Adsorption of organic matter at mineral/water interfaces. 6. Effect of inner-sphere versus outer-sphere adsorption on colloidal stability

The effects of the adsorption modes of several low molecular weight (LMW) organic anions (maleate, oxalate, and citrate) on the colloidal stability of corundum-water suspensions have been examined using electrokinetic and shear yield stress (tau(y)) measurements over a broad range of pH conditions and LMW organic anion concentrations. Consistent with previous studies, increasing concentrations of maleate, oxalate, and citrate progressively shift the electrokinetic isoelectric point and pH of the maximum shear yield stress (tau(y,max)) to more acidic conditions. Due to its predominant electrostatic driving force for adsorption, outer-spherically adsorbed maleate possesses a very limited ability to charge reverse the corundum-water interface or bind to the negatively charged corundum surface. By contrast, inner-spherically adsorbed oxalate and citrate can significantly charge reverse the corundum-water interface, with the extent of charge reversal being related to the relative binding strengths of the oxalate and citrate anions. Adsorbed maleate, oxalate, and citrate generate steric barriers to interparticle approach, leading to substantial reductions in the magnitude of tau(y,max) at low to intermediate concentrations of those LMW anions. At the highest anion concentrations investigated, however, increases in tau(y,max) are observed, and can be attributed to the formation of bridging Al(III)-organic surface precipitates, as suggested by in situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic measurements of corundum-oxalate suspensions at high oxalate concentrations. The extent of precipitate formation is greatest for the corundum-oxalate system due to the strong dissolution-enhancing properties of the inner-spherically adsorbed oxalate anion (i.e., its ability to generate enhanced concentrations of dissolved Al(III) which can then participate in precipitate formation). The effects of the LMW organic anion adsorption modes on both the forms of the measured tau(y) versus pH data, and the ability to quantitatively compare tau(y) and zeta potential data measured at different corundum concentrations, are also discussed.     

Adsorption of organic matter at mineral/water interfaces. 2. Outer-sphere adsorption of maleate and implications for dissolution processes

The effects of the adsorption of a simple dicarboxylate low molecular weight organic anion, maleate, on the dissolution of a model aluminum oxide, corundum (alpha-Al2O3), have been examined over a range of different maleate concentrations (0.125-5.0 mM) and pH conditions (2-10). In situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic measurements indicate that maleate binds predominantly as an outer-sphere, fully deprotonated complex ([triple bond]AlOH2+ -Mal2-) at the corundum surface over the entire range of maleate concentrations and pH conditions investigated. In accordance with the ATR-FTIR findings, macroscopic adsorption data can be modeled as a function of maleate concentration and pH using an extended constant capacitance approach and a single [triple bond]AlOH2+ -Mal2- species. Outer-sphere adsorption of maleate is found to significantly reduce the protolytic dissolution rate of corundum under acidic conditions (pH < 5). A likely mechanism involves steric protection of dissolution-active surface sites, whereby strong outer-sphere interactions with maleate hinder attack on those surface sites by dissolution-promoting species.     

Adsorption of organic matter at mineral/water interfaces: 5. Effects of adsorbed natural organic matter analogues on mineral dissolution

The effects of the adsorption of pyromellitate, an analogue for natural organic matter, on the dissolution behavior of corundum (alpha-Al2O3) have been examined over a wide range of pyromellitate concentrations (0-2.5 mM) and pH conditions (2-10). The adsorption modes of pyromellitate on corundum have first been examined using in situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and are shown to be dominated by a fully deprotonated, outer-sphere pyromellitate species ([triple bond]AlOH2+. . .Pyr4-) at pH >/= 5.0. At lower pH conditions, however, an additional protonated outer-sphere species ([triple bond]AlOH2+. . .H2Pyr2-) and an inner-sphere species are also evident. In accordance with the ATR-FTIR findings, modeling of macroscopic pyromellitate adsorption data using an extended constant capacitance treatment was possible using two outer-sphere ([triple bond]AlOH2+. . .Pyr4- and [triple bond]AlOH2+. . .H2Pyr2-) and one inner-sphere ([triple bond]AlPyr3-) adsorbed pyromellitate species. The presence of adsorbed pyromellitate strongly inhibited the dissolution of corundum under acidic (pH < 5) conditions, consistent with a mechanism previously proposed by Johnson et al. whereby outer-spherically adsorbed Pyr4- species sterically protect dissolution-active surface sites from attack by dissolution-promoting species such as protons. A reduction in the protolytic dissolution rate of corundum results. A reference Suwannee River fulvic acid, which also adsorbs to aluminum (oxyhydr)oxide surfaces in a predominantly outer-sphere manner, was similarly shown to strongly inhibit the dissolution of corundum at pH = 3.     

