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Title: Surface speciation of CD(II) and Pb(II) on kaolinite by XAFS spectroscopy.

Journal Article · · J. Colloid Interface Sci.

Little spectroscopic evidence exists in the literature describing the surface complexation of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) on kaolinite, the dominant clay mineral present in highly weathered soils of tropical and humid climates. X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy data at the Cd K and Pb LIII edges were collected on Cd- and Pb-sorbed kaolinite samples and compared to a suite of reference materials including Pb and Cd sorbed on amorphous (am-)gibbsite. Cadmium formed dominantly (>75%) outer sphere complexes on kaolinite and a small fraction of CdOHCl complexes. In contrast Cd adsorbed as an inner sphere complex on gibbsite, suggesting that the Si tetrahedral sheet hindered Cd sorption to the Al octahedral sheet on kaolinite. Lead formed polymeric complexes, which bonded to kaolinite via edge sharing with surface Al octahedra. Two distinct Pb-Al edge-sharing distances on am-gibbsite, as opposed to one on kaolinite, suggested a similar steric hindrance effect for the surface complexation of polymeric Pb complexes on kaolinite. The results of this study show that the Si tetrahedral sheet limited the surface complexation of Cd and Pb on kaolinite, elevating kaolinite's permanent negative charge properties in retaining these heavy metals at its surface.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC); PNNL; Commonwealth of Australian
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
919343
Report Number(s):
ANL/XSD/JA-60306; TRN: US200822%%246
Journal Information:
J. Colloid Interface Sci., Vol. 315, Issue 1 ; Nov. 1, 2007
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH