An electrochemical study of pyrite oxidation in the presence of carbon coatings in cyanide medium

The anodic and cathodic behaviour of pyrite with clay and different carbon coatings of activated carbon, graphite and carbonaceous matter in cyanide medium was investigated using the potentiodynamic method. The presence of clay coating did not change the polarisation curve appearance for either the anodic oxidation of pyrite or the cathodic reduction of oxygen or the potential of the current plateau, but only decreased the plateau current especially at a higher coating thickness. The presence of the carbon coatings marginally shifted the rest potential for pyrite to a more anodic position and slightly changed the polarisation curve appearance for pyrite oxidation. The current density for pyrite oxidation largely increased in the presence of the carbon coatings, the potential at the plateau shifted to more cathodic positions, and the plateau width became smaller. These effects became more noticeable at a higher coating thickness. The activated carbon, graphite and carbonaceous matter coatings performed similarly in affecting pyrite oxidation at a similar thickness. The carbon coatings significantly increased the limiting current densities for oxygen reduction on pyrite, and the limiting current plateau became steeper at a higher coating thickness. The carbon coatings increased the limiting current density for oxygen reduction to a similar extent at a low coating thickness, but increased to varied extents at a higher coating thickness. The carbon coatings also greatly increased the cathodic current density for gold reduction on pyrite. The enhancement of pyrite oxidation and oxygen or gold reduction on pyrite by the carbon coatings was likely attributed to the electrochemical interaction between pyrite and the carbon materials with electron-rich surfaces and high conductivity. The presence of the carbon coatings significantly increased the oxidation of pyrite in aerated cyanide solutions and the preg-robbing of pyrite especially at a higher coating thickness.     

Visualization experiments of iron precipitates: Application for in-situ arsenic remediation

Laboratory experiments were carried out to acquire more insight and understanding of the phenomena associated with the in-situ arsenic remediation. Visualization techniques are the most informative for the detection of Fe(II) while flowing in soils. Green Rust (GR) was considered as representative of in-situ iron precipitates. In a visualization flat cell, the change in color of GR to orange, due to oxidation, was monitored by a digital camera and the images were analyzed giving the spatial and temporal distribution of Fe(II). Moreover, both oxygen and pH changes in time were recorded in two sections along the flow direction in the cell. The measured and calculated concentration profiles were compared and the actual reaction rates were predicted. The reaction rate constants measured in this study, under flowing conditions, are in a good agreement with the values obtained from batch experiments reported in the literature.     

Aragonite cycles: diagenesis caught in the act

Organic biomarker and nannofossil assemblages are used in combination with sedimentary petrology to identify the role of diagenesis for the formation of a rhythmic calcareous succession. A record from the Early Pliocene of the Maldives (Ocean Drilling Program, ODP Leg 115) is presented containing precession and eccentricity cycles expressed as variable aragonite content. Additional sub‐Milankovitch cycles are caused by rhythmic precipitation of calcite cement in the lower part of the interval. Comparison with palaeo‐productivity indicators (nannofossils, chlorin, total organic carbon) suggests that cementation occurs preferentially in intervals characterized by increasing or decreasing productivity. The coupled variability in productivity and carbonate diagenesis is attributed to the effect of organic matter degradation in the sediment. The observed combination of primary and diagenetic factors hampers the interpretation of the cyclicity on Milankovitch and sub‐Milankovitch scales. Diagenetically stable proxies for palaeo‐productivity, such as nannofossil assemblage data, were used to distinguish between palaeoclimate and diagenetic influences.     

Impact of Changes in Redox Conditions on Leaching of Some Elements from MSW Fly Ash

Abstract. Oxidation and reduction processes can influence extent of leaching of elements from solid waste. Three samples of municipal solid waste combustion fly ash were subjected to oxidizing and reducing conditions in order to evaluate leaching of elements in the Milli-Q water and fly ash (liquid to solid ratio, 100) mixtures. Although the oxidizing and reducing conditions were applied for 6 hours only, elements like Cs, Li, Mg, Sb, Tl and V leached more under oxidizing condition than under reducing condition in the case of all three ash samples. Cadmium, Pb and Zn leached more from all samples under reducing condition than under oxidizing condition. Leaching of other elements like Al, Ba, Cr, Cu, Ni and Rb was inconsistent with oxidizing or reducing conditions and varied from sample to sample, suggesting that factors other than redox may be more important in controlling leaching of these elements. Strong acid neutralization capacity of the fly ash samples let the pH vary within a narrow range, and thus severely limited the extent of leaching during the course of the experiment. Lead and Zn were the most sensitive while K and Na were the least sensitive to changes in redox conditions.     

