Effect of inorganic and organic ligands on the sorption/desorption of arsenate on/from Al-Mg and Fe-Mg layered double hydroxides

Enhanced attenuation of arsenic by Quaternary agricultural soils of Eastern Punjab, India upon anionic clays and gypsum amendment

Agricultural soil of the Sutlej River basin was evaluated for its natural attenuation efficacy for arsenic (As) under the field variables of pH, competitive anions, contact time and varied As contents. The role of layered double hydroxides (HTLDH) and gypsum on uptake efficiency and long-term stability of entrapped As demonstrates rapid As uptake by both geosorbents without mineral structure altering. Arsenic retention by gypsum is poorer than that by HTLDH and greater uptake (∼100% within 2 h) was achieved in the co-precipitation process than adsorption on HTLDH. Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model fits of the data demonstrate the multilayer rate-limiting sorption process. NO3- and PO43- hardly affected As retention capacity of HTLDH and gypsum with greater retention at pH 6 and high sorbate concentrations. Studied soil shows a strong potential for As (0.68 g kg-1) which enhanced upon adding HTLDH, while gypsum lowered As retention efficiency of soil except at pH 6.0. Gypsum exhibited relatively greater desorption than HTLDH where almost no As was desorbed in the latter case within seven days of exposure, but ∼30% sorbed As gets desorbed from gypsum which was further enhanced by NO3-+PO43- and soil mixing. Identical behaviour was observed from the soil and HTLDH/gypsum mixture at variable ratios as well. This study shows that MgFe-based HTLDH can efficiently retard arsenic mobilization from the soil with competitive anions and wide pH ultimately limiting As bioavailability in the environment and can be successfully used as a potential scavenger for As remediation purposes.

Selective Phosphate Adsorption Using Topologically Regulated Binary-Defect Metal-Organic Frameworks: Essential Role of Interfacial Electron Mobility

Metal-organic framework (MOF)-modified biochars (BC) have gained recognition as potent adsorbents for phosphate. However, essential insights into the electronic interfacial state of the MOFs remain lacking. In this study, we propose a novel topological transformation strategy to directionally regulate the interfacial electronic states of BC/MOFs composites. The optimized BC/MOFs exhibited an excellent selective phosphate adsorption capacity of 188.68 mg·g-1, coupled with rapid sorption kinetics of 6.81 mg·(g·min0.5)-1 in simulated P-laden wastewater. When challenged with real bioeffluent, such efficacy was still maintained (5 mg·L-1, 25.92 mg·g-1). This superior performance was due to the Fe(III) → Fe(II) transition, promoting electron mobility and leading to the anchoring of Mg(II) to form specific coordination unsaturated sites (Mg-CUS) for phosphate adsorption. Importantly, the simultaneous regulation of binary defects further enhances electron mobility, resulting in the formation of sp3 unequal hybrid orbitals with a stronger internal coupling capability between Mg 3s in Mg-CUS and O 2p in phosphate. Furthermore, the high electron affinity of Mg effectively promotes electron cycling, endowing BC/MOFs with a distinct self-healing capability to facilitate phosphate desorption. The outcomes of this study provide novel perspectives for electronic regulated phosphate adsorption.

Ethylenediaminetetraacetate functionalized MgFe layered double hydroxide/biochar composites for highly efficient adsorptive removal of lead ions from aqueous solutions

The application of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) of MgFe and its composites with biochar of Eucalyptus camdulensis (Eb) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was explored in a batch study to mitigate toxic lead ions (Pb²⁺) from synthetic wastewater solutions. SEM images revealed that MgFe/LDH composites with Eb were successfully formed, while FTIR spectra confirmed the successful adsorption of Pb²⁺ onto the MgFe/LDH and composite adsorbents. Batch equilibrium was attained after 60 min, then the adsorption capacity gradually increased. An increase in adsorption capacity (and a 60% decrease in the percentage removal) was observed by increasing the initial Pb²⁺ concentration, and the highest value was 136 mg g^-1 for MgFe/LDH-Eb_EDTA. A 50–60% increase in both the adsorption capacities and percent removal was seen in the pH range of 2–6. The second-order kinetic model had a nearly perfect fitting, suggesting that chemisorption was the mechanism controlling adsorption. The Langmuir isotherm model best presented the adsorption data, suggesting that the Pb²⁺ adsorption was monolayer, and predicted a better affinity between the adsorbent surface and absorbed Pb²⁺ for MgFe/LDH-Eb_EDTA in comparison to the other two adsorbents. The D–R isotherm suggested that the adsorption system was physical based on E values for all three adsorbents, while the Temkin isotherm model suggested that Pb²⁺ adsorption was heterogeneous. Finally, the Sips and R–P isotherms predicted that the adsorption of Pb²⁺ on the surface of the adsorbents was homogeneous and heterogeneous.

