fe(III)-specific ligands produced by many aerobic microorganisms under conditions of iron stress. This study examined adsorption of the commercial trihydroxamate siderophore, desferrioxamine B (DFO-B), to an iron-containing kaolinite (0.1 bulk wt.% Fe) and examined DFO-B effects on initial kaolinite dissolution and iron release rates. Adsorption experiments were conducted at pH 3 to 8 in 0.01-M NaClO₄ in the dark and at 22°C; batch initial dissolution experiments were conducted to 96 h.The adsorption envelope (i.e., adsorption as a function of pH) of DFO-B on kaolinite was consistent with cation-like behavior, with adsorption increasing above kaolinite’s pH_pznpc of 4.9. DFO-B enhanced aluminum release from kaolinite at pH 3 to 7, relative to HNO₃, which is consistent with the ligand’s high binding affinity for Al. Correlation between DFO-B adsorption and aluminum release suggested a surface-controlled, ligand-promoted dissolution mechanism. DFO-B had no effect relative to HNO₃ on silicon release at pH 3 and 5, but moderately enhanced silicon release at pH 7. DFO-B enhanced iron release from kaolinite, with dissolved iron concentrations in the 10-ppb range at 96-h reaction time. These results show that kaolinite may serve as a source of iron to aerobic microorganisms in iron-limited conditions and that siderophores may affect kaolinite dissolution and iron content.     

Influence of microbial hydroxamate siderophores on Pb(II) desorption from α-FeOOH

Siderophores are low-molecular weight organic molecules secreted by plants and micro-organisms in response to Fe stress. With stability constants commonly exceeding 10³⁰, siderophores are considered to have higher affinities for Fe(III) than for any other major or trace element dissolved in soil solution. However, several siderophores have affinities for trace metals that approach those for Fe(III), and certain actinides form siderophore complexes of surprisingly high stability. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of hydroxamate siderophores in controlling Pb sorption to an Fe(III) oxide adsorbent. Goethite [α-FeOOH], prepared by standard methods and identified by X-ray diffraction, gave a specific surface of 36 m² g⁻¹ as determined by N₂ multipoint BET analysis. Adsorption experiments were performed aseptically using a batch method with a goethite concentration of 1.0 g l⁻¹ and an ionic strength of 0.01 M NaClO₄. Soluble Pb and Fe were measured between pH 3 and 8 by first adding Pb (10 μM) and then siderophore (10, 20, or 40 μM) to the goethite suspension. Three hydroxamate siderophores were employed: desferrioxamine B (DFB), ferrichrome (FC), and rhodotorulic acid (RA). Following 20 h reaction, Pb and Fe in solution were measured by ICP–MS and ICP–AES, respectively. The efficacy of siderophore-mediated Pb desorption varied with siderophore type and generally increased with pH and siderophore/Pb molar ratio. Desferrioxamine B, at pH 6.5 and a DFB/Pb molar ratio of 4, solubilised nearly 25% of the total sorbed Pb. In the presence of 10 μM FC, Pb adsorption largely mimicked that for the siderophore-free system, whereas significant amounts of Pb were desorbed with 20 μM FC at pH >5.5. The dihydroxamate siderophore, RA, was the least effective Pb chelator, requiring 20 μM to desorb detectable amounts of Pb.     

Dissolution of hausmannite (Mn3O4) in the presence of the trihydroxamate siderophore desferrioxamine B

That microbial siderophores may be mediators of Mn(III) biogeochemistry is suggested by recent studies showing that these well known Fe(III)-chelating ligands form very stable Mn(III) aqueous complexes. In this study, we examine the influence of desferrioxamine B (DFOB), a trihydroxamate siderophore, on the dissolution of hausmannite, a mixed valence Mn(II, III) oxide found in soils and freshwater sediments. Batch dissolution experiments were conducted both in the absence (pH 4-9) and in the presence of 100 μM DFOB (pH 5-9). In the absence of the ligand, there is a sharp decrease in the extent of proton-promoted dissolution above pH 5 and no appreciable dissolution above pH 8. The resulting aqueous Mn²⁺ activities were in good agreement with previous studies, indirectly supporting the accepted two-step mechanism involving the formation of manganite and reprecipitation of hausmannite. Desferrioxamine B enhanced hausmannite dissolution over the entire pH range investigated, both via the formation of a Mn(III) complex and through surface-catalyzed reductive dissolution. Above pH 8, non-reductive ligand-promoted dissolution dominated, whereas below pH 8, dissolution was non-stoichiometric with respect to DFOB. Concurrent proton-promoted, ligand-promoted, reductive, and induced dissolution was observed, with Mn release by either reductive or induced dissolution increasing linearly with decreasing pH. The fast kinetics of the DFOB-promoted dissolution of hausmannite, as compared to iron oxides, suggest that the siderophore-promoted dissolution of Mn(III)-bearing minerals may compete with the siderophore-promoted dissolution of Fe(III)-bearing minerals.     