Surface complexes of phthalic acid at the hematite/water interface

The adsorption of o-phthalic acid at the hematite/water interface was investigated experimentally using batch adsorption experiments and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy over a wide range of solution pH, surface loading, and ionic strength conditions. Molecular orbital calculations for several possible surface complexes were also performed to assign atomistic structures to the features observed in the ATR-FTIR spectra. The results of the batch adsorption experiments exhibit typical anionic characteristics with high adsorption at low pH and low adsorption at high pH. The adsorption of phthalic acid also exhibits a strong dependence on ionic strength, which suggests the presence of outer-sphere complexes. ATR-FTIR spectra provide evidence of three fully deprotonated phthalate surface complexes (an outer-sphere complex and two inner-sphere complexes) under variable chemical conditions. A fully deprotonated outer-sphere complex appears to dominate adsorption in the circumneutral pH region, while two fully deprotonated inner-sphere complexes that shift in relative importance with surface coverage increase in importance at low pH. Comparison of experimental and theoretical calculations suggests the two inner-sphere complexes are best described as a mononuclear bidentate (chelating) complex and a binuclear bidentate (bridging) complex. The mononuclear bidentate inner-sphere complex was favored at relatively low surface coverage. With increasing surface coverage, the relative contribution of the binuclear bidentate inner-sphere complex increased in importance.     

Effects of pH and ionic strength on the adsorption of phosphate and arsenate at the goethite-water interface

The surface properties of a well-crystallized synthetic goethite have been studied by acid-base potentiometric titrations, electrophoresis, and phosphate and arsenate adsorption isotherms at different pH and electrolyte concentrations. The PZC and IEP of the studied goethite were 9.3+/-0.1 and 9.3+/-0.2, respectively. Phosphate and arsenate adsorption decrease as the pH increases in either 0.1 or 0.01 M KNO(3) solutions. Phosphate adsorption is more sensitive to changes in pH and ionic strength than that of arsenate. The combined effects of pH and ionic strength result in higher phosphate adsorption in acidic media at most ionic strengths, but result in lower phosphate adsorption in basic media and low ionic strengths. The CD-MUSIC model yields rather good fit of the experimental data. For phosphate it was necessary to postulate the presence of three inner-sphere surface complexes (monodentate nonprotonated, bidentate nonprotonated, and bidentate protonated). In contrast, arsenate could be well described by postulating only the presence of the two bidenate species. A small improvement of the arsenate adsorption data could be achieved by assuming the presence of a monodentate protonated species. Model predictions are in agreement with spectroscopic evidence, which suggest, especially for the case of arsenate, that mainly bidentate inner-sphere complexes are formed at the goethite-water interface.     

Competitive sorption of carbonate and arsenic to hematite: combined ATR-FTIR and batch experiments

The competitive sorption of carbonate and arsenic to hematite was investigated in closed-system batch experiments. The experimental conditions covered a pH range of 3-7, arsenate concentrations of 3-300 μM, and arsenite concentrations of 3-200 μM. Dissolved carbonate concentrations were varied by fixing the CO(2) partial pressure at 0.39 (atmospheric), 10, or 100 hPa. Sorption data were modeled with a one-site three plane model considering carbonate and arsenate surface complexes derived from ATR-FTIR spectroscopy analyses. Macroscopic sorption data revealed that in the pH range 3-7, carbonate was a weak competitor for both arsenite and arsenate. The competitive effect of carbonate increased with increasing CO(2) partial pressure and decreasing arsenic concentrations. For arsenate, sorption was reduced by carbonate only at slightly acidic to neutral pH values, whereas arsenite sorption was decreased across the entire pH range. ATR-FTIR spectra indicated the predominant formation of bidentate binuclear inner-sphere surface complexes for both sorbed arsenate and sorbed carbonate. Surface complexation modeling based on the dominant arsenate and carbonate surface complexes indicated by ATR-FTIR and assuming inner-sphere complexation of arsenite successfully described the macroscopic sorption data. Our results imply that in natural arsenic-contaminated systems where iron oxide minerals are important sorbents, dissolved carbonate may increase aqueous arsenite concentrations, but will affect dissolved arsenate concentrations only at neutral to alkaline pH and at very high CO(2) partial pressures.     