Effect of coexisting ions on adsorptive removal of arsenate by Mg-Fe-(CO3) LDH: multi-component adsorption and ANN-based multivariate modeling

The adsorptive removal of a pollutant from water is significantly affected by the presence of coexisting ions with various concentrations. Here, we have studied adsorption of arsenate [As(V)] by calcined Mg-Fe-(CO₃)-LDH in the presence of different cations (Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Fe³⁺) and anions (CO₃^2‒, Cl^‒, PO₄^3‒, SO₄^2‒, and NO₃^‒) with their different concentrations to simulate the field condition. The experimental results indicated that Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺_, and Fe³⁺ have a synergistic effect on removal efficiency of As(V), whereas PO₄^3‒ and CO₃^2‒ ions have a significant antagonistic impact. Overall, the order of inhibiting effect of coexisting anions on adsorption of As(V) was arrived as NO₃^-˂Cl^-<SO₄^2-<CO₃^2-<PO₄^3-. Among them, competitive adsorption of phosphate with arsenic at different initial phosphate concentrations was found to be responsive to formulate a binary adsorption system. We have also developed a modified non-competitive Langmuir and Langmuir-Freundlich models; however, the modified competitive Langmuir model was arrived to be the most adequate model for this binary system. An Artificial Neural Network based multivariate prediction model was developed, delineating the impact of coexisting ions on the adsorption system. The proposed method may appropriately demonstrate the overall system and exhibited a significantly adequate prediction model with high R², high F-value, and low error values.

As(III) removal from wastewater and direct stabilization by in-situ formation of Zn-Fe layered double hydroxides

In order to remove and stabilize As(III) simultaneously from wastewater, a novel and effective method based on the in-situ formation of As(III)-containing Zn-Fe layered double hydroxides (ZnFe-As-LDHs) was developed. The influence of pH, Zn/Fe, Fe/As and adding rate on the formation of ZnFe-As-LDHs were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, the concentration of As(III) decreased from 100 to 0.13 mg/L and As leaching concentration of the ultimate sludge was 1.87 mg/L, which could meet the arsenic leaching criteria (5 mg/L) regulated by US EPA. Compared with the "ex-situ" sludge obtained by As(III) adsorbed on the pre-formed ZnFe-LDHs, the As(III) removal efficiency increased by 21.6 % and the stability of the sludge increased by 94.2 % on the in-situ formation of LDHs, which mainly attributed to 55.06 % oxidation of As(III) and co-precipitation of As with Zn and Fe. Additionally, a possible in-situ formation pathway for ZnFe-As-LDHs was illustrated. At the beginning of the process, non-crystalline ferric arsenate formed and then transformed to amorphous ferrihydrite as precursors, followed by the formation of LDHs. This work demonstrated that co-precipitating As with Zn and Fe in the wastewater to in-situ form LDHs exhibited excellent potential for removal and direct stabilization of As(III).

Stability of Fe-As composites formed with As(V) and aged ferrihydrite

During the aging process, ferrihydrite was transformed into mineral mixtures composed of different proportions of ferrihydrite, goethite, lepidocrocite and hematite. Such a transformation may affect the fixed ability of arsenic. In this study, the stability of Fe-As composites formed with As(V) and the minerals aged for 0, 1, 4, 10 and 30 days of ferrihydrite were systematically examined, and the effects of molar of ratios Fe/As were also clarified using kinetic methods combined with multiple spectroscopic techniques. The results indicated that As(V) was rapidly adsorbed on minerals during the initial polymerization process, which delayed both the ferrihydrite conversion and the hematite formation. When the Fe/As molar ratio was 1.875 and 5.66, the As(V) adsorbed by ferrihydrite began to release after 6 hr and 12 hr, respectively. The corresponding release amounts of As(V) were 0.55 g/L and 0.07 g/L, and the adsorption rates were 92.43% and 97.50% at 60 days, respectively. However, the As(V) adsorbed by the transformation products aged for 30 days of ferrihydrite began to release after adsorbed 30 days. The corresponding release amounts of As(V) were 0.25 g/L and 0.03 g/L, and the adsorption rates were 84.23% and 92.18% after adsorbed 60 days, for the Fe/As=1.875 and 5.66, respectively. Overall, the combination of As(V) with ferrihydrite and aged products transformed from a thermodynamically metastable phase to a dynamically stable state within a certain duration. Moreover, the aging process of ferrihydrite reduced the sorption ability of arsenate by iron (hydr)oxide but enhanced the stability of the Fe-As composites.

