Fractionation and leaching of Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn from smelter residues of an old environmental liability in Argentina.

An integrated chemical and mineralogical characterization approach was applied to smelter wastes collected from 50-year-old dump sites in Argentina. Characterization included pseudo-total element concentrations, acid generation/neutralization potential, sequential extractions, pH-dependent leaching kinetics, and mineralogical analysis of all residues. These analyses provided detailed information on the reactivity of the minerals in the waste material and associated metal release. Cadmium and Zn were the elements of greatest environmental concern due to their high mobility. On average, the release of Zn and Cd in pH-dependent leaching essays reached 17.6% (up to 5.24 mg g-1) and 52.7% (up to 0.02 mg g-1) of the pseudo-total content, respectively. Moreover, Cd and Zn were also the metals that showed the higher proportions of labile fractions associated to the adsorbed and exchangeable fraction (60-92% for Cd and 19-38% for Zn). Since Cd and Zn concentrations in the residue are not high enough to form their own minerals, a large proportion of these elements would be weakly adsorbed on Fe oxyhydroxides. In contrast, the low release of Cu, Pb and Fe would be associated with these elements being incorporated into the crystalline structure of insoluble or very poorly soluble minerals. Lead is incorporated into plumbojarosite and anglesite. Copper was mainly in association with Fe oxyhydroxides and may also have been incorporated into the plumbojarosite structure. The latter could act as a sink especially for Pb under the acidic conditions of the smelter residue. Despite the elevated concentrations of Pb observed in the residue, it showed a very low mobility (≈0.1%), indicating that it is mostly stabilized. Nevertheless, the smelter residue is a continuous source of metals requiring remediation.

Electronic-Level Insight into the Adsorption and Surface Diffusion Kinetics of a Simplified Glyphosate Model on a Goethite Surface.

The diffusive processes that occur in minerals involve chemical and physical surface phenomena of great interest that allow for understanding the mobility of different anions of environmental importance. One of them is glyphosate, which is widely used as a pesticide. In this work, we performed Hubbard-corrected density functional theory (DFT + U) calculations to study the adsorption and surface diffusion of methylphosphonic acid (MPA), as a model of glyphosate, on the (010) plane of goethite (GOT), one of the most important Fe(III) minerals in soils and sediments. In particular, the MPA adsorption was studied at the GOT-water interface, finding a strong covalent character in the bond. We also corroborated the occurrence of double proton transfer (MPA to GOT and GOT to GOT). Finally, activation energy barriers were calculated to estimate the half-lives for molecular diffusion, showing that MPA moves almost 3000 times slower than water at the GOT surface.

Insights of competitive adsorption on activated carbon of binary caffeine and diclofenac solutions.

A commercial activated carbon (AC), obtained from peanut shells, was characterized and tested as adsorbent for the removal of the pharmaceutical products caffeine (CF) and diclofenac (DIC), which were used as model emerging contaminants. Nitrogen adsorption, XRD, SEM, FT-IR spectroscopy, and chemical analyses were typical of ACs, and Boehm titrations, calculations of surface sites distributions and zeta potential measurements indicated that reactions of deprotonable oxygenated groups at the AC surface lead to an isoelectric point of 3.2. A theoretical equation derived from the Langmuir isotherm is proposed to explain the adsorption percentage or adsorbed fraction (fads) as a function of the adsorbent dose (D, adsorbent "concentration"). Good fittings of the fads vs. D curves and the normal adsorption isotherms were obtained with the same Langmuir parameters. An important and practical application of this new equation is to permit a straightforward calculation of the solid dose needed to achieve a required adsorption percentage. With the aim of describing the adsorption processes of CF and DIC and their competition for surface sites under an ample range of concentrations, the adsorption of the emerging contaminants was investigated in single adsorbate experiments and with binary mixtures, and the competitive Langmuir model was applied. CF adsorption was high and independent of pH, whereas DIC adsorption was high between pH 4 and 6 and showed a continuous decrease from pH 6 to 10.5. The use of the competitive Langmuir isotherm for binary mixtures indicated that there was no pure competition between CF and DIC for surface sites. Instead, there was influenced competition, meaning that the presence of one substance at the surface modified the adsorption parameters of the other, either through lateral interaction forces or by changing the molecular orientation at the surface. In both cases, one substance favored the adsorption of the other, compared to pure competition.

Surface speciation of phosphate on goethite as seen by InfraRed Surface Titrations (IRST).

Phosphate adsorption at the metal oxide-water interface has been intensely studied, and the system phosphate-goethite in aqueous media is normally used as a model system with abundant information regarding adsorption-desorption under very different conditions. In spite of this, there is still discussion on whether the main inner-sphere surface complexes that phosphate forms on goethite are monodentate or bidentate. A new spectroscopic technique, InfraRed Surface Titration (IRST), is presented here and used to systematically explore the surface speciation of phosphate on goethite in the pH range 4.5-9.5 at different surface coverages. IRST enabled to construct distribution curves of surface species and distribution curves of dissolved phosphate species. In combination with the CD-MUSIC surface complexation model it was possible to conclude that surface complexes are monodentate. Very accurate distribution curves were obtained, showing a crossing point at pH5.5 at a surface coverage of 2.0µmolm-2, with a mononuclear monoprotonated species predominating at pH>5.5 and a mononuclear diprotonated species prevailing at pH<5.5. On the contrary, at the low surface coverage of 0.7µmolm-2 there is no crossing point, with the mononuclear monoprotonated species prevailing at all pH. IRST can become a powerful technique to investigate structure, properties and reactions of any IR-active surface complex at the solid-water interface.