Vibrational Spectroscopy Study of Selenate and Sulfate Adsorption Mechanisms on Fe and Al (Hydr)oxide Surfaces

The coordination and speciation of selenate (SeO(4)) and sulfate (SO(4)) on goethite and Al oxide were studied using Raman and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Raman spectra were collected from pastes of suspensions containing 4 mM SeO(4) or SO(4). For SO(4), complementary data were collected by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy in goethite systems with 1 mM SO(4) and in Al oxide systems with 4 mM SO(4). The combined data set of Raman and ATR-FTIR spectra indicate that both inner- and outer-sphere surface complexes of SeO(4) and SO(4) occur on these metal (hydr)oxide surfaces. These spectral data show that SeO(4) and SO(4) have a similar complexation behavior on the same adsorbent. On goethite, these form predominantly monodentate inner-sphere surface complexes at pH <6, while at pH >6 these anions exist predominantly as outer-sphere surface complexes. On Al oxide, in contrast, these anions exist predominantly as outer-sphere surface complexes, but a small fraction is also present as an inner-sphere complex at pH <6. A comparison of the spectral intensities of these anions on goethite and Al oxide shows that complexation of these anions with Al oxide is weaker than with Fe oxide. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Adsorption of organic matter at mineral/water interfaces. IV. Adsorption of humic substances at boehmite/water interfaces and impact on boehmite dissolution

The adsorption of Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA) and Pahokee peat humic acid (PPHA) at the boehmite (gamma-AlOOH)/water interface and the impact of SRFA on boehmite dissolution have been examined over a wide range of solution pH conditions (pH 2-12), SRFA surface coverages (Gamma(SRFA), total SRFA binding site concentration normalized by the boehmite surface area) of 0.0-5.33 micromol m(-2), and PPHA surface coverages (Gamma(PPHA), PPHA binding site concentration normalized by boehmite surface area) of 0.0-4.0 micromol m(-2), using macroscopic adsorption and in situ attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. At relatively high SRFA surface coverages (Gamma(SRFA) = 5.33 micromol m(-2)), in situ ATR-FTIR spectral features of adsorbed SRFA are very similar to those measured for SRFA in solution at approximately 1-3 pH units higher. At sub-monolayer surface coverages (Gamma(SRFA) = 1.20 and 2.20 micromol m(-2)), several new peaks and enhancements of the intensities of a number of existing peaks are observed. The latter spectral changes arise from several nonorganic extrinsic species (i.e., adsorbed carbonate and water, for alkaline solution conditions), partially protonated SRFA carboxyl functional groups (near-neutral pH conditions), and small quantities of inner-spherically adsorbed SRFA carboxyl groups and/or Al(III)-SRFA complexes (for acidic conditions). The spectra of PPHA adsorbed at boehmite/water interfaces also showed changes generally consistent with our observations for SRFA sorbed on boehmite. These observations confirm that SRFA and PPHA are predominantly adsorbed at the boehmite/water interface in an outer-sphere fashion, with minor inner-sphere adsorption complexes being formed only under quite acidic conditions. They also suggest that the positively charged boehmite/water interface stabilizes SRFA and PPHA carboxyl functional groups against protonation at lower pH. Measurements of the concentration of dissolved Al(III) ions in the absence and presence of SRFA showed that the boehmite dissolution process is clearly inhibited by the adsorption of SRFA, which is consistent with previous observations that outer-spherically adsorbed organic anions inhibit Al-(oxyhydr)oxide dissolution.     

