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Title: Structure and composition of natural ferrihydrite nano-colloids in anoxic groundwater

Journal Article · · Water Research

Fe-rich mobile colloids play vital yet poorly understood roles in the biogeochemical cycling of Fe in groundwater by influencing organic matter (OM) preservation and fluxes of Fe, OM, and other essential (micro-)nutrients. Yet, few studies have provided molecular detail on the structures and compositions of Fe-rich mobile colloids and factors controlling their persistence in natural groundwater. Here, we provide comprehensive new information on the sizes, molecular structures, and compositions of Fe-rich mobile colloids that accounted for up to 72% of aqueous Fe in anoxic groundwater from a redox-active floodplain. The mobile colloids are multi-phase assemblages consisting of Si-coated ferrihydrite nanoparticles and Fe(II)-OM complexes. Ferrihydrite nanoparticles persisted under both oxic and anoxic/sulfidic conditions, which we attribute to passivation by Si and OM. These findings suggest that mobile Fe-rich colloids generated in floodplains can persist during transport through redox-variable soils and could be discharged to surface waters. These results shed new light on their potential to transport Fe, OM, and nutrients across terrestrial-aquatic interfaces.

Research Organization:
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States); Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Earth & Environmental Systems Science (EESS); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowship
Contributing Organization:
Environmental Molecular Science Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-76SF00515; AC05–76RL01830
OSTI ID:
2229852
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1993619
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-181172
Journal Information:
Water Research, Vol. 238; ISSN 0043-1354
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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