A Comparison among Synthetic Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs) as Effective Adsorbents of Inorganic Arsenic from Contaminated Soil–Water Systems

The need for cost-effective adsorbents of inorganic arsenic (As(III) and As(V)) stimulates the academia to synthesize and test novel materials that can be profitably applied at large-scale in most affected areas worldwide. In this study, four different layered double hydroxides (Cu-Al-, Mg-Al-, Mg-Fe- and Zn-Al-LDH), previously synthesized and studied for As(III) removal capacity, were evaluated as potential adsorbents of As(V) from contaminated systems, in absence or presence of common inorganic anions (Cl−, F−, SO42−, HCO3− and H2PO4−). The As(V) desorption by H2PO4− was also assessed. Lastly, the As(V) adsorption capacities of the four layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were compared with those observed with As(III) in a complementary paper. All the LDHs adsorbed higher amounts of As(V) than As(III). Fe-Mg-LDH and Cu-Al-LDH showed higher adsorption capacities in comparison to Mg-Al-LDH and Zn-Al-LDH. The presence of competing anions inhibited the adsorption of two toxic anions according to the sequence: Cl− < F− < SO42− < HCO3− < < H2PO4−, in particular on Mg-Al-LDH and Zn-Al-LDH. The kinetics of As(V) desorption by H2PO4− indicated a higher occurrence of more easily desorbable As(V) on Zn-Al-LDH vs. Cu-Al-LDH. In conclusion, synthetic Cu- and Fe-based LDHs can be good candidates for an efficient removal of inorganic As, however, further studies are necessary to prove their real feasibility and safety.

Complementary assessment of As, Cu and Zn environmental availability in a stabilised contaminated soil using large-bore column leaching, automatic microcolumn extraction and DGT analysis

Soil pollution with trace elements is a concerning issue worldwide. Monitoring of soil pollution and remediation protocols need still from valid complementary analytical approaches able to detect changes in speciation and lability of metals in soils (e.g. stabilization or mobility). In this work, we compare three different analytical approaches to assess potential changes in environmental availability of Cu, As and Zn in a Mediterranean polluted soil that was amended with different combinations of iron sulphate and alkaline paper sludge waste. The studied methods were: (i) a standard large-bore flow-through column system (macrocolumn), (ii) an automatic dynamic flow-through microcolumn extraction system, and (iii) the diffusive gradients in thin gels technique (DGT). The three analytical approaches tested showed immobilization of Zn and Cu in contaminated mine soils after co-application of paper sludge and iron sulphate, but they differ quantitatively in terms of As mobility. Interconversion between oxidation states of inorganic As is observed to occur to a larger extent in macrocolumn. Because this may only occur in very specific Mediterranean scenarios (i.e. organic matter application to intermittently flooded mine soils), macrocolumn extraction procedures might not appropriately mimic the environmental availability of As in soils with organic amendments (e.g., paper sludge waste). Microcolumn leaching is the fastest screening tool to ascertain the efficiency of chemical amendments, but DGT is a good alternative with less technical demands.

Arsenic surface complexation behavior in aqueous systems onto Al substituted Ni, Co, Mn, and Cu based ferrite nano adsorbents

The present study is about surface complexation behavior of arsenic species adsorbed onto ternary metal oxide adsorbents (Ni-Al-Fe, Co-Al-Fe, Mn-Al-Fe, and Cu-Al-Fe). The analysis is carried out by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) tool. XANES (μ(E) vs. E) spectra close to the absorption edge (i.e., As K-edge) of all samples are observed along with the As(III) and As(V) standards. The first derivative of XANES for Ni-As(V), and Cu-As(V) samples agree with that of As(V) standards, respectively. Whereas, As(III) adsorbed adsorbent systems (i.e., Ni, Co, Mn, and Cu) are observed with mixed oxidation state of arsenic. A total of 65-85 % is observed with initial oxidation state (As(III) or As(V)), and remaining 15-35 % is observed with modified oxidation state (As(V) or As(III)) that explains the occurrence of possible charge transfer. EXAFS analysis shows the As-O bond distances in the range of 1.7-1.8 Å. The corresponding As-M bond distances are around 2.7, 3.2, and 3.6 Å which confirms the formation various edge sharing (²E), and corner sharing (²C, ¹V) surface complexes. Surface coverage is understood as an important parameter as bidentate attachments (²E, ²C) are evident in As(III), and As(V), but monodentate attachments (¹V) are only observed in As(V).

