Sorption of H3BO3/B(OH)4⁻ on calcined LDHs including different divalent metals.

LDHs with different divalent metals (Zn-LDH, Mg-LDH and Ca-LDH) have been synthesized and produced calcined LDHs (Zn-CLDH, Mg-CLDH and Ca-CLDH) for borate removal. Based on XRD, SEM, BET, (27)Al NMR, CO2-TPD, and (11)B NMR, detailed characterization of different CLDHs before and after reaction with the boron species was systematically performed. The surface area, basicity and the particle charge of the different CLDHs, which are related to the hydration and regeneration, were markably influenced by the nature of the divalent metals. Transformation of crystal phases and the types of boron species adsorbed by the different CLDHs varied as time changed. The regeneration of Ca-CLDH required the shortest time. However, Ca-LDH decomposed to release Ca(2+) ions, forming ettringite with borate. Zn-CLDH also rapidly transformed into Zn-LDH. During this reconstruction, B(OH)4(-) was intercalated into the interlayer of Zn-LDHs, which is the predominant mechanism of borate removal by Zn-CLDH. Increase in the initial pH caused a competition between borate and OH(-) so that the removal efficiency of borate by Zn-CLDH decreased. For Mg-CLDH, surface complexation and electrostatic attraction were included in the first stage, immobilizing boric acid into Mg(OH)2 and attracting borate as interlayer anionic species into the new forming Mg-LDHs in the second stage.

As(V) and As(III) reactions on pristine pyrite and on surface-oxidized pyrite.

Reactions of As(III) and As(V) with pyrite were investigated using pristine pyrite (produced and reacted in a rigorously anoxic environment with P(O2)<10(-8)atm) and using surface-oxidized pyrite (produced under anoxic conditions, exposed to air, then stored and reacted under rigorously anoxic conditions). Results with surface-oxidized pyrite were similar to previously reported arsenic-pyrite results. However As(III) adsorbed over a broader pH range on pristine pyrite than on surface-oxidized pyrite, As(V) adsorbed over a narrower pH range on pristine pyrite than on surface-oxidized pyrite, and adsorbed As(V) on pristine pyrite was reduced to As(III) but adsorbed As(V) was not reduced with surface-oxidized pyrite. Reduction of As(V) with pristine pyrite was first-order in total As(V), Fe(II) was released, and sulfur was oxidized. The proposed mechanism for pyrite oxidation by As(V) was similar to the published mechanism for oxidation by O(2) and rates were compared. The results can be used to predict the removals of As(V) and As(III) on pyrite in continuously anoxic environments or on pyrite in intermittently oxic/anoxic environments. Rigorous cleanup and continuous maintenance of strictly anoxic conditions are required if commercial or produced pyrites are to be used as surrogates for pristine pyrite.

Reduction of As(V) to As(III) by commercial ZVI or As(0) with acid-treated ZVI.

Zero-valent iron (ZVI) consists of an elemental iron core surrounded by a shell of corrosion products, especially magnetite. ZVI is used for in situ removal or immobilization of a variety of contaminants but the mechanisms for removal of arsenic remain controversial and the mobility of arsenic after reaction with ZVI is uncertain. These issues were addressed by separately studying reactions of As(V) with magnetite, commercial ZVI, and acid-treated ZVI. Strictly anoxic conditions were used. Adsorption of As(V) on magnetite was fast with pH dependence similar to previous reports using oxic conditions. As(V) was not reduced by magnetite and Fe(II) although the reaction is thermodynamically spontaneous. As(V) reactions with ZVI were also fast and no lag phase was observed which was contrary to previous reports. Commercial ZVI reduced As(V) to As(III) only when As(V) was adsorbed, i.e., for pH<7. As(III) was not released to solution. Acid-treated ZVI reduced As(V) to As(0), shown using wet chemical analyses and XANES/EXAFS. Comparisons were drawn between reactivity of acid-treated ZVI and nano-ZVI; if true then acid-treated ZVI could provide similar reactive benefits at lower cost.