Siderophore-promoted dissolution of cobalt from hydroxide minerals

Recent research has revealed that siderophores, a class of biogenic ligands with high affinities for Fe(III), can also strongly complex Co(III), an element essential to the normal metabolic function of microbes and animals. This study was conducted to quantify the rates and identify the products and mechanisms of the siderophore-promoted dissolution of Co from synthetic Co-bearing minerals. The dissolution reactions of heterogenite (CoOOH) and four Co-substituted goethites (Co-FeOOH) containing different Co concentrations were investigated in the presence of a trihydroxamate siderophore, desferrioxamine B (DFOB), using batch and flow-through experiments. Results showed that DFOB-promoted dissolution of Co from Co-bearing minerals may occur via pH-dependent ligand-promoted or reductive dissolution mechanisms. For heterogenite, ligand-promoted dissolution was the dominant pathway at neutral to alkaline pH, while production of dissolved Co(II) for pH <6. It was not possible from our data to decouple the separate contributions of homogenous and heterogeneous reduction reactions to the aqueous Co(II) pool. Cobalt substitution in Co-substituted goethite, possibly caused by distortion of goethite structure and increased lattice strain, resulted in enhanced total dissolution rates of both Co and Fe. The DFOB-promoted dissolution rates of Co-bearing minerals, coupled with the high affinity of Co(III) for DFOB, suggest that siderophores may be effective for increasing Co solubility, and thus possibly Co bioavailability. The results also suggest that siderophores may contribute to the mobilization of radioactive ⁶⁰Co from Co-bearing mineral phases through mineral weathering and dissolution processes.     

Release of Arsenic from Volcanic Rocks through Interactions with Inorganic Anions and Organic Ligands

The effects of a number of inorganic anions (F⁻, HCO₃ ⁻, B(OH)₄⁻, Cl⁻, I⁻) and of the siderophore DFO-B on the release of As from volcanic rocks were investigated in batch experiments. While previously reported field and laboratory data support a role of inorganic anions on As mobilization into aquifers, the role of siderophores on As-induced mobilization was less investigated. Fluoride, bicarbonate and DFO-B have shown a significant influence on the release of As from the rocks. Lava was mostly affected among the investigated rocks at pH 6 and 20°C by releasing 4% of its initial As content in the presence of 0.01 M F⁻and 10% in the presence of 500 μM DFO-B. The effect of fluoride was larger at pH 6 than at pH 8.5 for all the rocks. In the case of DFO-B, there was also a larger effect at pH 6 compared to pH 8 for the various rocks except tuff. Bicarbonate played a role under alkaline conditions while its effect was negligible at pH 6. Anion exchange processes in the presence of fluoride and bicarbonate and complexation processes in the presence of the siderophore DFO-B appear to be the major processes responsible for the release of arsenic from the rocks. The siderophore DFO-B plays mainly an indirect role on the As release by complexing Al, Fe and Mn, thus favoring the dissolution of the rocks and the consequent release of As bound to surface Al, Fe and Mn oxy-hydroxides. These findings suggest that ionic interactions with fluoride, bicarbonate and siderophore may be a further triggering factor in the mobilization of As from aquifer rocks.     