X-ray Absorption Spectroscopic Investigation of Arsenite and Arsenate Adsorption at the Aluminum Oxide-Water Interface

We investigated the As(III) and As(V) adsorption complexes forming at the gamma-Al(2)O(3)/water interface as a function of pH and ionic strength (I), using a combination of adsorption envelopes, electrophoretic mobility (EM) measurements, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The As adsorption envelopes show that (1) As(III) adsorption increases with increasing pH and is insensitive to I changes (0.01 and 0.8 M NaNO(3)) at pH 3-4.5, while adsorption decreases with increasing I between pH 4.5 and 9.0, and (2) As(V) adsorption decreases with increasing pH and is insensitive to I changes at pH 3.5-10. The EM measurements show that As(III) adsorption does not significantly change the EM values of gamma-Al(2)O(3) suspension in 0.1 M NaNO(3) at pH 4-8, whereas As(V) adsorption lowered the EM values at pH 4-10. The EXAFS data indicate that both As(III) and As(V) form inner-sphere complexes with a bidentate binuclear configuration, as evidenced by a As(III)-Al bond distance of congruent with3.22 ? and a As(V)-Al bond distance of congruent with3.11 ?. The As(III) XANES spectra, however, show that outer-sphere complexes are formed in addition to inner-sphere complexes and that the importance of outer-sphere As(III) complexes increases with increasing pH (5.5 to 8) and with decreasing I. In short, the data indicate for As(III) that inner- and outer-sphere adsorption coexist whereas for As(V) inner-sphere complexes are predominant under our experimental conditions. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Adsorption mechanisms of selenium oxyanions at the aluminum oxide/water interface

Sorption processes at the mineral/water interface typically control the mobility and bioaccessibility of many inorganic contaminants such as oxyanions. Selenium is an important micronutrient for human and animal health, but at elevated concentrations selenium toxicity is a concern. The objective of this study was to determine the bonding mechanisms of selenate (SeO4(2-) and selenite (SeO3(2-) on hydrous aluminum oxide (HAO) over a wide range of reaction pH using extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. Additionally, selenate adsorption on corundum (alpha-Al2O3) was studied to determine if adsorption mechanisms change as the aluminum oxide surface structure changes. The overall findings were that selenite forms a mixture of outer-sphere and inner-sphere bidentate-binuclear (corner-sharing) surface complexes on HAO, selenate forms primarily outer-sphere surface complexes on HAO, and on corundum selenate forms outer-sphere surface complexes at pH 3.5 but inner-sphere monodentate surface complexes at pH 4.5 and above. It is possible that the lack of inner-sphere complex formation at pH 3.5 is caused by changes in the corundum surface at low pH or secondary precipitate formation. The results are consistent with a structure-based reactivity for metal oxides, wherein hydrous metal oxides form outer-sphere complexes with sulfate and selenate, but inner-sphere monodentate surface complexes are formed between sulfate and selenate and alpha-Me2O3.     

ATR-FTIR investigation on the complexation of myo-inositol hexaphosphate with aluminum hydroxide

The adsorption isotherm of and the pH effect on the adsorption of myo-inositol hexaphosphate (myo-IP6) on amorphous aluminum hydroxide was investigated. It was found that the adsorption isotherm of myo-IP6 on aluminum hydroxide could be well fitted with the Freundlich isotherm. The amount of myo-IP6 adsorbed remained almost constant in the range of pH 4.0 to 7.0, but it decreased considerably as the initial pH was over 7. The adsorption of myo-IP6 resulted in an increase in the pH level due to the release of OH(-) ions, which suggested that the adsorption of myo-IP6 on aluminum hydroxide was caused by a ligand exchange reaction. ATR-FTIR analysis of myo-IP6 in solution and adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide at different pH were performed. The ATR-FTIR investigation indicated that myo-IP6 was adsorbed onto aluminum hydroxide by forming inner-sphere complexes and adsorption facilitated the deprotonation of phosphate groups. The asymmetric vibration of the PO bond in AlPO(-)(3) appearing at a lower frequency than that in the terminal HPO(-)(3) indicated that Al bound to the O atom not as strongly as the H atom did. The ATR-FTIR investigation and theoretical calculation (with the Gaussian 03 program) revealed that three of the six phosphate groups in myo-IP6 molecules were bound to aluminum hydroxide while the other three remained free when myo-IP6 was adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide.     

