Skip to main content
Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2022

Molecular structures of dissolved and colloidal AsV–FeIII complexes and their roles in the mobilization of AsV under strongly acidic conditions

Zhang, Danni; Cao, Rui; Song, Yu; Wang, Yumeng; Zhang, Peiwen; Wang, Ying; Xiao, Fan; Wang, Shaofeng; Jia, Yongfeng

Abstract

The effect of high concentration of iron (FeIII) on the speciation and mobility of arsenic (As) under strongly acidic conditions remains unclear. This work studied the redistribution and speciation of AsV and FeIII at Fe/As molar ratio of 1–14 and pH 1.5–2.0 in the dissolved, colloidal, and solid phases. Results showed that the elevated FeIII induced the decomposition of the precipitated poorly crystalline ferric arsenate by forming dissolved ( 0.1 µm) decreased from 70–90% to less than 20% when the Fe/As molar ratio increased from 1 to 14. The particle size of the bulk samples decreased significantly with the increase of FeIII concentration. The FTIR results suggested that AsV in dissolved/colloidal As–Fe complexes dominantly occurred as HAsO42− species. The EXAFS results indicated that each HAsO42− coordinated with approximately two Fe atoms in dissolved/colloidal As–Fe complexes at Fe/As ≥ 2. The findings suggest that high aqueous FeIII concentration can promote the mobility of As by forming dissolved/colloidal Fe–As complexes in acidic waters, potentially accelerating As transport from source to downstream in acid mine drainage systems.

Keywords

Arsenic; AsV–FeIII complexes; Colloids; Mobilization; Acidic conditions

Published in

Journal of Hazardous Materials
2022, volume: 430, article number: 128266

Authors' information

Zhang, Danni
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Cao, Rui
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wang, Yumeng
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zhang, Peiwen
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wang, Ying
Ningxia University
Xiao, Fan
Shanxi Eco-environmental Protection Service Center
Wang, Shaofeng
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jia, Yongfeng
Chinese Academy of Sciences

UKÄ Subject classification

Geochemistry

Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128266

URI (permanent link to this page)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/116857