Dissolution of arsenopyrite (FeAsS) and galena (PbS) in the presence of desferrioxamine-B at pH 5

Microorganisms and higher plants produce biogenic ligands, such as siderophores, to mobilize Fe that otherwise would be unavailable. In this paper, we study the stability of arsenopyrite (FeAsS), one of the most important natural sources of arsenic on Earth, in the presence of desferrioxamine (DFO-B), a common siderophore ligand, at pH 5. Arsenopyrite specimens from mines in Panasqueira, Portugal (100-149 μm) that contained incrustations of Pb, corresponding to elemental Pb as determined by scanning electron microscopy-electron diffraction spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), were used for this study. Batch dissolution experiments of arsenopyrite (1 g L⁻¹) in the presence of 200 μM DFO-B at initial pH (pH₀) 5 were conducted for 110 h. In the presence of DFO-B, release of Fe, As, and Pb showed positive trends with time; less dependency was observed for the release of Fe, As, and Pb in the presence of only water under similar experimental conditions. Detected concentrations of soluble Fe, As, and Pb in suspensions containing only water were found to be ca. 0.09 ± 0.004, 0.15 ± 0.003, and 0.01 ± 0.01 ppm, respectively. In contrast, concentrations of soluble Fe, As, and Pb in suspensions containing DFO-B were found to be 0.4 ± 0.006, 0.27 ± 0.009, and 0.14 ± 0.005 ppm, respectively. Notably, the effectiveness of DFO-B for releasing Pb was ca. 10 times higher than that for releasing Fe. These results cannot be accounted for by thermodynamic considerations, namely, by size-to-charge ratio considerations of metal complexation by DFO-B. As determined by SEM-EDX, elemental sample enrichment analysis supports the idea that the Fe-S subunit bond energy is limiting for Fe release. Likely, the mechanism(s) of dissolution for Pb incrustations is independent and occurs concurrently to that for Fe and As. Our results show that dissolution of arsenopyrite leads to precipitation of elemental sulfur, and is consistent with a non-enzymatic mineral dissolution pathway. Finally, speciation analyses for As indicate variability in the As(III)/As(V) ratio with time, regardless of the presence of DFO-B or water. At reaction times <30 h, As(V) concentrations were found to be 50-70%, regardless of the presence of DFO-B. These results are interpreted to indicate that transformations of As are not imposed by ligand-mediated mechanisms. Experiments were also conducted to study the dissolution behavior of galena (PbS) in the presence of 200 μM at pH₀ 5. Results show that, unlike arsenopyrite, the dissolution behavior of galena shows coupled increases in pH with decreases in metal solubility at t > 80 h. Oxidative dissolution mechanisms conveying sulfur oxidation bring about the production of {H⁺}. However, dissolution data trends for arsenopyrite and galena indicate {H⁺} consumption. It is plausible that the formation of Pb species is dependent on {H⁺} and {OH⁻}, namely, stable surface hydroxyl complexes of the form (pH₅₀ 5.8) and for pH values 5.8 or above.     

Evidence for ligand hydrolysis and Fe(III) reduction in the dissolution of goethite by desferrioxamine-B

Desferrioxamine-B (DFOB) is a bacterial trihydroxamate siderophore and probably the most studied to date. However, the manner in which DFOB adsorbs at mineral surfaces and promotes dissolution is still under discussion. Here we investigated the adsorption and dissolution reactions in the goethite-DFOB system using both in situ infrared spectroscopic and quantitative analytical methods. Experiments were carried out at a total DFOB concentration of 1 μmol/m², at pH 6, and in the absence of visible light. Our infrared spectroscopic results indicated that the adsorption of DFOB was nearly complete after a 4-h reaction time. In an attempt to determine the coordination mode at the goethite surface, we compared the spectrum of adsorbed DFOB after a 4-h reaction time to the spectra of model aqueous species. However, this approach proved too simplistic in the case of such a complex ligand as DFOB, and we suggest that a more detailed investigation (IR in D₂O, EXAFS of adsorbed model complexes) is needed to elucidate the structure of the adsorbed siderophore. Between a 4-h and 4-day reaction time, we observed the growth of carboxylate stretching bands at 1548 and 1404 cm⁻¹, which are indicators of DFOB hydrolysis. Acetate, a product of DFOB hydrolysis at its terminal hydroxamate group, was quantified by ion chromatography. Its rate of formation was linear and nearly the same as the rate of Fe(III) dissolution. The larger hydrolysis product, a hydroxylamine fragment, was not detected by LC-MS. However, a signal due to the oxidized form of this fragment, a nitroso compound, was found to increase linearly with time, which is an indirect indication for Fe(III) reduction. Based on these findings, we propose that DFOB undergoes metal-enhanced hydrolysis at the mineral surface followed by the reduction of surface Fe(III). While Fe(II) was not detected in solution, this is likely because it remains adsorbed at the goethite surface or becomes buried in the goethite crystal by electron conduction. Taking into account the extent and similarity between the rates of hydrolysis and dissolution, we suggest that a reductive mechanism could play an important part in the dissolution of goethite by DFOB. This possibility has not been considered previously in the absence of light and at circumneutral pH.     

