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Distinguishing between interlayer and external sorption sites of clay minerals using x-ray absorption

Conference ·
OSTI ID:126367
 [1];  [2]
  1. University System of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
  2. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)

Metals dissolved in natural aquatic environments are often sorbed on high surface area, smectite-clay minerals. Using X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), it is shown that at low pH and Na ion concentration Co(II) forms outer-sphere, mononuclear surface complexes with permanent-charge sites in the interlayer region of smectites. The Co-O distance 2.10{plus_minus}0.01 {Angstrom} and coordination number (CN, 6.5{plus_minus}20%) are in good agreement with the distance and CN expected for hydrated Co(II). At high pH or Na ion concentration, the presence of a second Co-Co shell at 3.13{plus_minus}0.01 {Angstrom} and a fourth Co-Co shell at 6.06{plus_minus}0.01 {Angstrom} indicates that Co(II) is excluded from the interlayer permanent-charge sites and forms polynuclear species or a surface precipitate on external surface-hydroxyl sites. These studies confirm the relative importance of interlayer and external sites for trace metal sorption on smectites as a function of changing solution conditions.

OSTI ID:
126367
Report Number(s):
CONF-950402--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English