The transformation of ferrihydrite in the presence of trace Fe(II): The effect of the ammonia, amine and the coordination ions of Fe(III)

This work examined Fe(II)-induced transformation of ferrihydrite in the presence of ammonia, amine and the coordination ions of Fe(III). Our earlier results showed that ferrihydrite transformed into the mixture of lepidocrocite, goethite and/or hematite in the presence of trace Fe(II) and absence of ammonia and similar species. However, the formation of lepidocrocite was restrained when using ammonia as precipitants. When introducing some amines (e.g. ethanolamine and diethanolamine) and some coordination ions (e.g. F⁻ and ions) into the reaction system, a similar effect on the transformation of ferrihydrite was found. Probably, the complexes formed between Fe(III) and those additives favor the formation of goethite. At the same time, the introduction of these additives hinders Fe(II) from interacting with ferrihydrite, which makes the catalytic dissolution of ferrihydrite be limited, thus, the formation of lepidocrocite be restrained.