Quantum chemical study of the Fe(III)-desferrioxamine B siderophore complex—Electronic structure, vibrational frequencies, and equilibrium Fe-isotope fractionation

This study presents molecular orbital/density functional theory (MO/DFT) calculations of the electronic structure, vibrational frequencies, and equilibrium isotope fractionation factors for iron desferrioxamine B (Fe-DFO-B) complexes in aqueous solution. In general, there was good agreement between the predicted properties of Fe(III)-DFO-B and previously published experimental and theoretical results. The predicted fractionation factor for equilibrium between Fe(III)-DFO-B and Fe(III)-catecholate at 22 °C, 0.68 ± 0.25‰, was in good agreement with a previously measured isotopic difference between bacterial cells and solution during the bacterial-mediated dissolution of hornblende [Brantley S. L., Liermann L. and Bullen T. D. (2001) Fractionation of Fe isotopes by soil microbes and organic acids. Geology29, 535-538]. Conceptually, this agreement is consistent with the notion that Fe is first removed from mineral surfaces via complexation with small organic acids (e.g., oxalate), subsequently sequestered by DFO-B in solution, and ultimately delivered to bacterial cells by Fe(III)-DFO-B complexes. The ability of DFO-B to discriminate between Fe(III) and Fe(II)/Al(III) was investigated with Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis and geometry calculations of each metal-DFO-B complex. The results indicated that higher affinity for Fe(III) is not strictly a function of bond length but also the degree of Fe-O covalent bonding.     

Fe isotopic fractionation during mineral dissolution with and without bacteria

Fe released into solution is isotopically lighter (enriched in the lighter isotope) than hornblende starting material when dissolution occurs in the presence of the siderophore desferrioxamine mesylate (DFAM). In contrast, Fe released from goethite dissolving in the presence of DFAM is isotopically unchanged. Furthermore, Δ⁵⁶Fe_{solution-hornblende} for Fe released to solution in the presence of ligands varies with the affinity of the ligand for Fe. The extent of isotopic fractionation of Fe released from hornblende also increases when experiments are agitated continuously. The Fe isotope fractionation observed during hornblende dissolution with organic ligands is attributed predominantly to retention of ⁵⁶Fe in an altered surface layer, while the lack of isotopic fractionation during goethite dissolution in DFAM is consistent with the lack of an altered layer. When a siderophore-producing soil bacterium is added to the system (without added organic ligands), Fe released to solution from both hornblende and goethite differs isotopically from Fe in the bulk mineral: Δ⁵⁶Fe_{solution-starting material} = −0.56 ± 0.19 (hornblende) and −1.44 ± 0.16 (goethite). Increased isotopic fractionation is attributed in this case to the fact that as bacterial respiration depletes the system in oxygen and aqueous Fe is reduced, equilibration between aqueous ferrous and ferric iron creates a pool of isotopically heavy ferric iron that is assimilated by bacterial cells. Adsorption of isotopically heavy ferrous iron (Fe(II) enriched in the heavier isotope) or precipitation of isotopically heavy Fe minerals may also contribute to observed fractionations.To test whether these Fe isotope signatures are recorded in natural systems, we also investigated extractions of samples of soils from which the bacteria were isolated. These extractions show variability in the isotopic signatures of exchangeable Fe and Fe oxyhydroxide fractions from one soil sample to another, but exchangeable Fe is observed to be lighter than Fe in soil Fe oxyhydroxides and hornblende. This observation is consistent with isotopically light Fe-organic complexes in soil pore water derived from the Fe-silicate starting materials in the presence of growing microorganisms, as documented in experiments reported here. The contributions from phenomena including organic ligand-promoted nonstoichiometric dissolution of Fe silicates, uptake of ferric iron by organisms, adsorption of isotopically heavy ferrous iron, and precipitation of iron minerals should create complex isotopic signatures in soils. Better understanding of these processes and the timescales over which they contribute to fractionation is needed.     

