Interaction of metals and phosphate with ferrihydrite and environmental implications

This reactivity suggests a possible role for Fh in environmental remediation and in controlling ambient concentrations of metals and nutrients in both modern and ancient aqueous environments. Though the reactivity of Fh towards a variety of aqueous compounds has been determined in previous studies, its reactivity under seawater-like conditions has not been systematically explored.

Furthermore, the fate of the aqueous compounds upon aging of the Fh has been examined in only a few studies. To bridge these gaps, we conducted a series of adsorption and co-precipitation experiments of various metals and phosphate with Fh, in seawater-analog solutions, at circumneutral pH (pH 7.5 and 8.0) and 25˚C. We quantified the effect of interaction with Fh on the aqueous concentrations of Cd(II), Co(II), Cr(II), Cu(II), Mn(II), Mo(VI), N(II), V(V), U(VI), Zn(II), and phosphate.