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Arsenic release from the abiotic oxidation of arsenopyrite under the impact of waterborne H2O2: a SEM and XPS study

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Abstract

Our previous study has proven that waterborne hydrogen peroxide can affect the arsenic releasing process from arsenopyrite powder, but little is known about the change of morphology and element constitutes on arsenopyrite surface. In this study, a simulated experiment was conducted to examine the effects of hydrogen peroxide (at a concentration range of 5–50 μM) on the abiotic oxidation of arsenopyrite cubes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the changes of microstructure morphology and elemental species on arsenopyrite surface. The results showed that micromolar level of H2O2 accelerated the release of arsenic and iron but passivated the sulfur release from arsenopyrite surfaces. As(III) oxidation in solution was enhanced at the early part of the experiment, but the release of As(III) was facilitated at the latter part. As(V) concentrations in solution increased along with the elevated H2O2 dosage level. The SEM images showed different surface microstructure on the surface of CK and all the treatments. EDS results showed that the ratios of S/Fe, Fe/As, and S/As in bulk arsenopyrite revealed evident increasing trend along with the increase of H2O2 dosage level. As the result of surface leaching, the XPS results did not show significant trend, while it suggests that H2O2 accelerated the formation of Fe–As oxidized layer on the arsenopyrite surface.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41406098) and the Major Program of National Water Pollution Control and Management (No. 2012ZX07503-002).

Novelty statement

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is ubiquitous in environment, such as surface water, seawater, groundwater and as well as rainwater. However, its role in surface water, soil, or minerals when the rainwater is contact with these environmental medium is still unclear. This study shed some lights on the effects of micromolar H2O2 (5, 20, and 50 μM) in water on the abiotic oxidation of arsenopyrite and found that by using the SEM and XPS technologies, H2O2 may play a role in arsenic release from arsenopyrite.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Yinqqun Ma, Yanwen Qin, Binghui Zheng, Lei Zhang & Yanmin Zhao

  2. State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Environment, Water Research Institute, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Yinqqun Ma, Yanwen Qin, Binghui Zheng, Lei Zhang & Yanmin Zhao

Authors
  1. Yinqqun Ma
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  2. Yanwen Qin
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  3. Binghui Zheng
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  4. Lei Zhang
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  5. Yanmin Zhao
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yanwen Qin.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Angeles Blanco

Highlights

1. SEM + XPS were conducted to investigate the role of H2O2 on oxidation of arsenopyrite.

2. We studied the change of iron and arsenic species in solutions.

3. We studied the change and constitution of Fe, S, and As species on arsenopyrite surface.

4. The results show that H2O2 may play a role in arsenic release from arsenopyrite.

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Ma, Y., Qin, Y., Zheng, B. et al. Arsenic release from the abiotic oxidation of arsenopyrite under the impact of waterborne H2O2: a SEM and XPS study. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 1381–1390 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5166-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5166-3

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