Modeling the adsorption of citric acid onto Muloorina illite and related clay minerals

The adsorption of citric acid onto goethite, kaolinite, and illite was measured as a function of pH (adsorption edges) and concentration (adsorption isotherms) at 25 degrees C. The greatest adsorption was onto goethite and the least onto illite. Adsorption onto goethite was at a maximum below pH 5 and decreased as the pH was increased to pH 9. For kaolinite, maximum adsorption occurred between pH 4.5 and pH 7, decreasing below and above this pH region, while for illite maximum adsorption occurred between about pH 5 and pH 7, decreasing at both lower and higher pH. ATR-FTIR spectra of citrate adsorbed to goethite at pH 4.6, pH 7.0, and pH 8.8 were compared with those of citrate solutions between pH 3.5 and pH 9.1. While the spectra of adsorbed citrate resembled those of the fully deprotonated solution species, there were significant differences. In particular the C[bond]O symmetric stretching band of the adsorbed species at pH 4.6 and 7.0 changed shape and was shifted to higher wave number. Further spectral analysis suggested that citrate adsorbed as an inner-sphere complex at pH 4.6 and pH 7.0 with coordination to the surface most probably via one or more carboxyl groups. At pH 8.8 the intensity of the adsorbed bands was much smaller but their shape was similar to those from the deprotonated citrate solution species, suggesting outer-sphere adsorption. Insufficient citric acid adsorbed onto illite or kaolinite to provide spectroscopic information about the mode of adsorption onto these minerals. Data from adsorption experiments, and from potentiometric titrations of suspensions of the minerals in the presence of citric acid, were fitted by extended constant-capacitance surface complexation models. On the goethite surface a monodentate inner-sphere complex dominated adsorption below pH 7.9, with a bidentate outer-sphere complex required at higher pH values. On kaolinite, citric acid adsorption was modeled with a bidentate outer-sphere complex at low pH and a monodentate outer-sphere complex at higher pH. There is evidence of dissolution of kaolinite in the presence of citric acid. For illite two bidentate outer-sphere complexes provided a good fit to all data.     

An ATR-FTIR spectroscopic study of the competitive adsorption between oxalate and malonate at the water-goethite interface

The competitive adsorption between oxalate and malonate at the water-goethite interface was studied as a function of pH and total ligand concentrations by means of quantitative adsorption measurements and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. The results obtained show that ATR-FTIR spectroscopy resolves the individual spectroscopic features of oxalate and malonate when adsorbed simultaneously at the water-goethite interface. The characteristic peaks of all four types of predominating surface complexes existing in the single ligand systems were identified, namely one inner sphere and one outer sphere surface complex for each ligand. The quantitative adsorption data showed that oxalate partially out-competes malonate at the water-goethite interface. Evaluation of the peak area variations as a function of pH indicated that the stronger oxalate adsorption can be ascribed to the more stable inner sphere surface complex of oxalate, which in turn is related to the oxalate five-member chelate ring structure yielding a more stable complex compared to the six-member ring of malonate.     

Effect of low-molecular-weight organic anions on exchangeable aluminum capacity of variable charge soils

Low-molecular-weight (LMW) organic acids exist widely in soils and have been implicated in many soil processes, such as nutrient availability, translocation of metals, fate of heavy metals, and mineral weathering. In this paper, the effect of the LMW organic anions on the exchangeable aluminum of two variable-charge soils was examined. The results showed that the organic anions induced an increase or a decrease in the exchangeable Al, and the extent and direction of the effect depended on the nature of organic anions, surface chemical properties of soils, and pH. For example, at pH 4.5, the quantity of exchangeable Al of Oxisol in the control system was 2.65 mmol kg(-1), whereas the values in the citrate, oxalate, malonate, malate, tartarate, salicylate, and lactate systems increased by 3.25, 1.93, 1.95, 1.82, 1.28, 0.88, and 0.45 times, respectively. In contrast, the quantity of the exchangeable Al of Ultisol at pH 4.5 in the oxalate and the citrate systems decreased by 8.8 and 19.6%, respectively. The increase in the exchangeable Al was caused mainly by the increase in negative surface charge of the soils due to the specific adsorption of organic anions. The ability of organic anions at low concentrations to increase exchangeable Al for Oxisol followed the order citrate > oxalate and malonate > malate > tartarate > salicylate > maleate > lactate. This order is consistent with that of the effect of the adsorption of anions on the increase in the negative surface charge and/or the decrease in the positive surface charge of the soil. On the other hand, the organic anions could depress the exchangeable Al through the formation of soluble Al-organic anion complexes under certain conditions. The anions with small stability constants of Al-organic anion complexes, such as lactate, caused an increase in exchangeable Al with the change in surface charge of the soils, while those with large stability constants, such as citrate and oxalate, caused an increase in the exchangeable Al at low concentration and a decrease at high concentration.     