Effect of humic acid on the adsorption/desorption behavior of glyphosate on goethite. Isotherms and kinetics.

The effects of humic acid (HA) on the adsorption/desorption of glyphosate (Gly) on goethite were investigated under pseudo equilibrium conditions by adsorption isotherms and under kinetic conditions by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Isotherms reveal that the attachment of Gly is almost completely inhibited by HA molecules. The opposite effect is not observed: HA adsorption is not affected by the presence of Gly. ATR-FTIR allowed the simultaneous detection of adsorbed HA and Gly during kinetic runs, revealing that HA at the surface decreases markedly the adsorption rate of Gly likely as a result of a decreased availability of sites for Gly adsorption and because of electrostatic repulsion. In addition, HA in solution increases the desorption rate of Gly. The rate law for Gly desorption could be determined giving important insights on the desorption mechanism. The herbicide is desorbed by two parallel processes: i) a direct detachment from the surface, which is first order in adsorbed Gly; and ii) a ligand exchange with HA molecules, which is first order in adsorbed Gly and first order in dissolved HA. Rate constants for both processes were quantified, leading to half-lives of 3.7 h for the first process, and 1.4 h for the second process in a 400 mg L(-1) HA solution. These data are important for modeling the dynamics of glyphosate in environmentally relevant systems, such as soils and surface waters.

Measuring the isoelectric point of the edges of clay mineral particles: the case of montmorillonite.

The isoelectric point (IEP) of the edge surface of a montmorillonite sample was determined by using electrophoretic mobility measurements. This parameter, which is fundamental for the understanding of the charging behavior of clay mineral surfaces, was never measured so far because of the presence of permanent negative charges within the montmorillonite structure, charges that mask the electrokinetic behavior of the edges. The strategy was to block or neutralize the structural charges with two different cations, methylene blue (MB(+)) and tetraethylenepentaminecopper(II) ([Cu(tetren)](2+)), so that the charging behavior of the particles becomes that of the edge surfaces. Adsorption isotherms of MB(+) and [Cu(tetren)](2+) at different ionic strengths (NaCl) were performed to establish the uptakes that neutralize the cation exchange capacity (CEC, 0.96 meq g(-1)) of the sample. At high adsorptive concentrations, there was a superequivalent adsorption of MB(+) (adsorption exceeding the CEC) and an equivalent adsorption of [Cu(tetren)](2+) (adsorption reaching the CEC). In both cases, structural charges were neutralized at uptakes very close to the CEC. Zeta potential (ζ) vs pH data at different ionic strengths of montmorillonite with adsorbed MB(+) allowed to estimate an upper limit of the edge's IEP, 5.3 ± 0.2. The same kind of data obtained with adsorbed [Cu(tetren)](2+) provided a lower limit of the IEP, 4.0 ± 0.2. These values are in agreement with previously informed IEP and point of zero charge of pyrophyllite, which is structurally analogous to montmorillonite but carries no permanent charges. The importance of knowing the IEP of the edge surface of clay minerals is discussed. This value characterizes the intrinsic reactivity of edges, that is, the protonating capacity of edge groups in absence of any electric field generated by structural charges. It also allows us to correct relative edge charge vs pH curves obtained by potentiometric titrations and to obtain the true edge charge vs pH curves at different electrolyte concentrations.

A real time in situ ATR-FTIR spectroscopic study of glyphosate desorption from goethite as induced by phosphate adsorption: effect of surface coverage.

The desorption of glyphosate from goethite as induced by the adsorption of phosphate was investigated by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy in combination with adsorption isotherms. Desorption of glyphosate was very low in the absence of phosphate. Addition of phosphate promoted glyphosate desorption. At low initial surface coverages, added phosphate adsorbed on free surface sites, mainly, displacing a small amount of glyphosate. At high initial surface coverages, on the contrary, phosphate adsorption resulted in a significant glyphosate desorption. In the latter conditions, the ratio desorbed glyphosate to adsorbed phosphate was 0.60. The desorption process can be explained by assuming that phosphate adsorbs first forming a monodentate mononuclear complex, which rapidly evolves into a bidentate binuclear complex that displaces glyphosate.

Influence of Ca2+ on tetracycline adsorption on montmorillonite.