Structural characterization and chemical reactivity of synthetic Mn-goethites and hematites

Several goethites were obtained through the hydrolysis at 60 °C of Fe(III) solutions containing variable amounts of Mn(II) ions. The obtained samples were thermally treated at temperatures ranging from 180 to 310 °C until the complete phase transformation to hematite was achieved. The effect of Mn in the dehydroxylation process was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the Rietveld refinement of XRD data together with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential thermogravimetric analysis (DTA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In all cases, the formed hematites retained the acicular shape of the precursor goethite. The dehydroxylation temperature increased with the increase of the Mn content in the parent goethite. The cell parameters of both phases decreased with the thermal treatment, however the decrease in the goethite b-parameter was more pronounced. This fact could be attributed to the distortion in the goethite structure by the presence of manganese. The band shifts in the FT-IR spectra of the goethites with different Mn substitution were analysed. The intensities of the hydroxyl vibrations were indicative of the degree of dehydroxylation.The chemical reactivity of all the samples, before and after the thermal treatment, was also studied. The kinetic experiments were carried out at 40 °C in 4 mol dm^− 3 HCl. The acid dissolution of all Mn-goethites showed a congruent behavior indicative of a homogeneous distribution of Mn in the goethite crystals, this trend was not observed in the formed hematites presenting a high Mn content. The dissolution rate in goethites increased with the increase of Mn content, the opposite effect was observed in the corresponding hematites. The activation energy in both phases was also obtained and indicated that the Mn substitution produces an opposite effect on goethite- and hematite-phases. Different kinetic laws were applied in order to explain the dissolution behavior, but the modified first-order Kabai equation described the dissolution data best.     

Hydroxamate siderophore-promoted reactions between iron(II) and nitroaromatic groundwater contaminants

Recent studies show that ferrous iron (Fe^II), which is often abundant in anaerobic soil and groundwater, is capable of abiotically reducing many subsurface contaminants. However, studies also demonstrate that Fe^II redox reactivity in geochemical systems is heavily dependent upon metal speciation. This contribution examines the influence of hydroxamate ligands, including the trihydroxamate siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFOB), on Fe^II reactions with nitroaromatic groundwater contaminants (NACs). Experimental results demonstrate that ring-substituted NACs are reduced to the corresponding aniline products in aqueous solutions containing Fe^II complexes with DFOB and two monohydroxamate ligands (acetohydroxamic acid and salicylhydroxamic acid). Reaction rates are heavily dependent upon solution conditions and the identities of both the Fe^II-complexing hydroxamate ligand and the target NAC. Trends in the observed pseudo-first-order rate constants for reduction of 4-chloronitrobenzene (k_obs, s⁻¹) are quantitatively linked to the formation of Fe^II species with standard one-electron reduction potentials, (Fe^III/Fe^II), below −0.3 V. Linear free energy relationships correlate reaction rates with the (Fe^III/Fe^II) values of different electron-donating Fe^II complexes and with the apparent one-electron reduction potentials of different electron-accepting NACs, (ArNO₂). Experiments describing a redox auto-decomposition mechanism for Fe^II-DFOB complexes that occurs at neutral pH and has implications for the stability of hydroxamate siderophores in anaerobic environments are also presented. Results from this study indicate that hydroxamates and other Fe^III-stabilizing organic ligands can form highly redox-active Fe^II complexes that may contribute to the natural attenuation and remediation of subsurface contaminants.     

