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Title: Surface structures and stability of arsenic(III) on goethite: Spectroscopic evidence for inner-sphere complexes

Journal Article · · Environmental Science and Technology
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es9802201· OSTI ID:653155
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Agricultural Research Service, Riverside, CA (United States). Salinity Lab.
  2. Univ. of Idaho, Moscow, ID (United States). Soil Science Div.

The adsorption and stability of arsenite [As(III)] on goethite ({alpha}-FeOOH) was investigated using a combination of standard batch techniques and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The reactivity of As(III) with {alpha}-FeOOH at varying pH and As(III) concentration provided macroscopic evidence for strong complexation on the {alpha}-FeOOH surface. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy gave an average As(III)-Fe interatomic distance of 3.378 {+-} 0.014 {angstrom}, which is indicative of bidentate binuclear bridging As(III) complexes on the {alpha}-FeOOH surface and which is similar to other oxyanions which adsorb on {alpha}-FeOOH by an inner-sphere mechanism. X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) analysis indicated that the As(III)-{alpha}-FeOOH surface complex is stable toward heterogeneous oxidation to As(V), as determined by the energy position of the X-ray absorption edge. The structural information from EXAFS was included in the description of As(III) adsorption on the {alpha}-FeOOH surface using a surface complexation model (the constant capacitance model). These results suggest that As(III) surface complex formation on iron(III) oxides may plan an important role in the environmental behavior of arsenic.

OSTI ID:
653155
Journal Information:
Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 32, Issue 16; Other Information: PBD: 15 Aug 1998
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English