Adsorption of organic matter at mineral/water interfaces: 7. ATR-FTIR and quantum chemical study of lactate interactions with hematite nanoparticles

The interaction of the l-lactate ion ( l-CH3CH(OH)COO(-), lact(-1)) with hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) nanoparticles (average diameter 11 nm) in the presence of bulk water at pH 5 and 25 degrees C was examined using a combination of (1) macroscopic uptake measurements, (2) in situ attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, and (3) density functional theory modeling at the B3LYP/6-31+G* level. Uptake measurements indicate that increasing [ lact(-1)]aq results in an increase in lact(-1) uptake and a concomitant increase in Fe(III) release as a result of the dissolution of the hematite nanoparticles. The ATR-FTIR spectra of aqueous lact(-1) and lact(-1) adsorbed onto hematite nanoparticles at coverages ranging from 0.52 to 5.21 micromol/m2 showed significant differences in peak positions and shapes of carboxyl group stretches. On the basis of Gaussian fits of the spectra, we conclude that lact(-1) is present as both outer-sphere and inner-sphere complexes on the hematite nanoparticles. No significant dependence of the extent of lact(-1) adsorption on background electrolyte concentration was found, suggesting that the dominant adsorption mode for lact(-1) is inner sphere under these conditions. On the basis of quantum chemical modeling, we suggest that inner-sphere complexes of lact(-1) adsorbed on hematite nanoparticles occur dominantly as monodentate, mononuclear complexes with the hydroxyl functional group pointing away from the Fe(III) center.     

Surface complexation of condensed phosphate to aluminum hydroxide: an ATR-FTIR spectroscopic investigation

Two model compounds, sodium pyrophosphate (pyro-P) and sodium tripolyphosphate (tripoly-P), were employed to elucidate the binding mechanisms of condensed phosphate on aluminum hydroxide by utilizing attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Peak assignments for the condensed phosphates in the solution phase and those adsorbed on the surface of aluminum hydroxide were made. Electron delocalization and polarization were employed to explain the peak shifts and the complexation of condensed phosphate with aluminum hydroxide. The tripoly-P and pyro-P were adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide by forming inner-sphere complexes. The adsorbed condensed phosphates were deprotonated in the pH range from 4 to 10. Monodentate, bidentate, and binuclear complexes were formed when pyro-P was adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide, while monodentate and binuclear complexes were formed when tripoly-P was adsorbed. Based on the FTIR data, we proposed that when either bidentate or binuclear complexes were formed, the two oxygen atoms participating in the complexation with aluminum hydroxide could not be originated from the same terminal phosphate moiety. The AlO bond formed in the complexation of pyro-P or tripoly-P with aluminum hydroxide (AlPO(-3)) was not as strong as the HO bond in terminal HPO(-3). The bridging PO(-2) of tripoly-P did not coordinate with aluminum hydroxide. The real-time ATR-FTIR study on condensed phosphate adsorption revealed that a long contact time between condensed phosphates and aluminum hydroxide particles can result in a transformation of an initially formed species into a thermodynamically more stable phase.     