Arsenic removal from water/wastewater using layered double hydroxide derived adsorbents, a critical review

Arsenic pollution has become a worldwide environmental concern. Dangerous arsenic concentrations in natural waters threaten the health of millions of people, and this has received significant attention. Among the various technologies that have been developed for arsenic removal from water, the use of adsorption technology is considered to be a prevailing method, because the adsorption approach usually has high removal efficiency and the advantage of convenience of handling. In recent years, layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have become prime candidates for arsenic removal, due to their hydrophilic nature and cationic layered structures. Research on arsenic removal using LDHs is mainly focused on (1) the influence of the synthesis method and composition of the LDH, (2) the influence of the particle size of the LDH, (3) the influence of the Mg/Al ratio in LDHs, (4) LDH-based hybrids and (5) the competition with other anions. This paper provides a review of the currently available literature focusing on arsenic removal using LDHs for the five parts mentioned above. In addition, based on this overview, a closing section will suggest research efforts for future work. It is expected that this review will provide a summary of the main research in this area, and will also shed light on the direction of future development.

Comparative study on synchronous adsorption of arsenate and fluoride in aqueous solution onto MgAlFe-LDHs with different intercalating anions

During the simultaneous removal process, arsenate and fluoride competed for the adsorption sites of the adsorbent materials.

Chemical reactive features of novel amino acids intercalated layered double hydroxides in As(III) and As(V) adsorption

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) intercalated with amino acids such as methionine (Met) were synthesized as new adsorbents to remediate arsenic-polluted water. This Zn₂Al-Met-LDHs, identified with the formula of Zn_0.7Al_0.3(OH)₂(Met)_0.3·0.32H₂O, has good thermal stability. Adsorption experiments with Zn₂Al-Met-LDHs showed that the residual arsenic in solution could be reduced below the regulation limit, and this adsorption process fitted Langmuir isotherm and the pseudo-second-order kinetics well. A remarkably high removal efficiency and the maximum adsorption capacity for As(III) were achieved, 96.7% and 94.1 mg/g, respectively, at 298 K. The desorption efficiency of As(III) from the arsenic-saturated Zn₂Al-Met-LDHs (<8.7%), far less than that of As(V), promises a specific and reliable uptake of As(III) in sorts of solutions. More importantly, a complete and in-depth spectra analysis through FTIR, XPS and NMR was conducted to explain the excellent performance of Zn₂Al-Met-LDHs in arsenic removal. Herein, two special chemical reactions were proposed as the dominant mechanisms, i.e., hydrogen bonding between the carboxyl group of the host Met and the hydroxyl group of As(III) or As(V), and the formation of a chelate ring between the guest As(III) and the S, N bidentate ligands of the intercalated Met in the LDHs.

Sorption mechanisms of arsenate on Mg-Fe layered double hydroxides: A combination of adsorption modeling and solid state analysis

Layered double hydroxides have been proposed as effective sorbents for As(V), but studies investigating adsorption mechanisms usually lack a comprehensive mechanistic/modeling approach. In this work, we propose coupling surface complexation modeling with various spectroscopic techniques. To this end, a series of batch experiments at different pH values were performed. Kinetic data were well fitted by a pseudo-second order kinetic model, and the equilibrium data were fitted by the Freundlich model. Moreover, the pH-dependent As(V) sorption data were satisfactorily fitted by a diffuse layer model, which described the formation of >SOAsO₃H^- monodentate and >(SO)₂AsO₂^- bidentate inner-sphere complexes (">S" represents a crystallographically-bound group on the surface). Additionally, XPS analyses confirmed the adsorption mechanisms. The sorption mechanisms were affected by anion exchange, which was responsible for the formation of outer sphere complexes, as identified by XRD and FTIR analyses. Furthermore, a homogenous distribution of As(V) was determined by HR-TEM with elemental mapping. Using low-temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy on isotope ⁵⁷Fe, a slight shift of the hyperfine parameters towards higher values following As(V) sorption was measured, indicating a higher degree of structural disorder. In general, mechanistic adsorption modeling coupled with solid state analyses presents a powerful approach for investigating the adsorption mechanism of As(V) on Mg-Fe LDH or other sorbents.