The combined effect of pH and temperature on smectite dissolution rate under acidic conditions

The main goal of this paper is to propose a new rate law describing the combined effect of pH (1 to 4.5) and temperature (25 to 70 °C) on smectite dissolution rate, under far from equilibrium conditions, as a step towards establishing the full rate law of smectite dissolution under acidic conditions. Dissolution experiments were carried out using non-stirred flow-through reactors fully immersed in a thermostatic water bath held at a constant temperature of 25.0°C, 50.0°C or 70.0°C ± 0.1°C. Smectite dissolution rates were obtained based on the release of silicon and aluminum at steady state. The results show good agreement between these two estimates of smectite dissolution rate. Low Al/Si ratios were obtained in experiments that were conducted at pH ≥4. These low Al/Si ratios are explained by precipitation of gibbsite and/or diaspore.Dissolution rate increases with temperature and decreases with increasing pH. Dissolution rates of experiments in which ΔG_r ≤ −21 kcal mol ⁻¹, are not affected by deviation from equilibrium. Dissolution rates in most experiments are not affected by the addition of up to 0.3 M NaNO₃ to the input solution.A simple model is used to describe the combined effect of pH and temperature on smectite dissolution rate. According to this model, dissolution rate is linearly proportional to the concentration of adsorbed protons on the mineral surface, and proton adsorption is described using a Langmuir adsorption isotherm. All experimental results at pH <4 were fitted to the model using a multiple non-linear regression. The resulting rate law is:

(A1)     

The preparation and characterization of vanadium-substituted goethite: The importance of temperature

Despite a close geo-chemical association between vanadium (V) and iron (Fe) in natural environments, there is little research on the substitution of V in goethite. To assess the effect of temperature on V-substitution in goethite, a series of V-substituted goethite were prepared under varying synthesis temperatures, and analysed using wet chemical and multi-spectroscopic techniques. Vanadium substitution was inversely related to synthesis temperatures and was hindered by the oxidation of V³⁺ to V^4+/5+ as indicated by X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy. The presence of V (V⁵⁺ > V⁴⁺ > V³⁺) at high temperature hindered the nucleation of goethite and crystal growth along particular faces resulting in large-sized and twinned crystals as shown by transmission electron microscopy. The large-sized goethite crystals released more Fe (mmoles) per unit surface area during proton-promoted dissolution than the smaller-sized crystals, which could be due to distorted V^4+/5+ local coordination environments in the mineral structure. The dissolution studies showed a heterogeneous distribution of V and/or crystal defects in goethite crystals. The results show that low synthesis temperatures preserved the oxidation state of V³⁺, which has ionic radius and hydrolytic properties similar to Fe³⁺, and hence resulted in as much as 13.3 mol per cent substitution. The structural stability of the goethite decreased upon V-substitution in order; V³⁺ > V⁴⁺ > V⁵⁺. This research provides important information about the interaction between temperature, V incorporation, and crystal structure properties of goethite for V sequestration and other potentially toxic metal cations.     

Dissolution kinetics of synthetic Na-smectite. An integrated experimental approach

The effect of pH and Gibbs energy on the dissolution rate of a synthetic Na-montmorillonite was investigated by means of flow-through experiments at 25 and 80 °C at pH of 7 and 9. The dissolution reaction took place stoichiometrically at 80 °C, whereas at 25 °C preferential release of Mg over Si and Al was observed. The TEM-EDX analyses (transmission electronic microscopy with quantitative chemical analysis) of the dissolved synthetic phase at 25 °C showed the presence of newly formed Si-rich phases, which accounts for the Si deficit. At low temperature, depletion of Si concentration was attributed to incongruent clay dissolution with the formation of detached Si tetrahedral sheets (i.e., alteration product) whereas the Al behaviour remains uncertain (e.g., possible incorporation into Al-rich phases). Hence, steady-state rates were based on the release of Mg. Ex situ AFM measurements were used to investigate the variations in reactive surface area. Accordingly, steady-state rates were normalized to the initial edge surface area (11.2 m² g⁻¹) and used to propose the dissolution rate law for the dissolution reactions as a function of ΔG_r at 25 °C and pH∼9:

     

Dissolution mechanisms of goethite in the presence of siderophores and organic acids