Changes to cadmium associations in canal sediments on drying and oxidation

The mainly 19th Century canal system in the UK, largely managed by British Waterways, has been increasingly brought back into operation over the last few decades, and is now widely used for both leisure, and, increasingly, transport. Both initial and routine dredging of the canal sediment is carried out and these sediments are generally disposed of to land. Because many of the canals were connected with primary industries, their sediments can locally be significantly contaminated with heavy metals, and the behaviour of these metals under differing redox conditions, when introduced into a new environment （i.e., on land） is of importance for environmental risk-assessment purposes. Canal sediments are often rich in sulfidic mineral phases, and we have attempted to quantify the influence of these sulfidic phases on the release and retention of metals in dredged canal sediments, using a combination of traditional chemical techniques （e.g. sequential extraction） and X-ray absorption spectroscopy （XAS）. Sediment samples have been collected from urban fresh-water canals, one in the British Midlands and one in Northern France. It appears from XAS that Cd is largely associated with oxygen in air-dried sediment, and with sulphur in vacuum-dried sediment.     

Subsidence due to peat oxidation and impact on drainage infrastructures in a farmland catchment south of the Venice Lagoon

Large agricultural areas reclaimed in the past century, south of the Venice Lagoon, have experienced significant land subsidence due to oxidation of peat organic soils. This has exposed the region to flood hazard particularly during severe storms and has contributed to increase the marginal management cost of the infrastructures (ditches, levees, pumping stations) designed to operate the drainage system. Direct measurements and indirect evidence from the channel network suggest a land settlement between 1.5 and 2 m over the past 70 years. This paper provides an overview of the problem with important information on its most recent evolution.     

环境样品中痕量元素的化学形态分析Ⅰ．分析技术在化学形态分析中的应用

文章介绍了形态分析的基本概念,常用的联用分析技术,如气相色谱原子吸收光谱、气相色谱原子荧光光谱、气相色谱微波诱导等离子体原子发射光谱、气相色谱电感耦合等离子体质谱、高效液相色谱电感耦合等离子体质谱等在环境样品(水、土壤、沉积物)中痕量元素化学形态(价态、金属有机化合物等)分析中的应用,土壤和沉积物中污染元素的顺序提取步骤,以形态分析发展动态。引用文献72篇。     

吐哈盆地十红滩铀矿床水文地球化学特征

本文根据水化学资料的研究,探讨了十红滩铀矿床含矿含水层高矿化度地下水的成因,分析了高矿化度水对铀溶解迁移的影响及碳酸盐的形成机理.     

DMS and SO2 at Baring Head, New Zealand: Implications for the Yield of SO2 from DMS

Atmospheric dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) concentrations were measured at Baring Head, New Zealandduring February and March 2000. Anti-correlated DMS and SO₂ diurnalcycles, consistent with the photochemical production of SO₂ from DMS, were observed in clean southerly air off the ocean. The data is used to infer a yield of SO₂ from DMS oxidation. The estimated yields are highly dependent on assumptions about the DMS oxidation rate. Fitting the measured data in a photochemical box model using model-generated OH levels and the Hynes et al. (1986) DMS + OH rate constant suggests that theSO₂ yield is 50–100%, similar to current estimates for the tropical Pacific.However, the observed amplitude of the DMS diurnal cycle suggests that the oxidation rate is higher than that used by the model, and therefore, that theSO₂ yield is lower in the range of 20–40%.     

Oxydation expérimentale de Fe-tourmalines et corrélation avec une déprotonation des groupes hydroxyleAnnealing in oxidising conditions of Fe-tourmalines and correlated deprotonation of OH groups

Annealing at 400?T?600 °C (40?P?60 MPa and HM buffer-controlled f(O₂)) of tourmalines synthesised at the same T and P with NNO buffer induces an oxidation of Fe²⁺ into Fe³⁺ in some Y sites only (Mössbauer Spectroscopy data). Annealing in the same conditions of natural tourmalines is consistent with these results. FTIR spectroscopy shows that oxidation of Fe²⁺ into Fe³⁺ is charge-balanced by deprotonation of the external OH₍₃₎ groups. To cite this article: Y. Fuchs et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 245–249.