Synthesis of Mg-Fe-Cl hydrotalcite-like nanoplatelets as an oral phosphate binder: evaluations of phosphorus intercalation activity and cellular cytotoxicity

The patients with end-stage of renal disease (ESRD) need to take oral phosphate binder. Traditional phosphate binders may leave the disadvantage of aluminum intoxication or cardiac calcification. Herein, Mg-Fe-Cl hydrotalcite-like nanoplatelet (HTln) is for the first time characterized as potential oral phosphate binder, with respect to its phosphorus uptake capacity in cow milk and cellular cytotoxicity. A novel method was developed for synthesizing the Mg-Fe-Cl HTln powder in different Mg²⁺: Fe³⁺ ratios where the optimization was 2.8:1. Addition of 0.5 g Mg-Fe-Cl HTln in cow milk could reduce its phosphorus content by 40% in 30 min and by 65% in 90 min. In low pH environment, the Mg-Fe-Cl HTln could exhibit relatively high performance for uptaking phosphorus. During a 90 min reaction of the HTln in milk, no phosphorus restoration occurred. In-vitro cytotoxicity assay of Mg-Fe-Cl HTln revealed no potential cellular cytotoxicity. The cells that were cultured in the HTln extract-containing media were even more viable than cells that were cultured in extract-free media (blank control). The Mg-Fe-Cl HTln extract led to hundred ppm of Mg ion and some ppm of Fe ion in the media, should be a positive effect on the good cell viability.

Potential of Ranunculus acris L. for biomonitoring trace element contamination of riverbank soils: photosystem II activity and phenotypic responses for two soil series

Foliar ionome, photosystem II activity, and leaf growth parameters of Ranunculus acris L., a potential biomonitor of trace element (TE) contamination and phytoavailability, were assessed using two riverbank soil series. R. acris was cultivated on two potted soil series obtained by mixing a TE (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn)-contaminated technosol with either an uncontaminated sandy riverbank soil (A) or a silty clay one slightly contaminated by TE (B). Trace elements concentrations in the soil-pore water and the leaves, leaf dry weight (DW) yield, total leaf area (TLA), specific leaf area (SLA), and photosystem II activity were measured for both soil series after a 50-day growth period. As soil contamination increased, changes in soluble TE concentrations depended on soil texture. Increase in total soil TE did not affect the leaf DW yield, the TLA, the SLA, and the photosystem II activity of R. acris over the 50-day exposure. The foliar ionome did not reflect the total and soluble TE concentrations in both soil series. Foliar ionome of R. acris was only effective to biomonitor total and soluble soil Na concentrations in both soil series and total and soluble soil Mo concentrations in the soil series B.

Syntheses of Mg–Al–NO3 layered double hydroxides with high crystallinity in the presence of amines

In the present work, layered double hydroxides of Mg–Al were synthesized with nitrate interlayer anions in the presence of different types of amines such as ethylenediamine, dimethylamine, and trimethylamine, without a N2 atmosphere, from a homogeneous solution using the coprecipitation method. The concentration of the different types of amines and pH of the solution were adjusted to produce high-purity and -crystallinity samples. The structure and morphology of layered double hydroxides were characterized and investigated by powder X-ray Diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis techniques. The analyses showed that with increasing amine concentration, both crystallinity and purity of the samples increase at pH 10.5.

Nature and reactivity of layered double hydroxides formed by coprecipitating Mg, Al and As(V): Effect of arsenic concentration, pH, and aging

Arsenic (As) co-precipitation is one of the major processes controlling As solubility in soils and waters. When As is co-precipitated with Al and Mg, the possible formation of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and other nanocomposites can stabilize As in their structures thus making this toxic element less available. We investigated the nature and reactivity of Mg-Al-arsenate [As(V)] co-precipitated LDHs formed in solution affected by As concentration, pH, and aging. At the beginning of the co-precipitation process, poorly crystalline LDH and non-crystalline Al(Mg)-oxides form. Prolonged aging of the samples promotes crystallization of LDHs, evidenced by an increase in As K XANES intensities and XRD peak intensities. During aging Al- and/or Mg-oxides are likely transformed by dissolution/re-precipitation processes into more crystalline but still defective LDHs. Surface area, chemical composition, reactivity of the precipitates, and anion exchange properties of As(V) in the co-precipitates are influenced by pH, aging, and As concentration. This study demonstrates that (i) As(V) retards or inhibits the formation and transformation of LDHs and (ii) more As(V) is removed from solution if co-precipitated with Mg and Al than by sorption onto well crystallized LDHs.

