Oxidation of AsⅢ by three types of manganese oxide minerals affected by goethite was investigated by chemical analysis, equilibrium redox, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Three synthesized Mn oxide minerals of different types, birnessite, todorokite, and hausmannite, could actively oxidize AsⅢ to AsⅤ, and greatly varied in their oxidation ability. Layer structured birnessite exhibited the highest capacity of AsⅢ oxidation, followed by the tunnel structured todorokite. Lower oxide hausmannite possessed much low capacity of AsⅢ oxidation, and released more Mn2+ than birnessite and todorokite during the oxidation. The maximum amount of AsⅤ produced during the oxidation of AsⅢ by Mn oxide minerals was in the order: birnessite (480.4 mmol/kg) > todorokite (279.6 mmol/kg) > hausmannite (117.9 mmol/kg). The oxidation capacity of the Mn oxide minerals was found to be relative to the composition, crystallinity, and surface properties. In the presence of goethite oxidation of AsⅢ by Mn oxide minerals increased, with maximum amounts of AsⅤ being 651.0 mmol/kg for birnessite, 332.3 mmol/kg for todorokite and 159.4 mmol/kg for hausmannite. Goethite promoted AsⅢ oxidation on the surface of Mn oxide minerals through adsorption of the AsⅤ produced, incurring the decrease of AsⅤ concentration in solutions. Thus, the combined effects of the oxidation (by Mn oxide minerals)-adsorption (by goethite) lead to rapid oxidation and immobilization of As in soils and sediments and alleviation of the AsⅢ toxicity in the environments.
FENG XionghanTAN WenfengLIU FanHuada Daniel RUANHE Jizheng