The adsorption of tetracycline (TC) on montmorillonite was studied as a function of pH and Ca(2+) concentration using a batch technique complemented with X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. In the absence of Ca(2+), TC adsorption was high at low pH and decreased as the pH increased. In the presence of Ca(2+), at least two different adsorption processes took place in the studied systems, i.e., cation exchange and Ca-bridging. Cation exchange was the prevailing process at pH<5, and thus, TC adsorption decreased by increasing total Ca(2+) concentration. On the contrary, Ca-bridging was the prevailing process at pH>5, and thus, TC adsorption increased by increasing Ca(2+) concentration. The pH 5 represents an isoadsorption pH where both adsorption processes compensate each other. TC adsorption became independent of Ca(2+) concentration at this pH. For TC adsorption on Ca(2+)-montmorillonite in 0.01 M NaCl experiments, the ratio adsorbed TC/retained Ca(2+) was close to 1 in the pH range of 5-9, indicating an important participation of Ca(2+) in the binding of TC to montmorillonite. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy showed that TC adsorption induced intercalation between montmorillonite layers forming a multiphase system with stacking of layers with and without intercalated TC.

An ATR-FTIR study of different phosphonic acids adsorbed onto boehmite.

An ATR-FTIR study of the vibrational spectra of N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl) aminomethylphosphonic acid (BHAMP), 1-hydroxyethane-1,1'-diphosphonic acid (HEDP) and nitrilotris(methylenephosphonic acid) (NTMP) adsorbed onto boehmite is presented. The study was performed in the pH range from 5 to 9, and bands assignments are given in the 1200-900 cm(-1) wavenumber range, where the bands associated with various P-O(H) vibrations can be found. The three phosphonic acids adsorb onto boehmite by forming inner-sphere surface complexes. ATR-FTIR data indicates the presence of both protonated and deprotonated mononuclear surface species. In all cases, the surface-bound ions undergo protonation reactions as pH is decreased. The results are in good agreement with previously proposed surface complexation models.

An ATR-FTIR study of different phosphonic acids in aqueous solution.

An ATR-FIR study of the vibrational spectra of 1-hydroxyethane-1,1'-diphosphonic acid (HEDP), nitrilotris(methylenephosphonic acid) (NTMP) and N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)aminomethylphosphonic acid (BHAMP) in aqueous solution is presented. The study was performed in the range of pH from 5 to 9, and bands assignments are given in the 2000-890 cm(-1) range. However, as phosphonates display bands due to the PO stretching vibration mainly in the 900-1200 cm(-1) range, the study is focused in this midinfrared region, which shows important changes as the pH changes, specially the nu(POH) at approximately 925 cm(-1) and nu(PO(3)(2-)) at approximately 970 cm(-1) vibrations. IR analyses give also evidences for the zwitterionic nature of BHAMP and NTMP in solution with a strong indication that the zwitterion in both compounds remains intact throughout the pH range investigated. The successive protonation steps with the decrease of pH were evidenced in the IR spectra of the three studied phosphonates.

Effects of pH and electrolyte concentration on the binding between a humic acid and an oxazine dye.

The binding between an oxazine dye and a humic acid was studied in aqueous solutions in the pH range 4-10 and in the supporting electrolyte (KCl) range 0.001-0.1M. A rather simple spectrophotometric method was developed to construct binding isotherms under conditions were traditional centrifugation or filtration methods fail. The use of this method is possible because humic acid molecules have the ability of changing the spectrum of dye molecules, and this ability is used to quantify the isotherms. All binding isotherms have a Langmuirian shape. The amount of bound dye is strongly dependent on the ionic strength and less dependent on the pH of the solution. The binding is rather strong and mainly driven by non-electrostatic forces. Whereas the Langmuir binding constant is independent of the pH and electrolyte concentration, the number of assessable sites in humic acid for binding oxazine increases by increasing pH and decreasing electrolyte concentration. These results can be directly related to the flexibility of humic acid molecules, which can swell at high pH and low ionic strength, increasing consequently the availability of binding sites. The results also indicate that humic substances may strongly affect the mobility and fate of dyes and related pollutants in the environment.

Disaggregation kinetics of a peat humic acid: mechanism and pH effects.

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy was used to study the disaggregation kinetics of a peat humic acid (PPHA) at several pH. FCS measures diffusion coefficients of fluorescent molecules and aggregates, thus allowing for the determination of disaggregation rates with a temporal resolution of seconds to minutes. Disaggregation was initiated by dilution of a peat concentrate consisting of a mixture containing 80% large aggregates (average hydrodynamic radius, rH, of about 300 nm) and free monomers (average rH of about 1 nm). Upon dilution at different pH values, aggregate size decreased, and the proportion of free monomers in solution increased until complete disaggregation occurred. The mechanism appeared to involve the release of monomers from the surface of the aggregates. The pH markedly affected the disaggregation rate. Complete disaggregation took 1 month at pH 3.6, took less than 1 h at pH 5.6, and was extremely rapid in alkaline solutions. The results suggested that at least two processes were operating in parallel with the overall rate being the sum of both processes. At pH higher than 4.5, the disaggregation rate increased more than 3 orders of magnitude per pH unit increase. For concentrations lower than 30 mg L(-1), the equilibrium condition for the PPHA was complete disaggregation even for a pH as low as 3.6.