Modeling the adsorption of Cd(II) onto goethite in the presence of citric acid

The adsorption of cadmium onto goethite in the presence of citric acid was measured as a function of pH and cadmium concentration at 25 degrees C. Potentiometric titrations were also performed on the system. Cadmium adsorption onto goethite was enhanced above pH 4 in the presence of 50 microM, 100 microM and 1 mM citric acid. While there was little difference between the enhancements caused by 50 and 100 microM citric acid below pH 6, above pH 6 further enhancement is seen in the presence of 100 microM citric acid. When 1 mM citric acid was present, the enhancement of cadmium adsorption was greater below pH 6, with increased Cd(II) adsorption down to pH 3.5. However, above pH 6, 1 mM of citric acid caused slightly less enhancement than the lower citric acid concentrations. ATR-FTIR spectra of soluble and adsorbed citrate-cadmium species were measured as a function of pH. At pH 4.6 there was very little difference between the ternary Cd(II)-citric acid-goethite spectrum and the binary citric acid-goethite spectrum. However, spectra of the ternary system at pH 7.0 and 8.7 indicated the presence of additional surface species. Further analysis of the spectra suggested that these were metal-ligand outer-sphere complexes. Data from the adsorption experiments and potentiometric titrations of the ternary Cd(II)-citric acid-goethite system were fitted by an extended constant-capacitance surface complexation model. The spectroscopic data were used to inform the choice of surface species. Three reactions in addition to those for the binary Cd(II)-goethite and citric acid-goethite systems were required to describe all of the data. They were [formula in text], [formula in text], and [formula in text]. Neither the spectroscopy nor the modeling suggested the formation of a ternary inner-sphere complex or a surface precipitate under the conditions used in this study.     

Sorption of the antibiotic ofloxacin to mesoporous and nonporous alumina and silica

Mesoporous and nonporous SiO(2) and Al(2)O(3) adsorbents were reacted with the fluoroquinolone carboxylic acid ofloxacin over a range of pH values (2-10) and initial concentrations (0.03-8 mM) to investigate the effects of adsorbent type and intraparticle mesopores on adsorption/desorption. Maximum ofloxacin adsorption to SiO(2) surfaces occurs slightly below the pK(a2) (pH 8.28) of the antibiotic and sorption diminishes rapidly at pH>pK(a2). For Al(2)O(3), maximum sorption is observed at pH values slightly higher than the adsorbent's point of zero net charge (p.z.n.c.) and less than midway between the pK(a) values of ofloxacin. The effects of pH on adsorption and ATR-FTIR spectra suggest that the zwitterionic compound adsorbs to SiO(2) solids through the protonated N(4) in the piperazinyl group and, possibly, a cation bridge; whereas the antibiotic sorbs to Al(2)O(3) solids through the ketone and carboxylate functional groups via a ligand exchange mechanism. Sorption edge and isotherm experiments show that ofloxacin exhibits a higher affinity for mesoporous SiO(2) and nonporous Al(2)O(3), relative to their counterparts. It is hypothesized that decreased ofloxacin sorption to mesoporous Al(2)O(3) occurs due to electrostatic repulsion within pore confines. In contrast, it appears that the environment within SiO(2) mesopores promotes sorption by inducing formation of ofloxacin-Ca complexes, thus increasing electrostatic attraction to SiO(2) surfaces.     

Influence of mesoporosity on the sorption of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid onto alumina and silica

Two SiO2 and three Al2O3 adsorbents with varying degrees of mesoporosity (pore diameter 2-50 nm) were reacted with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) at pH 6 to investigate the effects of intraparticle mesopores on adsorption/desorption. Anionic 2,4-D did not adsorb onto either SiO2 solid, presumably because of electrostatic repulsion, but it did adsorb onto positively charged Al2O3 adsorbents, resulting in concave isotherms. The Al2O3 adsorbent of highest mesoporosity consistently adsorbed more 2,4-D per unit surface area than did the nonporous and less mesoporous Al2O3 adsorbents over a range of initial 2,4-D solution concentrations (0.025-2.5 mM) and reaction times (30 min-55 d). Differences in adsorption efficiency were observed despite equivalent surface site densities on the three Al2O3 adsorbents. Hysteresis between the adsorption/desorption isotherms was not observed, indicating that adsorption is reversible. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy studies confirm that 2,4-D adsorption does not occur via ligand exchange, but rather via electrostatic interaction. The results indicate that adsorbent intraparticle mesopores can result in consistently greater 2,4-D adsorption, but the amount adsorbed is dependent upon surface charge and the presence of adsorbent mesoporosity. The data also suggest that when mineral pores are significantly larger than the adsorbate, they do not contribute to diffusion-limited adsorption/desorption hysteresis. Adsorbent transformations through time are discussed.