Polyethyleneimine as a novel desorbent for anionic organic dyes on layered double hydroxide surface

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) is a positively charged polymer with hydrogen-bonding sites and hydrophobic chains. Therefore, it has been clearly established as an efficient adsorbent by means of these native properties in the literatures. However, there is apparently no good reason to disregard the use of PEI as a desired desorbent. Herein, using methyl orange as a model anionic dye, we investigated the desorption performances of PEI toward anionic dyes adsorbed on the surface of CO3-layered double hydroxides (LDHs) in a wide range of pH values. The experiment results showed that the positively charged PEI had very strong desorption capacity for anionic dyes at low pH values (<9.5) through electrostatic attraction between PEI and methyl orange because of the high degree of protonation of PEI. At high pH values (>9.5), PEI existed as neutral molecule, it could desorb methyl orange via hydrogen bonding between the amino groups of it and sulfonate group of methyl orange; simultaneously, the anion-exchange process occurred between abundant hydroxyl anions and anionic methyl orange. The adsorption capacity of the used LDH adsorbent was about 80% after five cycles of adsorption-desorption-regeneration, which was much higher than that conducted by 0.1M NaOH solution. These findings suggested that PEI could be regarded as a promising desorbent for enriching anionic dyes in wastewater and regenerating LDHs through surface adsorption-desorption cycles.

MgAl layered double hydroxides with chloride and carbonate ions as interlayer anions for removal of arsenic and fluoride ions in water

Flower-like MgAl layered double hydroxides (MgAl-LDHs) with chloride and carbonate ions as interlayer anions showed excellent adsorption capacities for As(v) and F⁻ ions under neutral conditions.

Effect of particle size of drinking-water treatment residuals on the sorption of arsenic in the presence of competing ions

Arsenite [As(III)] and arsenate [As(V)] sorption by Fe- and Al-based drinking-water treatment residuals (WTR) was studied as a function of particle size at different pHs, and in the presence of competing ligands, namely, phosphate, citrate, and oxalate. Both WTRs showed high affinity for As oxyanions. However, Al-WTR showed higher As(III) and As(V) sorption capacity than Fe-WTR because of their greater surface area. The effect of particle size on As sorption was pronounced on Fe-WTR, where the smaller fraction sorbed more As(III) and As(V) than the larger fractions, whereas relatively minor effects of particle size on As sorption was observed for Al-WTR. Arsenite sorption on both WTRs increased with increasing pH up to circum-neutral pHs and then decreased at higher pHs, whereas As(V) sorption decreased steadily with increasing pH. The capacity of competing ligands to inhibit sorption was greater for As(III) than As(V) on both WTRs (particularly on Al-WTR) following the sequence: oxalate<citrate<phosphate. It was also a function of As ion residence time on the WTR surfaces: the longer the residence time, the less effective were the competing ligands in As desorption.

Mineralogical controls on aluminum and magnesium in uranium mill tailings: Key Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada

The mineralogy and evolution of Al and Mg in U mill tailings are poorly understood. Elemental analyses (ICP-MS) of both solid and aqueous phases show that precipitation of large masses of secondary Al and Mg mineral phases occurs throughout the raffinate neutralization process (pH 1-11) at the Key Lake U mill, Saskatchewan, Canada. Data from a suite of analytical methods (ICP-MS, EMPA, laboratory- and synchrotron-based XRD, ATR-IR, Raman, TEM, EDX, ED) and equilibrium thermodynamic modeling showed that nanoparticle-sized, spongy, porous, Mg-Al hydrotalcite is the dominant mineralogical control on Al and Mg in the neutralized raffinate (pH ≥ 6.7). The presence of this secondary Mg-Al hydrotalcite in mineral samples of both fresh and 15-year-old tailings indicates that the Mg-Al hydrotalcite is geochemically stable, even after >16 years in the oxic tailings body. Data shows an association between the Mg-Al hydrotalcite and both As and Ni and point to this Mg-Al hydrotalcite exerting a mineralogical control on the solubility of these contaminants.