In dynamic natural systems such as soils and surface waters, transient biogeochemical processes can induce strong chemical non-steady-state conditions. In this paper, we investigate the effects of non-steady-state conditions on ligand-controlled iron oxide dissolution. The rates of goethite dissolution at pH 6 in the presence of low molecular weight organic acids (oxalate, citrate or malonate) were observed. Non-steady-state conditions were induced by rapid additions of fungal, bacterial or plant siderophores. In the presence of the low molecular weight organic acids, dissolved iron concentrations are below detection limit as predicted by equilibrium solubility calculations. The rapid addition of the siderophores triggered reproducible, fast dissolution of kinetically labile iron from the iron oxide surface. The same effect was observed upon rapid additions of high citrate concentrations to goethite-oxalate suspensions. The concentration of the labile iron pool at the mineral surface was a function of the surface concentration of the low molecular weight organic acids and of the reaction time before addition of the siderophores. Isotopic exchange with ⁵⁹Fe independently confirmed the existence of the labile iron pool before addition of the siderophore. A dissolution mechanism was elucidated that is consistent with these observations and with accepted models of ligand-controlled dissolution. We conclude that the fast dissolution reaction observed here is an important process in biological iron acquisition and that it is based on a general geochemical mechanism.     

Kinetics of zinc and arsenate co-sorption at the goethite-water interface

Little or no information is available in the literature about reaction processes of co-sorbing metals and arsenate [As(V)] on variable-charged surfaces or factors influencing these reactions. Arsenic and metal contamination are, however, a common co-occurrence in many contaminated environments. In this study, we investigated the co-sorption kinetics of 250 μM As(V) and zinc [Zn(II)] in 10, 100, and 1000 mg goethite L⁻¹ 0.01 M NaCl solution at pH 7, collected complementary As and Zn K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data after various aging times, and performed a replenishment desorption/dissolution study at pH 4 and 5.5 after 6 months of aging time. Arsenate and Zn(II) formed adamite-like and koritnigite-like precipitates on goethite in 100- and 10-ppm goethite suspensions, respectively, whereas in 1000-ppm goethite suspensions, As(V) formed mostly double-corner sharing complexes and Zn(II) formed a solid solution on goethite according to EXAFS spectroscopic analyses. In all goethite suspension densities, surface adsorption reactions were part of the initial reaction processes. In 10- and 100-ppm goethite suspensions, a heterogeneous nucleation reaction occurred in which adamite-like precipitates began to form 48 h earlier than koritnigite-like surface precipitates. Arsenate and Zn(II) uptake from solution decreased after 4 weeks. Replenishment desorption studies showed that the precipitates and surface adsorbed complexes on goethite were susceptible to proton-promoted dissolution resulting in many cases in more than 80% loss of Zn(II) and ∼ 60% to 70% loss of arsenate. The molar Zn:As dissolution ratio was dependent on the structure of the precipitate and was cyclic for the adamite and koritnigite-like surface precipitates, reflecting the concentric and plane-layered structures of adamite and koritnigite, respectively.     

The effects of organic acids on the dissolution of silicate minerals: A case study of oxalate catalysis of kaolinite dissolution

Most studies agree that the dissolution rate of aluminosilicates in the presence of oxalic and other simple carboxylic acids is faster than the rate with non-organic acid under the same pH. However, the mechanisms by which organic ligands enhance the dissolution of minerals are in debate. The main goal of this paper was to study the mechanism that controls the dissolution rate of kaolinite in the presence of oxalate under far from equilibrium conditions (−29 < ΔG_r < −18 kcal mol⁻¹). Two types of experiments were performed: non-stirred flow-through dissolution experiments and batch type adsorption isotherms. All the experiments were conducted at pH 2.5-3.5 in a thermostatic water-bath held at a constant temperature of 25.0, 50.0 or 70.0 ± 0.1 °C. Kaolinite dissolution rates were obtained based on the release of silicon and aluminum at steady state. The results show good agreement between these two estimates of kaolinite dissolution rate. At constant temperature, there is a general trend of increase in the overall dissolution rate as a function of the total concentration of oxalate in solution. The overall kaolinite dissolution rates in the presence of oxalate was up to 30 times faster than the dissolution rate of kaolinite at the same temperature and pH without oxalate as was observed in our previous study. Therefore, these rate differences are related to differences in oxalate and aluminum concentrations. Within the experimental variability, the oxalate adsorption at 25, 50, and 70 °C showed the same dependence on the sum of the activities of oxalate and bioxalate in solution. The change of oxalate concentration on the kaolinite surface (C_s,ox) as a function of the sum of the activities of the oxalate and bioxalate in solution may be described by the general adsorption isotherm: